Ghost’s Skeletá Achieves Historic No. 1 on Billboard 200
For the first time in its career, Swedish hard rock band Ghost has claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart with their latest release, Skeletá. The album debuted at No. 1 for the week ending May 1, 2025, accumulating 86,000 equivalent album units in the U.S., according to data from Luminate.
Record-Setting Sales Performance
Skeletá has marked a significant milestone for Ghost, achieving both the highest number of equivalent album units and traditional album sales in the group’s history. This new album surpassed the previous record set by their last release, Impera, in March 2022, which debuted with 70,000 units.
Historical Context and Chart Achievements
This is Ghost’s ninth entry on the Billboard 200, and with Skeletá, the band has now secured its eighth top 40 album and fifth to reach the top 10. The group first appeared on the chart in 2013 with Infestissumam, which peaked at No. 28.
Notably, Skeletá is the first hard rock album to occupy the No. 1 position in over four years, and it stands as the only rock-related album to achieve this in 2025.
Sales Breakdown and Streaming Success
Among the album’s 86,000 units, traditional album sales accounted for 77,000, propelling Skeletá to the top of the Top Album Sales chart. The album’s sales were significantly enhanced by its release in over 15 vinyl variants, plus three CD and four cassette options, all featuring the same tracklist.
In terms of streaming, Skeletá garnered 9,000 streaming equivalent album (SEA) units, translating to 12.45 million on-demand streams, marking the band’s strongest streaming performance for an album to date. This surpasses the opening week of Impera, which had 7,000 SEA units and 9.11 million streams.
Single Releases and Chart Success
The album’s lead single, “Satanized,” which was promoted via radio, climbed to No. 3 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April, contributing to the album’s momentum. Other singles include “Lachryma,” also reaching No. 3, and “Peacefield,” which peaked at No. 13.
This album represents Ghost’s first release following their foray into the mainstream Billboard Hot 100 with the viral hit “Mary on a Cross,” which reached No. 90 in 2022.
Significant Milestones for Ghost
- Best Week Ever: Skeletá set records for Ghost in both traditional and equivalent album units.
- Major Vinyl Sales: Over 44,000 vinyl copies were sold, marking the highest sales week for a hard rock album on vinyl in the modern era.
- Major Label Achievements: This album is the first No. 1 for Loma Vista Recordings and the first top position for Concord Label Group since 2015.
Current Billboard 200 Landscape
In the latest Billboard 200 chart, Skeletá is the sole debut in the top 10. The remaining positions are occupied by previous No. 1 albums, including SZA’s SOS, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time.
Conclusion
The success of Skeletá is a remarkable achievement for Ghost, reflecting both their growing impact on the rock genre and their ability to resonate with a wide audience. The data-driven insights demonstrate the band’s unique position in the music industry as they continue to push boundaries.