The long-awaited new long player from Swedish mega stars Ghost has finally hit the shelves. The band still divides people, but love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t ignore the huge success of the band. As we speak, their Skeletour is selling out arenas all over the world.

Ghost formed back in 2006, and since then, they have released 6 studio albums, two live albums, and four EPs. The band’s lore, based around their costumed appearance and their leader Tobias Forge’s various incarnations of “Papa’s” has led to a rabid fan base who hang on every move from Forge and the Ghouls.  Many metal puritans still hate on Ghost, for no real reason that I can see. They rock as hard as any other band that I have seen. Just last week, I was lucky enough to catch the band in their most ferocious setting: a live show (or ritual if you will). The band are on fire with one of the most ambitious stage shows I have ever seen.

Ghost have shown why they are one the most talked about bands time and time again. Their musical direction has changed from their initial releases. Their sound has evolved from a Blue Oyster Cult ‘70s vibe to full-on arena rock with a pop edge. Forge’s songwriting skills are unparalleled. While sitting in Birmingham’s Utilita Arena last week, I had a tear in my eye when they played the song, He Is. It was a profound experience, something I have never experienced before. This is how powerful their music can be. It’s also why Ghost’s legion of fans are so rabid and protective of their favourite band.

Ghost’s last two albums, ‘Prequelle’ and ‘Impera’, secured their place in metal superstardom. Both albums are filled with hit after hit. Incredible songwriting and musicianship, which is off the scale by the band of Nameless Ghouls that Forge keeps under his watchful eye, has propelled them into the stratosphere and cemented their place in musical history.

The latest incarnation of Papa is Papa V Perpetua. He seems to be more serious than he is predecessor Papa Emeritus IV. We have been given a taster of the latest album with the singles/videos for ‘Satanized’ and ‘Lachryma’. Both tracks have the trademark Ghost sound, catchy, poppy, heavy, with superb musicianship and production. All of us Ghost fans have been waiting patiently for the new album to land. The band have done a fantastic marketing campaign, Ghost have seemed to be omnipresent in the last few months. From slowly revealing the new look of the band to dropping the video for Lachryma where we finally saw the new incarnation of V and the Nameless Ghouls, the band have kept us all slowly salivating.

We finally get to hear the full album, and let me tell you, it’s been worth the wait. Dripping in ‘80s keyboards and full-on pomp, Skeleta is probably Ghost’s most commercial release so far. The album opens with the ethereal sounds of the epic Peacefield before it jumps into a track that has obvious comparisons to Journey’s Separate Ways it really is a fantastic song, and it sounded amazing live. Lachryma and Satanized follow suit. They are both punchy, super catchy songs that are already part of my DNA. Ghost somehow retains its heaviness and combines it with layers of pop goodness. They never come across as cheesy, you know that Forge has laboured over every note written and played. There’s no denying that Forge is a genius. Ghost are one of the only bands capable of continuing from the old guard of metal bands who are now gasping their last breaths. There’s no doubt that Ghost will be talked about in fifty years just as we are now talking about Sabbath, Maiden and Priest et al.

The next track on the album ‘Guiding Lights’ is another multi-layered wall of sound with another sing-along chorus. Forge’s vocal performance across the album is superb. He sounds stronger than ever. We do, of course, need to mention the Ghouls, huge guitar solos, thunderous drums, keyboard flurries left, right and centre. They are on fire! The production is lush and huge from producer Gene Walker (a pseudonym that Forge uses). De Profundis Borealis has more riffage on display with an up-tempo feel. We get another massive sing-along chorus that gets into your head instantly.

Cenotaph kicks off with a keyboard riff that screams ‘80s Tears for Fears before we get a crunchy riff (not unlike Sabbath’s Children of the Grave) and some almost Status Quo boogie woogie! Is there no style of music that Forge is afraid to touch on? Obviously not! It’s another banger of a track with more exemplary playing from the Ghouls. Missilia Amori gives us more fantastic ‘80s ness, with more of Forge’s trademark soaring vocals hitting the spot. Love Rockets!! Ooo err, Missus. The keyboards are always forefront with the rest of the instruments, they really ramp up the ‘80s feel to the entire album.

‘Marks of the Evil’ One gives us more incredible catchiness. A mid-tempo banger with some satanic lyrical content. The atmospheric breakdown in the middle of the track before the guitar solo elevates us back into the huge chorus is masterful. Umbra is one of my favourite tracks on the album. It begins with a keyboard intro that could be lifted from an ‘80s horror film before we get a riff accented by…wait for it… a cowbell! Yes!! This track was also played live last week, and I was blown away by it. The keyboard acrobatics answered by even more guitar virtuosity is a joy to behold. That’s without mentioning the chorus. I have no idea how Forge can write seemingly endless classics. Just incredible.

Excelsis ends the album superbly. With lyrical content about what comes to us all….death. It’s a remarkably moving song that everyone will be able to relate to. The album clocks in at around the 45-minute mark, so it’s a short, sharp blast of Ghost at their finest.

Forge could have easily written an Impera 2, but he’s gone down an ‘80s rabbit hole and delivered us something very different. Skeleta will prove without doubt that Ghost are here to stay. Let us all worship at the altar of Papa V Perpetua. Amen.

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Author: Kenny Kendrick