REVIEW + PHOTOS — Ghost at Amalie Arena in Tampa 2025 ⋆ Shows I Go To | 🎤 Florida Concerts, Festivals, & Giveaways

REVIEW + PHOTOS — Ghost at Amalie Arena in Tampa 2025

Ghost • July 12, 2025 • Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL • Photos by Randy Cook — instagram.com/horns_raised

GHOST LIVE REVIEW

Review by Trevor Bosmans

Tobias Forge and the unnamed Ghouls and Ghoulettes of Swedish metal band Ghost made their return to Tampa at Amalie Arena on July 12, 2025 as part of their Skeletour in support of their newest album Skeleta. Over 17,000 Ghost fans (AKA The Congregation) gathered in their best Ghost-inspired outfits to bask in the glory of “the ritual” the band was about to perform. The last time Ghost was scheduled to play Tampa, the show was canceled due to Hurricane Idalia. The band promised to return, making up for it by performing a nearly two-hour, 23-song career spanning set. This may have been my first Ghost show, but it definitely will not be my last.

This show had a “no phones” policy, which as inconvenient as it was, only made the experience better by keeping everyone’s attention focused on the band. Phones were locked in pouches you were able to keep on you, but would unlock at the end of the show. When it comes to shows, I know I am as guilty as anybody when trying to snag as many pictures and videos as I can. But this policy made me realize how disconnected I can become when I have my phone on me. I would not be opposed if more bands adopted this policy because it made the show 100% more enjoyable.

Amalie Arena felt like the “Church of Ghost” complete with eerie chants playing softly as black curtains covered the stage in the few minutes leading up to showtime. The lights went out as the face of Papa V Perpetua (Tobias Forge) appeared on the video screens on each side of the stage as he sang the opening verse of “Peacefield”, the first track off Skeleta. The curtains dropped to reveal all eight unnamed ghouls and ghoulettes, as Papa V ran from the back of the stage to a thunderous applause. After just one song, I could tell this band was fulfilling their destiny of becoming a true arena-rock band.

For the next two hours, Ghost delivered one of the most theatrical sets outside of Alice Cooper, performing songs off all six of their studio albums going back as far as “Satan’s Prayer” from their debut album Opus Eponymous. The set list was a perfectly curated blend of old and new, showcasing the true brilliance of the unnamed ghouls’ top-notch musicianship. Hearing some of my favorites like “Kiss the Go-Goat” and “Rats” solidified my Ghost fandom. They concluded their main set with the haunting “Monstrance Clock” which left us all begging for more.

As the band re-emerged for the encore, Papa V addressed the crowd, asking if they wanted to hear an old song.

“This song is so old my dad used to sing it”, he said before launching into “Mary on a Cross” from their Seven Inches of Satanic Panic EP. All 17,000 plus people were on their feet for this three-song encore, which also consisted of fan favorites “Dance Macabre” and “Silver Hammer.”

Ghost has come a long way since first playing Tampa at The Ritz in Ybor in 2015, and they deserve every bit of recognition they get. I only wish I had discovered this band sooner because I feel like I have missed out on so much. The performance more than exceeded my expectations and I feel so lucky to have been able to attend. This felt like so much more than just a show, it was a ritual and I’m proud to be the newest member of the congregation.