Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
The Last Will and Testament
2024 studio album by Opeth From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The Last Will and Testament is the fourteenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. The album was originally set to be released on 11 October 2024 through Reigning Phoenix Music, but was pushed back to 22 November 2024 due to manufacturing delays.[10][11][12] 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.[13] It also marks the return of death metal elements such as death growls not used since Watershed (2008).[14] Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull appears on five tracks, contributing flute and spoken word.
Remove ads
Concept
The album is a concept album set in the post-World War I era, unfolding the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch (whose wife 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.[15][16] Nearly all songs on this album start with a section symbol and a numeral from 1 to 7 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.[16]
Remove ads
Reception
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.[4][7]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mikael Åkerfeldt.
Personnel
Opeth
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead and backing vocals, cittra, Mellotrons, percussion & FX
- Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocals
- Joakim Svalberg – acoustic piano, Hammond organ, Mellotrons, Fender Rhodes & Moog, backing vocals and FX
- Martín Méndez – bass, backing vocals
- Waltteri Väyrynen – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Additional Personnel
- Ian Anderson – flute (§4, §7, A Story Never Told), spoken word (§1, §2, §4, and §7)
- Joey Tempest – backing vocals (§2)
- Mia Westlund – harp (§4)
- Mirjam Åkerfeldt – spoken word (§1)
- London Session Orchestra – strings
- Dave Stewart and Mikael Åkerfeldt – string arrangements
- 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
- Mikael Åkerfeldt - art direction
- Terhi Ylimäinen – photography
- Amanda Martinez & Independent Kostym – clothing
- Klara Rönnqvist Fors – dramatic consultation
Remove ads
Charts
Remove ads
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads