Opeth have announced a new album titled The last testamentAhead of its October 11 release, the Swedish progressive metal titans have released the lead single “§1,” which can be heard below.
The last testament It marks Opeth's first album in five years and 14th overall, following 2019's In the tail of VenusThe album will be supported by a previously announced North American tour, which begins on the same day as the LP's release and runs from October 11 in Milwaukee through October 31 in San Francisco (Pick up tickets here).
According to a press release, The last testament is a concept album “set in the post-World War I era, which unfolds the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch whose last will reveals shocking family secrets.”
Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt stated: “I love this record. I have to say (write it). Maybe I'm even proud? I guess there are some familiar ingredients there. Most of our music has come from the same source, so I guess it's not a big surprise if it's going to sound like 'us'. I'm kind of amazed by what we did with it.” The last testament. It seems like a dream.”
He continued: “I hope there’s some ‘coherence’ and ‘songwriting ability’, but what do I know? I tend to favour the ‘weird’ over the ‘obvious’, but I feel like I’m in the minority, and that’s okay. So… warning! Don’t expect an instant download (as usual), but if you ‘get it’ (have you gotten it yet?) right away, that’s okay too!”
Fans of Åkerfeldt’s growling death metal will be pleased to hear them return on “§1” after a period of clean singing on recent releases. The album’s tracks are titled “§1,” “§2,” “§3,” etc., up until the eighth and final song, which is called “A Story Never Told.”
The last testament It also marks the band’s first album with new drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, who replaced Martin Axenrot in 2022. “I knew Walt was a great drummer, but I didn’t know how good he was,” Åkerfeldt enthused. “We’re not bad musicians in this band. We can play. But we sat there in Rockfield Studios and he was just doing these crazy, technical songs in one take.”
In addition to the album, Opeth also announced a European tour for winter 2025, running from February 9 in Helsinki to February 23 in Brussels.
Listen to “§1” and check out the album artwork, track listing, and tour dates below.
The last testament Artwork:
The last testament Songs list:
01. §1
02. §2
03. §3
04. §4
05. §5
06. §6
07. §7
08. A story never told
Opeth Tour Dates 2024-2025:
10/11 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin at The Rave/Eagles Club
12/10 – Cleveland, Ohio at the Agora Theatre and Ballroom
10/14 – Toronto, Ontario @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
10/15 – Montreal, QC @ L'Olympia
10/16 – Worcester, MA at Palladium
10/18 – Brooklyn, New York @ Kings Theater
10/19 – Pittsburgh, PA at the AE Stage
10/20 – Washington, DC at the Warner Theatre
10/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
10/23 – New Orleans, LA @ Fillmore New Orleans
10/24 – Austin, Texas at Emo's Austin
10/25 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theater
10/27 – Denver, Colorado at the Mission Ballroom
10/29 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
10/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater
10/31 – San Francisco, California, at The Warfield
02/09 – Helsinki, Finland @ Ice Hall
11/02 – Stockholm, SE @ Cirkus
02/12 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene
02/14 – Copenhagen, DK @ DR Koncerthuset
02/15 – Hamburg, DE @ Docks
02/17 – Cologne, DE @ Palladium
02/18 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom
02/19 – Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
02/21 – Paris, DR @ L'Olympia
02/22 – Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
02/23 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
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