This is likely the final Release Day Friday of any substance for me this year. And what a start to it! One of my Top5 favourite bands of all time,
Opeth, with a career spanning over 30 years, released their 14th LP, and first album in 5 years,
The Last Will And Testament (
TLWAT). So of course I'm going to do a huge, fucking write up for it! It's 8 tracks, about 51 minutes. And, finally, after waiting for what seemed like forever, and after avoiding the singles, I have given the album its first (of what will surely turn in to many) listens.
Wow. Fuck yes. Mikael, Martin and the boys are back! Mikael has brought his death metal vocals back after being absent from an Opeth record since 2008's
Watershed. The songwriting on this album is masterful. Akerfeldt continues to amaze me with his songwriting prowess. And the production on this record sounds immaculate. Stylistically, think of a cross between 2019's
In Cauda Venenum (my 2019 AOTY) and it's progressive rock brilliance, 2008's
Watershed and its methodical to and fro from peaceful to chaotic
, and 1999's
Still Life (my favourite Opeth album) and its grand conceptual approach and beautiful storytelling
. TLWAT is the first true concept album
Opeth has put out since
Still Life.
The concept of
TLWAT is what drives the music and flow. From what I can gather after just one listen, the story centers on the estate of a wealthy man, and involves a lawyer (who I learned is voiced by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame) and a patriarch. Throughout the album, Akerfeldt changes his vocal performace (from heavy to clean) to fit who is speaking in the story. I was able to pick up bits and pieces of the story, but I am very much looking into diving deeper into it during my upcoming listens. The story seems to build through the first 6 tracks up until track 7 and penultimate track, "
§7", where Ian Anderson reads the will. Then I was greeted with a tonal shift and beautiful clarity of the closing track, "
A Story Never Told". Mikael's vocal performance is excellent and the guitar solo is one of
Opeth's best. This track, along with "
§7", are surely in my running for best songs of the year.
Instrumentally,
TLWAT is
Opeth's heaviest album since
Watershed. But I would argue that it's likely one of their most accomplished. Joakim's keyboard and piano work is the most impressive and standout it's been in his tenure with the band. New drummer Waltteri sounds excellent behind the kit. I think he is a great fit. Fredrik continues to amaze me with his guitar solos and guitar leads, and Martin, once again, is the backbone of the band, as one of the best bassists to ever bass it up. And I've already given my praises to Mikael - he does it all.
There's no other group or artist out there making music like this. And there's no band out there making music this accomplished at album 14, over 30 years in. This should be experienced by everyone. If you're not a fan of the death metal vocal style, don't fret, I would say they only make up about 30-40% of the vocals. But they're a part of the story! You've gotta be open-minded, and you've gotta appreciate Akerfeldt's range. From clean to guttural, he is truly in a class of his own. Is this
Opeth's best album? No. Is it in their Top5? I can't make that call yet.. It's far too soon and their discography is far too strong. Is it one of the best albums of 2024? Yes, indeed. Does it have #1 AOTY potential? Yes, indeed. We shall see where it lands for me.
List of 2024
️
with orchestral arrangements epicness! I love the lush string 
section, the horns 
, the percussions
especially the bongo solo on "I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All" The production is on point and the song-writing is meticulously crafted. Simply put, Josh Tillmans sixth studio album is nothing short of brilliant!
intlanthem.bandcamp.com
