New Opeth album "The Last Will and Testament" releasing October 11th 2024 (Atmos mix!)

[stoopid]

I came in at Watershed. Not as much into the growly vocals but I've softened to them as well as some other heavier bands that use them, since then. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan or willing to engrave them as my first body art, but I do have everything of theirs on disc and/or surround. Firmly in my top 5 prog bands.

[I have also not listened to a single second of the pre-released material, but that's my generally strategy now for any bands I already like]

 

[srbjab]

Mine (ordered in August) is supposed to be here by 10PM, but isn't out for delivery yet (it's now 1230PM). Whatever Amazon thinks is this bluray has moved from Minneapolis to Las Vegas in the past day, so unless they're blowing smoke there's definitely a bluray with my name on it coming soon. Hopefully!

Friday, November 22
4:53 AM
Package left an Amazon facility.
Las Vegas, Nevada US
4:11 AM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility.
Las Vegas, Nevada US
2:23 AM
Package left an Amazon facility.
Erlanger, KENTUCKY US
Thursday, November 21
9:50 PM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility.
Erlanger, KENTUCKY US
5:30 PM
Package left an Amazon facility.
Minneapolis, MN US
12:31 PM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility.
Minneapolis, MN US
6:37 AM

Package left the shipper facility

My copy from Amazon is still due to be delivered this afternoon - tracking shows it left the carrier hub for delivery a few hours ago. Amazon must have received a limited number for release day.

 

[stoopid]

My copy from Amazon is still due to be delivered this afternoon - tracking shows it left the carrier hub for delivery a few hours ago. Amazon must have received a limited number for release day.

That's possible, mine also hasn't hit out for delivery so there's a risk I'll end up being queued like the others.

UPDATE: changed to 'tomorrow' by 10PM. So... better than December something I suppose. Amazon's had moments of hot mess the past year, so there's still a chance I don't see this until December even if it's sitting here in a warehouse the whole time.

 

[Marplot]

I came to Opeth after the release of Ghost Reveries and fell hard. Getting ready to spin the new one as soon as I am done ripping.

 

[SHB]

For me, seeing them open for Porcupine Tree In Absentia tour, they were promoting Damnation. Blown away by their performance. It was at the WHK THEATRE in Cleveland.

 

[Marplot]

Dream Theater, Opeth and 3 ... yeah I spent A LOT of money the next day catching up on 3 and Opeth

 

[srbjab]

A bit relieved that my copy of TLWAT arrived from Amazon today as expected - probably due to the fact I ordered as soon as the listing appeared. Love the gothic vibe on the packaging, along with the enclosed poster with lyrics and credits. Amazing that someone of Mikael Akerfeldt's talent is still so invested in this group, the music, production and presentation, after all these years. Will be listening in depth tomorrow...

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

For me, seeing them open for Porcupine Tree In Absentia tour, they were promoting Damnation. Blown away by their performance. It was at the WHK THEATRE in Cleveland.

I've been to their concerts a few times between 2009 and 2018. What was interesting was how in the later concerts they played very few of their "clean vocal" year songs. Almost like they were worried the fans would rise up with pitchforks, lol.

I actually prefer clean vocals, but I'm not a fan of Heritage, Pale Communion or Sorceress. I just found them really derivative and uninspired. I've listened to this album once now and it sounds quite good at first listen, although my favourite of recent years is still In Cauda Venenum. As someone said on Reddit, "Newpeth, Oldpeth.... I like Allpeth".

 

[RuudMans]

Hm. Okay. I have only listened to the stereo version a few times, but it leaves me rather cold. Yes, there are some great moments, but as a whole the album leaves me rather underwhelmed. I will not fall into the trap of thinking the album will be better in Atmos, as the source material (you know, the actual songs) just is not really all that fantastic, in my opinion.
Pale Communion, Watershed and In Cauda Venenum (especially the Swedish version) contain material that I favour over this latest offering.

 

[GOS]

LOL! First off, I'm not an Opeth fan. At all really. Yet, that doesn't mean I dislike them. Just means, I've never given them much of a thought. I bought this one just due to the price, and Atmos.

I think it sounds super. I only listened to tracks 1 and 2 so far, and I love how they sound. Don't ask me to describe how it sounds compared to older albums as I've likely never heard them. Anyway, this thing cranks.

My system is just a 5.2.4, but immediately in the first song, I felt that there was a noticeable amount of activity coming from behind me. Above me? I have no clue, I have no desire to get out of the sweet spot and stick my ear up there. Pointless IMO.

 

[Thonolan]

The beautiful but slightly puzzling thing about Opeth, at least in my experience following the band for a bit more than two decades and seeing all kinds of opinions about their music, is that there's rarely any consensus on which their best albums are. With most other bands I know, at least a big part of their fanbase tends to agree on that, but with Opeth it's different. There are the die-hard fans of the first two albums (which are quite different to the rest in many respects), the "My Arms, Your Hearse in the only truly balanced album between older and newer Opeth sound" fans, the classic, perhaps more abundant Still Life & Blackwater Park enthusiasts, the many who consider Ghost Reveries to be the best thing they've ever done, the "clean vocals only" listeners who only enjoy Damnation and their post-2008 output...

And you know what? All of them are right. I honestly don't think there are any drastic differences in quality between their albums*, despite the sometimes very notable stylistic differences. I do believe the individual preferences have more to do with personal tastes in this case. I wouldn't say this about most other bands/artists. At the same time, this has made me realize that I cannot trust any review of their music, not even to get a very general idea of how it sounds. I've heard so many completely opposite views about a given Opeth album or song that it's an exercise in futility.

*I have to make an exception: I honestly think Sorceress is a failure both in songwriting and production (and the 5.1 mix sucks).