Sleep Token and Ghost prove rock isn’t quite dead yet

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Comedian Eddie Izzard tells a joke where he describes the British army asserting ownership over India. The Indians are puzzled by this claim since they’ve always lived there, and question how outsiders can take possession of them. The representative from the British army then inquires, “Do you have a flag?” to imply that if they had a symbol of sovereignty like a flag, it would prove their ownership.

In contemporary rock music, bands might opt for masks instead of flags, as theatrical attire has been a longstanding aspect of the genre. A well-executed costume can certainly stir mystery, just like Kiss’ popularity was linked to their makeup rather than without it. Bands like Sleep Token and Ghost don’t face this issue due to their unique presentation styles.

The two bands are demonstrating that rock music is still very much alive, and they’re achieving this within less than a month. Ghost’s newest album, titled “Skeletá“, topped the U.S. Billboard charts in its debut week. This was the first time in four years that a hard rock band managed to take the top spot on the charts.

Sleep Token and Ghost are doing their best to keep rock alive

In just two weeks, Sleep Token climbed their way up to become the second hard rock act to top the charts in 2025. Their latest album, Even in Arcadia, dethroned Bad Bunny’s current number one record after a week-long reign.

As reported by Billboard, the latest Sleep Token record set a new record for the largest streaming week ever for a hard rock album. All ten tracks from this release made it to the Billboard Hot 100 list of most-streamed songs, suggesting that the band’s popularity stems not just from individual hits but rather from a widespread appreciation of their overall sound.

Instead of Ghost’s record dropping out of the top 150 within three weeks, Sleep Token’s album looks set to maintain its spot among the top 10 for an extended period. The streaming performance, rather than the Ghost album’s sales which were boosted by vinyl purchases, is expected to sustain its momentum for several more weeks.

Although some may contend that Ghost and Sleep Token don’t quite fit the traditional mold of hard rock (despite this, opinions vary), their achievements serve as a positive indication that rock music is in good hands. This could also be said for Sleep Token, whose genre is debatable – somewhere between ethereal pop and metal perhaps?

Perhaps it would be beneficial for more rock groups to don masks during performances. For example, Slipknot might produce a new album and reach the top of the charts.

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2025-05-24 19:00