Opeth The Last Will & Testament

Opeth – The Last Will & Testament

Swedish prog titans Opeth will be releasing their 14th studio album, “The Last Will & Testament,” via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget! 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 the band mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on “The Last Will & Testament” were arranged by Åkerfeldt and 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.

Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flutist and Jethro Tull leader 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 we had not heard since the 2008 “Watershed”.

 

Available on:
Digipak CD, Digipak CD+BluRay, Clear with Black Cassette, 2LP Gatefold Vinyl Black 180g 45 RPM and on 2LP Gatefold Vinyl Opaque Silver 180g 45 RPM.

 

BluRay Content: 
1) Documentary: 01 Opening Titles – 02 Q – Rockfield – 03 §1 – 04 Q – Album – 05 Q – Stefan – 06 Q – Concept Album – 07 §2 – 08 Q – Joey Tempest – 09 §3 – 10 Q – Intro Waltt – 11 §4 – 12 Q – Ian Anderson – 13 §5 – 14 Q – Growls – 15 §6 – 16 Q – Backing Vocals – 17 §7 – 18 Q – Visual + Art – 19 §8 + Closing Titles

2) Dolby Atmos Mix: §1 – §2 – §3 – §4 – §5 – §6 – §7 – A Story Never Told

 

Press Quotes

More than three decades on from their formation, that Opeth can manage to surprise is a massive feat. That their music can still be so innovative and exciting is nothing short of astounding.
Metal Hammer – UK

The style is restlessly omnivorous, deftly changeable between moments of brutal death metals bucolic folk, orchestral segues, power balladry and the head-spinning melodic complexity of 1970s progressive rock.
The Wire – UK

Maybe it’s because he’s growling/roaring again, who knows, but the band are on fire throughout this releas
Fireworks – UK

Opeth tell a macabre story through a concept album mastered from start to finish. Wrapped in elegant imagery, The Last Will and Testament is a work that’s right in every way.
Rolling Stone – FR

While maintaining the dark approach of their beginnings, Mikael Akerfeldt’s band have intersected metal, prog and doom exploring intriguing new solutions. (…) So far one of the most important bands in the metal scene.
8/10 Classic Rock – IT

 ‘The Last Will and Testament’ succeed in the ability of being as dark, wicked and evil as it is mesmerising and seductive. Decoding all the details undoubtedly requires an investment (and good headphones), but the rewards are plentiful to say the least.
Sweden Rock – 9/10

This album seems to be the perfect blend of everything the band has done in the past and yet it is totally another. Sublime!
9/10 Rock Tribune – BE

The Last Will And Testament is not only the album of the year, but OPETH’s definitive ascent to the Olympus.
Rock Hard – DE (Album of the Month)

“The Last Will and Testament” is probably their most complete and fine album of the past 15 years. (…) The songs, the concept and the final result are truly outstanding.
Metal Hammer – DE

Opeth has once again stirred together a new remedy against genre simplicity from the ingredients of prog, jazz and krautrock, tinted with a few knife-edge tips of death metal.
Rolling Stone – DE

Mikael Äkerfeldt can’t quite hide his origins in death metal. When the growls sound particularly powerful and the guitars are particularly heavy, the beginnings of the Swedish prog rocker flash through the music.
Audio – DE

Opeth once again make it clear that their greatest quality lies in their masterful play with contrasts – which once again works to perfection here.
Visions – DE

The arrangements remain lush, the production is fantastic and the songs are highly complex, which is why, as always, you need several concentrated listens to find your own musical anchors […] the result is a total work of art.
Deaf Forever – DE

“Still one the most relevant metal band on the scene”
4/5 L’Echo – BE