2016 marks the monumental return of one of heavy rock’s most unique, revered and fearless bands of the last three decades, OPETH. Over the years, the experimental, prog veterans have continuously reinvented themselves, pushing the boundaries of their craft and expectations of fans and critics alike. Today, OPETH announces their 12th album, “Sorceress”, will be released on September 30th and have unveiled the artwork and track list for their imminent masterpiece.
OPETH’s new album, “Sorceress”, their first for Nuclear Blast via the band’s imprint label Moderbolaget Records, is proof chief architect Mikael Åkerfeldt has a near-endless well of greatness inside. From the album’s opener ‘Persephone’ to ‘The Wilde Flowers’ and ‘Strange Brew’ to the album’s counterpart title tracks ‘Sorceress’ and ‘Sorceress II’, OPETH’s twelfth full-length is an unparalleled adventure, where visions cleverly and secretly change, colors mute as if weathered by time, and sounds challenge profoundly.
”The new album »Sorceress« is our 12th studio album since our beginnings in 1990,” says Åkerfeldt. “I find it difficult to understand that we’ve been going on for 26 years, let alone that we’ve made 12 records now, all of which I am very proud of. ”Sorceress” is no exception. I love this album, as does the whole band. I wrote the music during 5-6 months and we spent only 12 days recording it at Rockfield studios in Wales. I find that once again we’ve taken a step forward. Or sideways, Or backwards. Somewhere!? It’s different! It’s extremely diverse. And if I may say so myself, extremely good. I feel the right to say that since I like to think I know this band better than anyone on the planet. Also, I always manage to detach myself from the record and listen as a fan. It’s a fine little record. My favorite in our discography right now. Of course. That’s how it should be, right? It’s both fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed. Heavy and calm. Just the way we like it. Hopefully there’ll be others around the globe sharing this opinion. It was a joy to make it. A fucking joy to record it, and a sheer joy listening to it. So there you have it!”
For »Sorceress«, OPETH returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from Queen, Rush and Judas Priest, where the Swedes had tracked “Pale Communion” in 2014 with Tom Dalgety. The band spent 12 days recording at the countryside venue among its serene and inspiring surroundings. The result is nothing short of a powerful and intriguing record that will add yet another layer to the band’s celebrated career.
“Sorceress” Track List:
1. Persephone
2. Sorceress
3. The Wilde Flowers
4. Will O The Wisp
5. Chrysalis
6. Sorceress 2
7. The Seventh Sojourn
8. Strange Brew
9. A Fleeting Glance
10. Era
11. Persephone (Slight Return)
OPETH will return to Europe this November for a spectacular headline tour.
OPETH European headline shows:
05.11. S Stockholm – Annexet
06.11. N Oslo – Konserthus
07.11. DK Copenhagen – DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
08.11. D Hamburg – Docks
10.11. A Vienna – Arena
11.11. D Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
12.11. D Munich – Theaterfabrik
13.11. CH Zurich – Volkshaus
14.11. I Milan – Alcatraz
16.11. D Cologne – E-Werk
17.11. B Brussels – AB
18.11. NL Tilburg – 013
19.11. UK London – SSE Arena Wembley
21.11. F Paris – Le Trianon
23.11. LUX Luxemburg – Den Atelier
24.11. D Berlin – Astra Kulturhaus
Catch the band on the following festivals or on the US headline tour:
30.07. FIN Oulu – Qstock Festival
05.08. P Corroios – Vagos Open Air Festival
19.08. B Hasselt – Pukkelpop Festival
24.09. USA San Bernardino, CA – Ozzfest
w/ THE SWORD
29.09. USA Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
30.09. USA Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
01.10. USA New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
02.10. USA Boston, MA – House Of Blues
04.10. CDN Montreal, QC – Metropolis
05.10. CDN Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
07.10. USA Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
08.10. USA Akron, OH – Good Year Theater @ East End
09.10. USA Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
10.10. USA Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12.10. USA Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
13.10. USA Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
14.10. USA Austin, TX – Emo‘s
15.10. USA Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
18.10. USA Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
19.10. USA Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
21.10. USA Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
22.10. USA San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
24.10. USA Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
25.10. USA Seattle, WA – The Moore
26.10. CDN Vancouver, BC – Orpheu
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 