Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM
Delving into themes of legacy, deception, regret, and the search for identity Opeth return with an unfolding narrative set in post-World War I era for their latest release The Last Will & Testament.
For three decades, Opeth fans have almost had and universal rule – to expect the unexpected, and once again the Swedish progressive titans have once conjured something extraordinary.
Even by their own standards, The band’s 14th studio exploration is easily one of the bands most fascinating chapters as we spiral into the musical layers and paragraphs contained within.
If this was not already enough, the band’s first out-and-out concept record, also features guest cameos from Jethro Tull legend Ian Anderson and Joey Tempest, frontman with Swedish rock gods Europe.
The opening offering S1 is a cacophony of delicate tones combined the welcome return of harsher elements that immediately makes an impact which effortlessly flows into the ambitious S2 which easily contains the albums most commanding and technical track with a plethora of uplifting tones and narrative elements.
Moving through into S3 with classical tones and prominent basslines with an almost falsetto like delivery the smoothness and effortless delivery in nothing but sublime with captivating solos before engulfing a hypnotic aura for one of the albums longest tracks. This is then immediately followed up with another example of Opeth’s musical proficiency S5 feels like a particularly heavy version of Ozric Tentacles as the crushingly heavy elements are spliced with almost goa trance, mystical elements which I came back to repeatedly. A splendid combination of tracks.
S6 takes an opportunity for the former Paradise Lost drummer to flourish with an absolute masterful demonstration forming the heartbeat of the track which then thrust all other elements into a vaporising cloud of elegance and goose bump invoking tones.
The final and seventh structured part S7 lingers with an ominous dynamic with a narrative style that flourishes within the aesthetic of this release before the final ballad A Story Never Told completes what has frankly been one of the most captivating musical journeys I have been on for a while and one I almost want to revisit immediately, and it almost feels like if war of the worlds was written now this would absolutely be included on that soundtrack.
“It’s a restless record for me,” concludes Åkerfeldt. “It’s an explosion of ideas, which I like. It’s a bit shorter and snappier. But I definitely didn’t want to rehash anything. The only thing that has come back is some of those death metal screams, but the mindset is still much more forward looking.
In typical Opeth fashion, it’s not a direct record that you understand and that you love or hate right away. It takes time and if you put that time into it, you might like it… or hate it! It feels like it was written on a whim. Which it was, in a way! I hear things on this album and think, where the fuck did that come from?”
There is always a level of apprehension when such a stalwart of scene returns with what looks like to be a quintessential moment where the elements and soundscapes that drew you in as a fan originally all seem to once again fit into place, there were times where I had wanted to delve back trough the bands discography before hearing this and as much as I love those releases in their own way I am glad that I held off as The Last Will & Testament is a beacon that all but confirms that this is utterly and absolutely a landmark record for the modern era.
The Last Will & Testament Track listing
- S1
- S2
- S3
- S4
- S5
- S6
- S7
- A Story Never Told
Line-up:
Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals
Joakim Svalberg – Keys, Vocals
Fredrik Åkesson – Guitars, Vocals
Martin Mendez – Bass Guitar
Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums
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