Opeth - The Last Will And Testament

The Last Will And Testament is the fourteenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, released in November 2024 via Moderbolaget Records and Reigning Phoenix.

"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”, narrates band leader Mikael Akerfeldt.

"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 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!"

This is the band's first studio album since In Cauda Venenum (2019), and the first release with drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, who in 2022 officially replaced Martin Axenrot after his departure the year before.

It also marks the return of death metal elements such as death growls not used since Watershed (2008). Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull appears on five tracks, contributing flute and spoken word.

The album received acclaim from critics and fans alike. It was praised as a return to form, akin to earlier efforts like Ghost Reveries and Watershed, while simultaneously expanding upon the prog-infused sound established in the band's recent catalogue, especially since Pale Communion. Ian Anderson's contributions were also singled out for praise.

This album is a compact disc and Blu-Ray package (Blu-Ray features a dolby atmos mix & video documentary) housed in a 6 panel tri-fold digipak with a 12 page booklet, pressed in Germany via Reigning Phoenix.