Today — August 21, 2025 — marks the tenth anniversary of the release of Ghost's Meliora, and with it comes the announcement of a special array of limited-edition double vinyl variants, set for release October 17 and available now for pre-order here.
Meliora, Ghost's third studio album, stands as a defining moment in the band's career. Emerging during the Papa Emeritus III era, the record fused doom-laden riffs, soaring choruses, and sharp social commentary, presenting a vision of humanity's relentless pursuit of progress and the dystopian shadows it casts. The album's sonic and thematic ambition earned the band widespread critical acclaim, pushing them further into the international spotlight and cementing their reputation as one of heavy music's most imaginative forces.
Meliora produced several enduring fan favorites that continue to echo in arenas worldwide, including "He Is," "Mummy Dust," and "Spirit." Its breakout track, "Cirice," not only became a staple of the Ghost live experience but also earned the group the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, marking their first Grammy win. Additionally, the standalone single "Square Hammer," later added to the Popestar EP cycle, became Ghost's biggest hit to date — going RIAA-certified platinum and climbing charts across multiple countries.
Meliora also garnered significant accolades upon release: it debuted at No. 1 in Sweden, reached the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was praised by outlets such as Rolling Stone, NME, and Metal Hammer for its bold mix of theatricality, melody, and menace. The record topped numerous year-end lists and is widely regarded as one of the finest metal albums of the 2010s.
To honor its enduring legacy, the new deluxe 10th anniversary edition of Meliora arrives October 17 as a 15-song 2xLP pressed on a range of color vinyl options, housed in a double wide spine jacket. This celebratory edition also includes a commemorative Papa III Mummy Dust buck — a fitting nod to the era's iconic stage flair.
Ten years on, Meliora continues to resonate as both a milestone in Ghost's discography and a landmark in modern heavy music, its songs still raising tens of thousands of voices in unison on the band's current Skeletour World Tour 2025.
