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OPETH Return With The Last Will & Testament Album

By Larry Petro, News Monkey
Sunday, August 11, 2024 @ 8:00 AM

Out October 11th; First Single "§1" Streaming

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Photo by Terhi Ylimainen

Swedish prog legends OPETH are now pleased to reveal that their 14th studio album, The Last Will & Testament, is set for release on October 11, 2024 via via Reigning Phoenix Music/Moderbolaget! In celebration, the band is now sharing the first single from the offering, "§1" available on all DSPs. Listen BELOW. 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.

In addition to OPETH's previously announced North American headlining tour, which will take place in October 2024, the band is also now revealing an extensive European run for February 2025!

General sales will start on Friday, August 9 at 10:00 A.M. local time.

OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt 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 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 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, Akerfeldt 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-artwork that put '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?"

OPETH's fourteenth album was written by Akerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Ronnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). The Last Will & Testament was co-produced by Akerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and OPETH, with Boman, Akerfeldt, and the rest of OPETH mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on The Last Will & Testament were arranged by Akerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, 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.

Akerfeldt 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 Akerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Akerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".

The Last Will & Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of b>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 cover artwork can be found below along with the tracklisting!

The Last Will & Testament Tracklist:

"§1"

"§2"

"§3"

"§4"

"§5"

"§6"

"§7"

"A Story Never Told"