Opeth Announces New Album, "Watershed"

BW&BK has received the following press release:

New York, NY: "Swedish progressive metal titans Opeth, often credited as being forward thinkers who are a genre of one, are proud to announce Watershed as the title of their forthcoming album, due out on Roadrunner Records on June 2nd, 2008. The album, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored Opeth tradition; its modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock.

Watershed is truly one of those special records that cycles through a variety of moods, speeds and textures, complete with lots of subtleties and nuances of sound. Because of its expansive scope, Watershed is destined to land the album atop many "Best Of" lists. Album opener 'Coil' is a gorgeous acoustic number, featuring local folk vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, while 'Heir Apparent' will knock listeners unconscious with its blunt force metal. Always one to defy the rules, Opeth posits sung vocals over artillery-like blast beats on 'The Lotus Eater', cementing their reputation as innovators and redefiners.

Watershed combines elements of modern metal, prog rock, free jazz and hints of European folk music, all of which come together for a seamless, unique collection of songs that will leave an indelible mark upon all who listen. Watershed is the first Opeth release to feature new guitarist Fredrik Akesson and drummer Martin Axenrot and is the band's second effort for Roadrunner Records. Watershed is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2005's critically acclaimed Ghost Reveries. The complete track listing is as follows: 'Coil', 'Heir Apparent', 'The Lotus Eater', 'Burden', 'Porcelain Heart', 'Hessian Peel' and 'Hex Omega'."

As previously reported, BW&BK scribe Dom Lawson spoke to Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt for an in-depth studio report that will appear in BW&BK's first issue of 2008 - #109, out in late February. An excerpt from the chat follows:

BW&BK: What exactly does the new Opeth record sound like? Will it be as diverse and extravagant as Ghost Reveries, as mellow and graceful as Damnation or as skull-mincingly heavy as My Arms Your Hearse?

“All I wanted was for it to sound f**king exciting,” states Akerfeldt. “I think that if you listen to the album now, listening in real time, you’ll reach the middle of the album and you can almost hear us moving, changing, going somewhere, but I don’t know exactly where! Usually I use words like ‘really progressive’ and so on, but this time I don’t really know what to say. It’s very extreme in parts and it’s extreme in both directions. It’s not so catchy and it’s not very commercial sounding.”

BW&BK: Although it will be many weeks before most of us get a chance to listen to the new Opeth album in its entirety, Akerfeldt has been eager to play his latest song to those who know him best. Thus far, it seems that reactions could not have been any better.

“The people I’ve played it to have been blown away,” he says. “I played it to Anders and Jonas from KATATONIA, and some label people have heard it, and some friends and my wife. The people that would dare to say so if it was sh*t! Anders called me up after he heard a version of the master and he said that it was the best album we’ve done. That’s all I need to hear. The fans will obviously be divided but I can’t be bothered about that. That doesn’t really matter. Worrying about that doesn’t change anything.”

Recorded at Fascination Street, in Orebro, just south of Stockholm, the titled-but-we’re-not-telling-you-yet new album features seven new Akerfeldt compositions and was produced in collaboration with studio owner Jens Bogren. The first Opeth album to feature the talents of both drummer Martin ‘Axe’ Axenrod and guitarist Fredrik Akesson (ex-Arch Enemy), it’s an album that Mikael Akerfeldt considers to be crucial in the band’s ongoing evolution.