Written By Christy Lee & Atrocifer
The growls are back!!! Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth’s heavy new song reveals a sound that harkens back to their heavier material. The song, “§1”(Radio Edit) is reminiscent of the old days boasting their signature progressive sound. The guitar riffs feature a tone that resembles their more proggy side but with a heavier dose of gain while the keyboards sweep chromatically, shifting between the chords to create a dissonance thats pleasing to the ear. Drummer Waltteri Väyrynen delivers a syncopated onslaught that blends seamlessly with the music. And to everyone’s delight, Mikael Åkerfeldt’s gutteral vocals are in top form. The fans have been dripping with sweat and anticipation for this day to come.
It’s invigorating to revisit the greatest death metal vocals ever recorded. After a few listens, it becomes clear that what I truly yearned for from Newpeth was not the growls but rather the eerie, atmospheric essence of the Oldpeth. “Damnation” lacks the growls but retains the haunting quality reminiscent of “Blackwater Park,” while this new material, despite its growls, occasionally feels like an entirely different band.
I’ve cherished “Heritage” since its release. Even without growls, it exudes a sinister aura. It faced unwarranted criticism for its perceived lack of heaviness. I’m delighted to hear the growls reappear in this new track but it’s reassuring to confirm that they alone aren’t the missing ingredient for those craving the essence of old-school Opeth.
I’m enthusiastic about all iterations of Opeth and eagerly anticipate what the forthcoming album will bring. To me, “Watershed” stands as the inaugural Newpeth album, even with its heavy opening tracks. The rest of the album leans into the Newpeth-style prog rock, featuring the Frederik and Axenrot lineup. The album, aptly named “Watershed,” seems to signify not just a division but the very line itself.
This new song delivers riffs that are much heavier than the last four records, however, the evolution isn’t necessarily a drawback. Reverting to 2008’s sound would have been a missed opportunity. They’ve learned from previous albums and are now blending their influences creatively. Expect a notably dark and intricate journey on this record.
“Last Will and Testament” is a concept album set in the aftermath of WWI steeped with intrigue and shadow. It chronicles the haunting moment when a families late wealthy patriarch’s last will and testament is revealed to his survivors unearthing dark secrets that unravel the lives of his twin children. Amidst this unraveling, a mysterious, polio-stricken orphan girl enters the scene. Her presence adds a chilling layer to the tale.
Opeth is set for a busy summer with European festival appearances before heading to the US. The band has long been known for blending progressive elements into their death metal routine. They have just finished recording their fourteenth studio album, Last Will and Testament, and have released a new track called “§1” (aka ‘Paragraph 1‘), a radio edit with an October 11th release on Reigning Phoenix Music. The the follow-up to 2019’s In Cauda Venenum. The effort was produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt, the vocalist and guitarist of the prog rock/death metal outfit, with additional help from Stefan Boman.
Åkerfeldt also shared some details for the record, offering:
“I have become quite interested in family, and the idea that blood is not always thicker than water. I became interested in how family members can turn on each other. I saw an interview with this guy whose family had all turned against him, over the inheritance, so I wrote a song about that on the last record. The idea stuck with me, and then along came the TV show ‘Succession‘, and I loved that series. That was in the back of my head too. It felt like an interesting topic that you could twist and turn a little bit.”
He continued:
“‘The Last Will And Testament‘ is a concept record of sorts. A restless musical journey in a way mirroring my own relationship with music as a consumer of it. I pick up something here, dismiss something there. I worship and I hate music at the same time. This ambivalence leads me down some type of creative path of my own and then, all of a sudden, a collection of songs has been written. Best-case scenario, these songs are good enough to impress the band. Good enough for the ‘powers that be’ in terms of the industry. Good enough for ‘you’?!”
“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 favor 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 okay too!”
Preorder Last Will And Testament Here:
The album has guest appearances from Jethro Tull vocalist Ian Anderson, Europe frontman and fellow Swede Joey Tempest and Åkerfeldt‘s teenage daughter Mirjam
“The Last Will And Testament” track listing:
01 – “§1”
02 – “§2”
03 – “§3”
04 – “§4”
05 – “§5”
06 – “§6”
07 – “§7”
08 – “A Story Never Told”
Opeth will headline Bloodstock on Friday, August 9, and continue their European festival tour throughout the summer. Their 2024 US tour kicks off on October 11 in Milwaukee.
* 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, U.K.
* Strings conducted by Dave Stewart at Angel Studios, London, U.K.
* Strings arrangement by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart
* Drum technicalities by Kit Cunningham
* Artwork by Travis Smith with directions from Mikael Åkerfeldt
OPETH is:
Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals, guitars
Fredrik Åkessson – Guitars, backing vocals
Martin Mendez – Bass guitar
Waltteri Vayrynen – Drums and percussion
Joakim Svalberg – Keyboards, backing vocals
