Review OPETH “The Last Will and Testament”

Opeth has always been a band that surprises with new twists and turns in their music. Founded in 1990, the band started as a death metal force and is one of the pioneers of Scandinavian death metal. Over time, Opeth changed their musical compass, and it was the “Watershed” album that featured growls for the last time in many years. Instead, the band turned into a progressive rock and metal driven band, which surprisingly didn’t affect their popularity. On the contrary. Today, Opeth is more present than ever and a very respected band.

Driven by Mikael Åkerfeldt, the new album is as unpredictable as the previous releases. Even the title and the artwork show a different twist. “The Last Will & Testament” is a rather unusual title and the sepia-toned artwork with the huge family portrait shows a curiosity-promoting twist. Last but not least, the tracklist contains some surprises. With the exception of the closer “A Story Never Told”, every song on the album is simply titled after a chapter.

“The Last Will & Testament” is a kind of concept album. As Åkerfeldt became interested in family constellations and relationships, also sparked by the “Succession” TV series, he started to write songs about such an overarching theme, which already influenced the previous album. Now, Opeth is taking it to the next level and dedicating an entire album to the subject.

The latest effort is as dark as the artwork suggests and “The Last Will & Testament” is also heavier. It’s a bit more metal without losing the progressive charm. The first single “§1” already hinted at such a direction. And there’s something else that wasn’t predictable. The growls are back. Although not as dominant as in the early days, Åkerfeldt uses them as an accentuated stylistic element to express the mood of the album and the context.

Progressive metal band Opeth 2024. Line up: Mikael Åkerfeldt, Martin Mendez, Fredrik Åkesson, Joakim Svalberg, Waltteri Väyrynen. Promotional photo by Terhi Ylimä

We turn the page and come to “§2”, which is something special because it features some backing vocals from Europe frontman Joey Tempest. It contributes to the spirit of a song that reflects the dramatic approach to music. “§2” contains so many twists and turns that are the fuel for an expressive piece of music.

The 14th Opeth album shows the band at their best. There is for example the narrative “§3”, which is a bit less aggressive than the first two songs, but doesn’t compromise on intensity. Åkerfeldt switches to clean vocals and while the songs fit perfectly into the story, the theme reflects a slightly different vibe.

Time to open a new chapter. “§4” features Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson and his contribution opens up a whole new horizon for Opeth. Just listen to the middle section of this masterfully crafted song and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Anderson’s vocals and legendary flute are perfect for the story as they add to the cinematic vibe of this concept album. It’s like two worlds coming together and the result is thrilling. The progressive 70s sound of Jethro Tull and the progressive heaviness of Opeth become one. The same goes for “§7” which is a dark and very atmospheric song that shows how strong a concept album can be.

While Anderson adds a narrative piece to the whole, the song is a powerful and theatrical milestone in Opeth’s history. Åkerfeldt and his bandmates manage to surprise with every album they release, and “The Last Will & Testament” is the latest and most complete effort. While listening to these songs, the story unfolds immediately, creates pictures and each song has a kind of sonic cliffhanger that increases the excitement for what comes next.

Whether it is the classic start of “§5” or the twists that remind you of the rich sound of Queen, each of these melodies is a treat for your ears, ending with “A Story Never Told”. It is a calm and relaxed way in which the song begins. In a way it is the calm after the storm, driven by the piano and enriched by some classical arrangements. The song is reminiscent of 70s prog rock and connects to the more recent Opeth albums. It’s a wonderful way to end an album that is breathtakingly good.

It feels very much like “The Last Will & Testament” being a blend of what the band has released in the past. There are references that span the “Ghost Reveries” era to the more recent days with “In Cauda Venemum. Opeth’s latest effort is yet another stunning release, a breathtaking album that shows again the musical vision of Mikael Åkerfeldt, with his bandmates allowing him to turn his vision into reality. This album is the next milestone for Opeth and for metal in general.