Just for perspective, the last time that Swedish melodic death metal legends Gates of Ishtar released new material (1998’s At Dusk and Forever), Decibel was just a glimmer in Editor-in-Chief Albert Mudrian’s eye. So, it is with great anticipation that we offer up their first single, the appropriately titled “Ghosts,” after nearly three decades. The reinvigorated lineup features original members Andreas Johansson (rhythm guitars), Tomas Jutenfäldt (rhythm/lead guitar) and Mikael Sandorf (vocals) joined by new bassist Markus Parkkilla and session/live drummer Fredrik Andersson on a track filled with classic, hummable melodic DM guitar lines informed by modern black metal. “Ghosts” brings the band’s late-’90s aesthetic into the new millennium with confidence and fury.

The drum and bass parts were for Murder the Light were recorded at the Humbucker Studios in Hagsätra, Sweden, in May 2026. Guitars and vocal parts were recorded in the next two months, June and July, at Fallen Studios. Production, mixing and mastering was handled by Robert Pehrson at Fallen Studios. It’s set for release on limited leather box set, gatefold vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally via The Circle Music on January 21, 2027. You can place your preorder here.

The band offered this enthusiastic statement regarding its return to the fray:

“We’re incredibly proud to finally present ‘Ghosts,’ the first single from our upcoming album Murder the Light. After all these years, it feels amazing to share new material with you again. [It’s] not a look back, but a continuation built on the same foundation and spirit that defined us then and still drives us now. The new material stays true to the sound and identity that shaped our earlier work. While reflecting the years that have passed and the experiences gained along the way, now nearly thirty years later, the fire still burns even brighter and more intensely than ever.”

The post Video Premiere: Gates of Ishtar – “Ghosts” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.