Opeth announce new album ‘The Last Will & Testament’

OPETH have announced a new album!

Titled The Last Will & Testament, the upcoming album from the Swedish progressive metal heavyweights is the follow-up to 2019’s In Cauda Venenum, and is scheduled to be released in October this year, via Moderbolaget/Reigning Phoenix Music.

Speaking about the upcoming album, vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt says, “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 & 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.

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-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?”

Alongside the announcement of the new album, OPETH have released a new song from the upcoming album; §1.

Listen to §1 here: 

Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:

Track List: 

1. §1
2. §2
3. §3
4. §4
5. §5
6. §6
7. §7
8. A Story Never Told

The Last Will & Testament is set for release on October 11th via Moderbolaget/Reigning Phoenix Music. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on OPETH like their official page on Facebook.