We ranked all Ghost albums from weakest to best

The Swedish modern favorite of occult rock, Ghost, has managed to lift rock music from dimly lit clubs back onto massive arena stages. The band has gathered a huge global fanbase with its catchy stadium rock and mystic image. Over the course of 20 years, Ghost has achieved something few rock bands can accomplish today: rising to massive global popularity.

Ghost looked and sounded very different in 2006 when it was founded. When the band released its debut album in 2010, it generated promising buzz in the underground scene and became a favorite among metal hipsters. The Swedish masked group, moving in the spirit of Mercyful Fate, had no intention of remaining in the margins.

Over the years, the band has refined its style into the catchy, unholy fusion of 80s heavy metal, arena rock, and ABBA that it is known for today. We decided to rank the band’s studio albums from weakest to strongest as they prepare to go on a hiatus.

6. Skeletá (2025)

The band’s latest album lands at the bottom of this list. This doesn’t mean the album is bad by any means. It has only been out for a relatively short time and hasn’t yet secured its place within the band’s discography. It also lacks the immediate classics found on other albums, although tracks like “Lachryma” and “Satanized” are among the band’s finest works.

5. Prequelle (2018)

“Prequelle” is Ghost’s definitive breakthrough to a wider audience, and you can hear it immediately. This is the album where the band leans more clearly into 80s melodic rock, AOR influences, and almost pop-like hit-making craftsmanship. The darkness is still present, but now it’s wrapped in a silky, glossy, and highly infectious package. “Dance Macabre” remains one of the band’s most popular singles, and for good reason.

4. Infestissumam (2013)

“Infestissumam” is perhaps the most divisive album of Ghost’s career. It is more ambitious, bigger, and more theatrical than the debut, but also somewhat more uneven as a whole. Where “Opus Eponymous” was simple yet effective, “Infestissumam” opens the gates to a grander world. The album features eerie choirs, baroque tones, progressive experimentation, and a sense of grandeur that doesn’t always fully land.

3. Opus Eponymous (2010)

Ghost’s debut is still something special. “Opus Eponymous” may not be the band’s most polished album technically, but its atmosphere is unique. It sounds like it was discovered in a dusty chest in some forgotten 70s basement: warm analog tones, doom-inspired riffs, a cult-like aura, and a nearly hypnotic simplicity make it a strong record. However, the band’s songwriting has developed significantly since then, keeping it just shy of the very top.

2. Impera (2022)

If “Prequelle” hinted that Ghost could become massive, “Impera” proved it. This is essentially Ghost’s full-fledged stadium rock album, driven by huge choruses, polished production without sounding sterile, and strong 80s hard rock influences. With “Impera,” the band took a leap toward a more refined style and dynamic songwriting, helping them rise to even greater popularity.

1. Meliora (2015)

If one had to choose a single Ghost album that encapsulates everything the band does best, it would undoubtedly be “Meliora.” This is where the occult menace of the early albums, the melodic ambition of later releases, and Tobias Forge’s songwriting all meet in perfect balance. The murkiness of the early records and the chaos of “Infestissumam” are gone, replaced by powerful riffs, catchy melodies, and originality. “Meliora” was the first true proof that Ghost is one of the greatest rock bands of all time.