Swedish hard-rock band reaches top of charts, tying Kendrick Lamar’s record

In a surprising turn of events, Swedish hard-rock band Ghost has claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart with their latest album, Skeletá. The album’s success is credited to its robust physical sales, marking the band’s first-ever No. 1 album on the Billboard charts. On the Hot 100 singles chart, Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther (feat. SZA)” continues to reign supreme for an impressive 11-week streak, tying a record for hip-hop songs.

The battle for the title of 2025’s song of the summer is heating up, with front-runners like Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” facing competition from new contenders, including releases from Lorde, Young Thug, and Benson Boone. Last week saw a remarkable shift in the Billboard charts, as Ghost’s Skeletá disrupted the status quo, breaking the streak of no new album debuts in the top 60.

The triumph of Skeletá marks a significant milestone for hard rock on the charts, as it becomes the first hard rock act since AC/DC’s Power Up in late 2020 to claim the top spot on the Billboard 200. While this is Ghost’s first No. 1 album, it is not their first entry on the charts, with nine previous albums making appearances. With 86,000 equivalent album units earned, Skeletá’s success is not merely a result of a slow week but a testament to the band’s enduring popularity among fans.

Despite the impressive debut of Skeletá, its long-term hold on the top spot is uncertain, as upcoming releases from artists like Young Thug and Morgan Wallen pose a threat. Furthermore, the album’s success is largely driven by physical sales, particularly vinyl, indicating a potential short-lived reign on the charts. Nevertheless, Ghost’s achievement of claiming the No. 1 position after over a decade in the industry is commendable.

In a notable shift on the Billboard 200, Shaboozey’s album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going surged from No. 45 to No. 8, following a recent reissue of the album with additional songs. This resurgence hints at fans’ interest in new material from the artist beyond his chart-topping hits from the previous year.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther (feat. SZA)” continues to dominate the Hot 100 singles chart for an 11th consecutive week, matching the record set by Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” in 2019 for the longest streak at No. 1 by a hip-hop song. As streaming platforms influence chart-topping longevity, achieving such a feat is a rare accomplishment in the current music landscape. However, Lamar’s reign at the top may soon be challenged by rising contender Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which has been steadily climbing the charts and shows potential to claim the top spot soon.

As the summer approaches, the race for the coveted title of 2025’s song of the summer intensifies, with new contenders emerging to challenge established hits like “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey and “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone. The evolving landscape of the music industry promises an exciting battle for chart supremacy in the coming weeks.