Swedish 2025 Grammi winners OPETH are pleased to unveil a full-on band performance video for "§1." The track is taken from their current success album The Last Will And Testament (released on November 22, 2024 through Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music), which was highly praised by press and fans alike and saw frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt return to growling vocal territory for the first time in 16 years. Their new material has additionally been warmly welcomed during their ongoing world tour, which is why the video arrives right in time as their touring cycle commences at the legendary Sweden Rock Festival today.
Åkerfeldt states: “So here’s a video (of sorts) for your ‘enjoyment.’ We had requests left, right & centre to do one of them measly ‘lyric videos’ or ‘visualizers’ for ‘content.’ Now, right there are three words I despise! I’ve made it clear in our circle of trust that we shouldn’t use the word ‘content’ even if that’s exactly what we’re working on. We’re not some goddamn influencers, now are we? So can we please settle on the old-fashioned word ‘video’ without meddling with modern online lingo? And a video is what it really is. A performance video, no less. We figured it’s a bit more happening to look at (should you decide to do so) than a lyric video. ‘§1’ is the opener on “The Last Will And Testament.” A good song. I like it! The video looks good. As good as it can look when involving 5 middle-aged, slightly hungover geezers miming along to something. We shot it in some industrial area in Birmingham (UK) on the latest Euro tour. Everyone (well, the band and crew) were quite eager to get out of there as we had dinner planned at a fancy curry house locally. Much thanks to Ash Pears and ASH TV, who were really professional (ie: quick!) and made the whole experience rather easy on us. Hope you dig it, people!”
Watch the video Below:
Order/stream The Last Will And Testament: https://opeth.rpm.link/lastwillPR
OPETH’s 14th album was written by Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (THE HEARD, ex-CRUCIFIED BARBARA). The Last Will And Testament was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (GHOST, THE HELLACOPTERS), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (KILLING JOKE, ROBERT PLANT), and OPETH, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of the band mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on The Last Will And Testament were arranged by Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart (EGG, KHAN) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting ‘photograph’ reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous Overlook Hotel photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, QUEEN) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flutist and JETHRO TULL leader Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson’s signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7," he narrates on "§1," "§2," "§4," and "§7." Joining Anderson, EUROPE’s Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2," while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1."
The Last Will And Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of OPETH’s finest material to date. Just as OPETH welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story - this time with growls we had not heard since the 2008 Watershed.
More from “The Last Will And Testament”:
"§1 [Radio Edit]" OFFICIAL AUDIO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwDrIelXirY
"§1 [Radio Edit]" OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmFQE3TlPA
"§3" OFFICIAL AUDIO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ph5o3xpJ_8
"§4" OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UenLRXki8KA
The Last Will And Testament ALBUM COMMENTARY:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKldtkUJocw
Additional drum, guitar and bass play-through videos can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@opeth.
