“There’s no return from this excursion of possibilities.” So sings Ghost singer Papa Emeritus III on “Spirit,” the opening track to the hard-rock band’s flawless third album, Meloria. In the ensuing 40 minutes, the Swedes explore hard rock from a myriad of melodic angles, proving throughout that while their Satanic presentation may be offensive, their music is undeniably accessible. Ghost’s flamboyant ghoul costumes drew a litany of “gimmick band” criticisms early on. But there’s no room left for that debate, thanks to an album containing 10 songs that each have hit-single potential.
Score: 10 out of 10
Ghost
Meliora
Loma Vista
Producer: Klas Ahlund
