Masked Metal Bands Resurge with Theatrical Flair and Chart-Topping Success

In July, during a pyrotechnics-filled debut at Madison Square Garden, Tobias Forge, frontman of the theatrically dark and elaborately costumed Swedish hard-rock band Ghost, took a moment to reflect on the band’s remarkable journey from underground clubs to one of the world's most iconic venues.

“It’s not far in miles, but it’s a significant journey,” Forge remarked, recalling a 2011 performance at the 400-capacity Studio at Webster Hall just a short distance away. Speaking to the sold-out audience—who had their phones secured in Yondr pouches—he stood beneath a metallic skull mask that obscured half his face, flanked by the so-called Nameless Ghouls, a group of masked, highly skilled musicians dressed like dandy sentinels at the gates of hell.

Ghost’s rise mirrors a broader trend among contemporary acts that, while connected to the metal genre, transcend its boundaries by merging mystique, intricate lore, and accessible, genre-crossing songwriting. Despite limited mainstream exposure, these bands are attracting fervent fanbases in growing numbers.

Their sixth album, “Skeletá,” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in May. The evening following the Garden performance, Forge and his band appeared on a major late-night talk show. Similarly, the British band Sleep Token—known for performing in robes and ornate masks while maintaining complete anonymity, as Ghost did until 2017—is set for an arena tour this fall. Their major-label debut, “Even in Arcadia,” topped the Billboard charts just weeks after Ghost’s release. Another emerging act, President, features a frontman dubbed the Artist, who performs in black tie and a weathered old-man mask.