Review
I'm absolutely loving Ghost's new album 'Skeletá'! It's so interesting to see Papa V Perpetua leading the band into slightly more introspective territory while keeping all that delicious occult drama we've come to expect. The contrast between uplifting anthems like 'Peacefield' and the darker, synth-heavy 'Lachryma' gives the album such a dynamic feel. And can we talk about 'Satanized'? Those Latin chants mixed with catchy hooks are straight-up earworms disguised as exorcisms!
Gene Walker's production paired with Andy Wallace and Dan Malsch's mixing has created this perfect balance between grand storytelling and more personal moments. 'De Profundis Borealis' really showcases this - starting with that haunting piano before exploding into this massive, guitar-driven climax that honestly gave me goosebumps. The album has this beautiful tension between existential heaviness and songs that'll have you bopping your head in seconds.
At 46 minutes, 'Skeletá' feels like the perfect length to explore all these different moods without overstaying its welcome. Tracks like the epic 'Guiding Lights' sit perfectly alongside the urgency of 'Cenotaph' and the haunting melodies in 'Missilia Amori.' It's pretty impressive how Ghost continues to evolve their sound while maintaining that theatrical core that makes them so distinctive. They're clearly not interested in playing it safe, and we're all better for it! - Bianca