Metalcatto
Despite my undying love for my local (Swedish) scene, Ghost has always been a tricky one for me. I even contemplated skipping Skeletá because the album isn’t even Metal. In fact, sometimes I wondered if it was even Rock, or just Pop/Rock. I’ll say it without hesitation: the band hasn’t truly had my attention since Meliora — that was its peak performance, and after that, it’s been hit or miss. So, I have no illusions of being impressed with this new release. Yet, here I am, giving it a chance.
Skeletá continues the expected and almost predictable trajectory you’d see from a band with the fame Ghost has. Pop songs and easy-to-follow lyrics fuel yet another nostalgia trip to the most overrated decade in humanity (yes, the ’80s — that decade when parents sold away the future of their kids for an extra house). It’s nothing we haven’t heard before; if anything, Skeletá doubles down on the catchiness and corny horror film feelings. I don’t think that’s offensive to the band, because this has to be intentional.
There’s no doubt that Ghost can write songs that move the masses. “Marks of the Evil One” is a perfect example of that. It has everything radio demanded… in 1989. But maybe we do need to return to certain things. There’s some degree of ambition here, and the production is top notch. Ghost has everything that money can buy when it comes to musical resources, and we can feel it. That’s perhaps what rescues a lot of elements in the album. You know I’m usually a diplomat, but today, I’m choosing violence!
Beyond how much cheese and exaggerated nostalgia there is in Skeletá, my real problem with the album is how uneventful it feels. Is there anything here you haven’t heard before? Or done better? Whether by Ghost or another band? I can’t really tell, because by the time I reached halfway through, I had forgotten what it was all about. It’s not even that Ghost isn’t evil or heavy enough; it’s not that the creepy occult gimmick falls flat in a world full of much more extreme and raw acts — it’s just that nothing stuck with me after I was done. Side note: if the last track of your album starts and ends with the phrase “this is the end,” maybe show and don’t tell.
Anyway, I’m going to catch some trash for this, or maybe you’ll agree — who cares? Ghost clearly doesn’t care what we think, so let’s speak freely. You won’t find music here that will make you bleed through your ears. It’s not that bad — there are a few moments here that are genuinely enjoyable — but Ghost peaked a few albums ago, and it’s evident it has found its comfort zone. And that’s a dangerous thing for a big band.
Label: Loma Vista Records
Release date: April 25, 2025
Website: https://ghost-official.com/
Country: Sweden
Score: 2.2/5.0
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