Ghost Kicks Off 2025 Tour with Several New Songs

Ghost, the acclaimed Swedish rock band, has mesmerized audiences with a spectacular kickoff to their “Skeletour World Tour 2025” at the AO Arena in Manchester. The April 15th event marked a new era for the band, debuting their new frontman, Papa V Perpetua, a character brought to life by the band’s mastermind, Tobias Forge. This distinguished and theatrical performance has set a high bar for the rest of the tour, which is set to continue with dates across the UK and Europe before making its way to the United States.

The Manchester show was not only a significant occasion for the introduction of Papa V Perpetua, but it also served as the world premiere for several new songs from Ghost’s upcoming album SKELETÁ, which is highly anticipated and set to release on April 25th. The performance featured a compelling setlist, including the live debuts of “Peacefield,” “Lachryma,” “Umbra,” and “The Future is a Foreign Land.” These pieces are indicative of Ghost’s evolving soundscape and artistic direction, cementing their place as pioneers in the rock and metal genres. The concert also revisited some fan-favorite tracks from their older albums, such as “Spirit,” “Majesty,” and “Monstrance Clock,” which were performed live for the first time since 2019, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

Fans of Ghost are familiar with the elaborate lore that accompanies each album cycle, with Tobias Forge adopting a new persona—as Papa V Perpetua in this instance—to lead the band through its current phase. This ever-changing narrative adds a layer of intrigue and keeps audiences engaged with the band’s evolving mythology. Upcoming singles like “Satanized,” which already garnered attention as an anthemic lead single, and older hits such as “Cirice” and “From the Pinnacle to the Pit” also captivated the audience, exhibiting the band’s showmanship and musical dexterity. The encore crowned the night by including “Mary on a Cross,” “Dance Macabre,” and the resounding “Square Hammer,” named by Heavy Consequence as the top metal song of the 2010s.

The band has implemented a “phone-free” policy for their concerts this year. This initiative is aimed at fostering a deeper connection between the performers and the audience, encouraging fans to be wholly present during the live experience. Although this means that no concert footage is available online, Ghost enthusiasts have shared praise and excitement through word-of-mouth and reviews, reinforcing the concert’s success.

Tobias Forge’s vision for the band continues to evolve, as previously shared in an interview with NME. He indicated that while Ghost’s complex lore plays a crucial part in their identity, the focus now shifts towards introspective songwriting, a sentiment echoed in the lyrics and themes of SKELETÁ. As the band forges new paths in both their musical journey and personal narratives, fans can console themselves with the notion that the end of one chapter heralds the beginning of another, filled with as much dynamism and creativity as ever.