GHOST’s “Skeletá” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

According to Billboard.com, GHOST’s latest studio album, “Skeletá”, has achieved remarkable success, landing at the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 chart. In its inaugural week, the album earned 86,000 equivalent album units in the United States, with a significant 89% (77,000) of that figure coming from traditional album sales. Vinyl sales alone accounted for over 44,000 copies, reflecting a growing trend in physical music consumption.

Historic Milestone for Hard Rock

Notably, “Skeletá” marks the first hard rock album to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC’s “Power Up” in 2020. The album’s first-week vinyl sales not only set a record for hard rock albums in the modern era (since 1991) but also rank as the third-largest vinyl sales week for any rock album, only trailing behind BLINK-182’s “One More Time…” and BOYGENIUS’s “The Record.”

Understanding the Billboard 200 Chart

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, as measured in equivalent album units. These units consist of album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit is defined as one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported streams and 1,250 paid subscription streams generated by songs from an album.

Insights from Tobias Forge on “Skeletá”

Released on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings, “Skeletá” offers a deeper introspection compared to GHOST’s previous record, “Impera.” In a recent interview with Brent Porche from Philadelphia’s 93.3 WMMR radio station, GHOST’s mastermind, Tobias Forge, elaborated on the thematic evolution of the new album. He emphasized the importance of exploring human sentiments such as hope, hate, and love, diverging from the broader societal themes of “Impera.”

Single Release and Themes

Less than two months prior to the album’s release, Forge discussed the first single, “Satanized,” with Meltdown from Detroit’s WRIF radio station. He described the track as a fun and upbeat exploration of love, humorously likening the experience to demonic possession. Forge stated that the choice of “Satanized” as the album’s lead single was a pleasant surprise, highlighting a collaborative vision with his record label.

Music Video and New Character

The music video for “Satanized” introduces a new character, Papa V Perpetua, who will lead GHOST during its 2025 tour. This character follows the evolution of the band’s iconic personas, with Forge portraying various iterations of Papa Emeritus in previous albums.

Upcoming Tour Dates

The European leg of GHOST’s 2025 world tour commenced on April 15 in Manchester, UK, and will conclude on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg kicks off on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland, and wraps up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.

Conclusion

GHOST’s “Skeletá” not only signifies a commercial triumph but also illustrates the band’s artistic evolution. With its introspective themes and record-breaking vinyl sales, the album is poised to leave a lasting impact on the hard rock genre.

FAQs

What is the release date of GHOST’s “Skeletá”?

The album was released on April 25, 2023.

How many equivalent album units did “Skeletá” earn in its first week?

The album earned 86,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release.

What percentage of “Skeletᔑs sales came from traditional album sales?

89% of the total sales, which equates to 77,000 units, came from traditional album sales.

Who is the new character fronting GHOST for the 2025 tour?

The new character is named Papa V Perpetua.

When does the North American leg of GHOST’s tour start?

The North American leg begins on July 9, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.