OPETH ANNOUNCE NEW CONCEPT ALBUM THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

2nd August 2024 0 By Jon Deaux

Swedish legends OPETH are pleased to reveal that their 14th studio album, The Last Will & Testament, is set for release on October 11, 2024 via Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music. It is 5 long years since their last album – 2019’s In Cauda Venenum – and also marks 30 years of the esteemed, creative band.

To celebrate, Opeth have shared its first single, “§1” – now available on all DSPs here. Prior to today’s worldwide announcement, the album was teased yesterday exclusively for attendees at Wacken Open Air 2024 in conjunction with the band’s performance at the illustrious festival.

UK fans should be sure not to miss the revered group’s headline set at Bloodstock Open Air festival next Friday, August 9, where the band will perform a special fan-picked set. And do stop by the festival’s on site Rock & Metal Gallery, for a little Opeth surprise.

LISTEN HERE

Opeth vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt admits, “I love this record. I have to say it (write it). Maybe I’m proud even? There are some familiar ingredients in there I suppose. Most of our music has sprung from the same source, so I guess it’s not much of a shocker if it’s going to sound like ‘us’. I’m a bit in awe of what we did with “The Last Will and Testament”. It feels like a dream. There is some ‘coherence’ and ‘songwriting skills’ I hope, but what do I know? I tend to favour the ‘strange’ over the ‘obvious,’ but I feel like I’m in the minority, and that’s fine. So…fair warning! Don’t expect an instant rush (as per usual), but if you do “get it” (have you got it yet?) right away, that’s ok too!”

The Last Will & Testament is a concept album set in the post-World War I era, unfolding the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch whose last will and testament reveals shocking family secrets. The narrative weaves through the patriarch’s confessions, the reactions of his twin children, and the mysterious presence of a polio-ridden girl who the family have taken care of. The album begins with the reading of the father’s will in his mansion. Among those in attendance is a young girl, who, despite being an orphan and polio-ridden, has been raised by the family. Her presence at the will reading raises suspicions and questions among the twins.

Regarding the record’s creation, Åkerfeldt adds, “This is the first record with Walt on drums. Seeing and hearing him record his bits was otherworldly and what went through my head was something like: How can a human being play this stuff? The older cats (myself, Mendez, Fred, and Jocke) did our bits in due time. We did them well (I like to think) and the alcohol concentration in our blood was mostly quite low as the red light was on. We’re professionals, you see! Rockfield Studios treated us well and we love that place! Stefan Boman recorded and mixed it all (CAPTURED it on TAPE… kind of…). Miles Showell did the master at Abbey Road Studios and then we (myself and Stefan) took him for a curry in Covent Garden. Travis Smith has done this odd masterpiece of art that puts ‘clothes’ on the music. All in all, we hope we’ve put together a nice little morsel of information for you to nibble on when it’s raining out. Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading. Thank you for listening. Thank you for giving us a respectable past. I’ll thank you for our future in the actual future, OK?”

Pre-Order The Last Will & Testament HERE.

Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson’s signature notes fly on “§4” and “§7“, he narrates on “§1“, “§2“, “§4“, and “§7“. Joining Anderson, Europe‘s Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on “§2”, while Åkerfeldt‘s youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in “§1“.

The Last Will & Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth‘s finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story – this time with growls.

The Last Will & Testament Tracklist:

01 – §1 [LISTEN]

02 – §2

03 – §3

04 – §4

05 – §5

06 – §6

07 – §7

08 – A Story Never Told

Opeth’s fourteenth album was written by Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). The Last Will & Testament was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. Strings were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting “photograph” reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s infamous “Overlook Hotel” photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.

In addition to OPETH’s previously announced North American headline tour in October 2024, the band can also reveal an extensive European run in February 2025. OPETH are offering a special bundle for fans who pre-order The Last Will & Testament. Starting today, August 2 at 9am BST, fans who pre-order the album will receive a special ticket pre-sale code for the European tour! The offer will end on Tuesday, August 6 at 2pm BST. Tix go on general sale on Friday, August 9 at 10am local time.

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE TO GET ACCESS TO THE TICKETS PRE-SALE.

OPETH European Tour Dates 2025:

9 Feb: Helsinki (FI) @ Ice Hall

11 Feb: Stockholm (SE) @ Cirkus

12 Feb: Oslo (NO) @ Sentrum Scene

14 Feb: Copenhagen (DK) @ DR Koncerthuset

15 Feb: Hamburg (DE) @ Docks

17 Feb: Cologne (DE) @ Palladium

18 Feb: Berlin (DE) @ Tempodrom

19 Feb: Munich (DE) @ Muffathalle

21 Feb: Paris (DR) @ L’Olympia

22 Feb: Amsterdam (NL) @ AFAS Live

23 Feb: Brussels (BE) @ Ancienne Belgique

GET TICKETS HERE

OPETH North American Tour Dates (w/ TRIBULATION) in October 2024:

11 Oct: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave / Eagles Club

12 Oct: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater & Ballroom

14 Oct: Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

15 Oct: Montréal, QC @ L’Olympia

16 Oct: Worcester, MA @ Palladium

18 Oct: Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre

19 Oct: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

20 Oct: Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre

22 Oct: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

23 Oct: New Orleans, LA @ Fillmore New Orleans

24 Oct: Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin

25 Oct: Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre

27 Oct: Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom

29 Oct: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren

30 Oct: Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater

31 Oct: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

Lineup:

Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals, guitars

Fredrik Åkesson – Guitars, backing vocals

Martin Mendez – Bass guitar

Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums and percussion

Joakim Svalberg – Keyboards, backing vocals

Special Guests:

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) – spoken word (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7) // flute (tracks 4, 7)

Joey Tempest (Europe) – backing vocals (track 2)

Mirjam Åkerfeldt – spoken word (track 1)

All Music and Lyrics written by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Lyrical concept by Mikael Åkerfeldt, dramatic consultation by Klara Rönnqvist Fors

Produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Co-produced by Opeth and Stefan Boman

Engineered by Stefan Boman, Joe Jones and Opeth

Mixing by Stefan Boman and Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe, Stockholm, Sweden

Mastering and vinyl lacquer cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road studios, London, UK

Strings conducted by Dave Stewart at Angel Studios, London, UK

Strings arrangement by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart

Artwork by Travis Smith with directions from Mikael Åkerfeldt

About Reigning Phoenix Music

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. Most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, England, headed by experienced industry veteran Paolo d’Alessandro.