The Last Will and Testament

The Last Will and Testament is the upcoming fourteenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, set to be released on 22 November 2024 through Reigning Phoenix Music.[2][3] It will be the band's first studio album since In Cauda Venenum (2019), marking the longest gap between studio albums in their career as of 2024, and its first release with drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, who in 2022 officially replaced Martin Axenrot after his departure the year before.[4] It also marks the return of death metal elements such as death growls since Watershed (2008), as well as being their first fully conceptual album since Still Life (1999).

The Last Will and Testament
Studio album by
Released22 November 2024 (2024-11-22)
RecordedFebruary – March 2024
StudioRockfield (Monmouthshire)
Angel Recording (London)
Hammerthorpe
Flowcreations
The Tower (Stockholm)
GenreProgressive death metal[1]
Length50:52
Label
Producer
  • Mikael Åkerfeldt
  • Opeth
  • Stefan Boman
  • Dave Stewart
Opeth chronology
In Cauda Venenum
(2019)
The Last Will and Testament
(2024)
Singles from The Last Will and Testament
  1. "§1"
    Released: 1 August 2024
  2. "§3"
    Released: 6 September 2024

Concept

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The album is a concept album set in the post-World War I era, unfolding the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch (who is infertile) whose last will and testament reveals shocking family secrets. The album begins with the reading of the father's will in his mansion. Among those in attendance are three siblings, twin boys and 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. The twins are the result of a donor procreation. During the reading of the will, the twins find out that they are not related to the patriarch, and consequently they are left out of the will. The girl is the patriarch's only child by blood and so she is his true heiress, although she is the daughter of the patriarch's maid.[5][6] Nearly all songs on this album start with a section symbol and a number next to it in their title, except for the closing track "A Story Never Told"; this was explained by frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt:

The lyrics are like the reading of the testament. That's why the songs don't have titles, just paragraph one... two... down to seven.[6]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Mikael Åkerfeldt

No.TitleLength
1."§1"5:56
2."§2"5:33
3."§3"5:10
4."§4"7:00
5."§5"7:29
6."§6"6:03
7."§7"6:30
8."A Story Never Told"7:11
Total length:50:52

Personnel

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Opeth

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Additional personnel[7][5]

Technical personnel[7][5]

  • Stefan Boman, Joe Jones and Opeth – engineering
  • Stefan Boman, Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth – mixing
  • Miles Showell – mastering
  • Kit Cunningham – drum technician
  • Travis Smith – cover art
  • Terhi Ylimäinen – photography
  • Amanda Martinez & Independent Kostym – clothing
  • Klara Rönnqvist Fors – dramatic consultation

References

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  1. ^ DaVita, Joe (2 August 2024). "Opeth Bring Back Death Growls on First Song Off New Concept Album 'The Last Will and Testament'". WBUF. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Opeth – New Album Details Revealed". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Opeth Shares New Single, Reveals 'The Last Will And Testament' Album Details". Blabbermouth.net. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Opeth Enlists Ex-Paradise Lost Drummer Waltteri Väyrynen". Blabbermouth.net. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Opeth Shares a New Single "§1" - New Album Coming Soon". Ghost Cult Magazine. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b ""Screaming, for me, is almost like rapping": Mikael Åkerfeldt talks…". Kerrang!. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b Robin, Laurent (9 July 2024). "Albums". Opeth – Official Website. Retrieved 2 August 2024.