Live report OPETH & PAATOS, Laeiszhalle, Hamburg – September 29th, 2025

The next set of shows in Opeth’s “The Last Will and Testament” tour was starts at a great location in Hamburg. The Laeiszhalle is hosting the Swedish metal outfit tonight, and they are joined by a band called Paatos. Laeiszhalle is a traditional concert hall which opened in 1908, with all kinds of events and artists performing there. Tonight it is Opeth filling the room with great music and we are facing a sold-out show.

Paatos take to the stage at 20:00 sharp. I haven’t heard of the band before, so I am curious to hear their music. Paatos are a five-piece progressive rock band from Sweden. Given their musical style, Paatos fit very well with tonight’s setup, although the sound that resonates through the room is generally calmer than that of Opeth, with more melancholy infusing their music.

Singer Pertonella Nettermalm is at the heart of the performance. Her voice covers a wide range, from calm singing to loud screams. Not only does she have a great voice, but she also contributes percussion and even uses a megaphone to start a song.

Paatos are a group of passionate musicians who present music that allows for a deep dive and fits in perfectly with tonight’s musical offering.

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As we are in a traditional concert hall, there is a nice little feature whereby a bell announces the end of the break and everyone is asked to take their seats again. Opeth fans, of course, follow this call, and at 9 pm the Swedish five-piece enters the stage to huge applause.

Opeth is all about excellent music, and Mikael Åkerfeldt is an excellent entertainer too. His dry wit, spiced up with a bit of irony, leads him to welcome everybody with “Hello Frankfurt”, despite knowing full well that we are in Hamburg. It’s always the twinle in the eye and there are a few more stories to come during the set, including a discussion about Glögg and Glühwein. No one seems to agree with the fan’s remark that the best Glühwein comes from Nuremberg.

These moments are fun, but of course it’s about the music. Not many bands have the ability to blend fragile acoustic moments where you could hear a needle dropping with harsh death metal blasts. Opeth are a band that have all the tools at their disposal, and they use them all tonight. Fans enjoyed this stunning two-hour show on Monday evening — there’s no better way to start the week!

As it is the “The Last Will and Testament” tour, there is a certain focus on the latest release. Three tracks are performed, starting with §1. It’s a blistering start to a set that also takes everyone back to the band’s early days. “The Night and the Silent Water” is one of the great moments, showing the bands’ melodic death metal approach from back then.

As usual, the highlights come towards the end, with ‘”Ghost of Perdition” bringing the regular set to a close. Opeth leave the stage, and of course the fans demand an encore, which the band happily provides. A stunning version of “Deliverance” provides a superb finale to a set that shook the foundations of the Laeiszhalle. This is also the moment when everyone stands up instead of remaining seated, reflecting the greatness of the song and the show.

It was certainly one of the heaviest shows that the iconic venue had hosted in its long history, and it was a great night. Fans enjoyed two hours of excellent metal, including everything from progressive to death metal and classic rock.