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Opeth Signs With Nuclear Blast To Release New Album "Sorceress"
Band Photo: Opeth (?)
Update: a brief snippet from the new album in a recording video has now come online and can be heard right here.
Nuclear Blast Entertainment is very pleased to announce the signing of Swedish band Opeth. The label comments:
"Always an unstoppable force for uniqueness amid a sea of generic swill, Opeth have been setting the rulebook ablaze, and ploughing a uniquely progressive and exploratory furrow for over 25 years now. Neither conforming nor exhibiting any desire to be restricted to a single genre, Opeth, quite simply, have a time honored tradition of blowing our minds with both class and forward thinking. All these years later, nothing and everything has changed once again with their forthcoming album 'Sorceress.'"
"We're happy to confirm that we have indeed signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment and will be putting out our 12th studio album 'Sorceress' via our own imprint, Moderbolaget Records," states Mikael Åkerfeldt. "The decision was made in Markus Staiger's (Nuclear Blast kingpin) ridiculously potent Porsche going at 150 mph somewhere in the south of Germany. We're happy to be part of the NB team and look forward to a fruitful relationship."
Nuclear Blast owner, Markus Staiger, continues: "I am honored that Opeth have joined the Nuclear Blast family. Mikael Åkerfeldt and his fellow bandmates have demonstrated time and time again that Opeth are a band that never release an album that sounds the same. You never know what their new music will sound like! Nuclear Blast has been following the musical journey of Opeth from the beginning with 'Orchid' to landmark albums like 'Still Life,' 'Deliverance,' 'Damnation,' and 'Blackwater Park,' right up to 2014's 'Pale Communion!' The band have become one of the most challenging artists in rock music today. It is not often that we get to work with musicians of their caliber and I'm thrilled to have such a unique genre-leader on the label. The future for Opeth and Nuclear Blast looks very bright."
Monte Conner, Nuclear Blast Entertainment president adds: "Opeth are a band that have continually evolved and moved forward at every stage. Always innovating and always continuing to challenge themselves as players and writers. They are simply fearless. I can't wait to hear what they come up with next! It's an amazing feeling to be reunited with one of my favorite bands and I look forward to my colleagues here at Nuclear Blast being able to have their own Opeth experience and role in the band's continuing journey. I want to thank Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth for putting their faith and trust in everyone here at Nuclear Blast."
The band is currently in the studio with Tom Dalgety putting the finishing touches on "Sorceress." A release for the album is tentatively scheduled for the fall via Moderbolaget Records / Nuclear Blast Entertainment. See Opeth live:
17.06. S Gothenburg - Ullevi Stadium (w/ IRON MAIDEN)
02.07. E Barcelona - Be Prog! My Friend
07.07. FIN Helsinki - Monsters Of Rock Festival
09.07. IS Neskaupstadur - Eistnaflug Festival
30.09. FIN Oulu - Qstock Festival
05.08. P Corroios - Vagos Open Air Festival
19.08. B Hasselt - Pukkelpop Festival
24.09. USA San Bernardino, CA - Ozzfest
01.10. USA New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
04.10. CDN Montreal, QC - Metropolis (w/ THE SWORD)
05.10. CDN Toronto, ON - Massey Hall (w/ THE SWORD)
26.10. CDN Vancouver, BC - Orpheum (w/ THE SWORD)
05.11. S Stockholm - Annexet
06.11. N Oslo - Konserthus
07.11. DK Copenhagen - DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
08.11. D Hamburg - Docks
10.11. A Vienna - Arena
11.11. D Stuttgart - LKA Longhorn
12.11. D Munich - Theaterfabrik
13.11. CH Zurich - Volkshaus
14.11. I Milan - Alcatraz
16.11. D Cologne - E-Werk
18.11. NL Tilburg - 013
19.11. UK London - SSE Arena Wembley
21.11. F Paris - Le Trianon
23.11. LUX Luxemburg - Den Atelier
24.11. D Berlin - Astra Kulturhaus
What's Next?
23 Comments on "Opeth Signs With Nuclear Blast"
Member
2. writes:
What the crap are you talking about houston?
Orchid 1995
Morningrise 1996
My Arms Your Hearse 1998
Still Life 1999
Blackwater Park 2001
Deliverance 2002
Damnation 2003
Ghost Reveries 2005
Watershed 2008
Heritage 2011
Pale Communion 2014
Sorceress 2016 est
They have a better track record of less than 2 years. Arguably, the best period was when Akerfeldt and Co were cranking them out. To me since Peter and Martin Lopez are gone, the writing hasn't been as good. A label change is unlikely to affect that.
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Former Contributor
6. writes:
I was totally going to side with Houston until seeing it all laid out like that - it did seem like they had a lot of years between releases, but apparently not. Funny how memory works. Turns out they didn't get boring until a couple of key members left and they started really taking their time between albums.
Member
7. writes:
I probably wouldn't have mentioned anything, but since I was late getting into Opeth (2009) I was impressed when I dug into their back catalog and found they had released 5 (great) albums in the 7 year span of 1998 - 2005.
I'd guess that the slow down has been the increased touring. Kinda hard to write when you're on a travel, soundcheck, eat, play, eat, sleep loop. Again, signing to Nuclear Blast probably won't change that.
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10. writes:
Both really... I stopped at the first 3 year spread, but I also didn't (and don't) care for Watershed nearly as well as the previous 6 albums. I was also implying that the 3 year gap was at least in part due to the increased touring for Ghost Reveries. I'm sure the lineup change in that time between GR and Watershed was also a factor.
As far as my critique of Watershed, as a drummer, Lopez's and Axenrot's styles are markedly different and it makes Watershed harder for me to listen to, when my ears don't get to hear some Lopex trademark rhythms and fills. Also, Åkesson just doesn't have the same relationship musically that Lindgren did. Alas, the new lover may be nice, but I still long for my old flame.
Former Contributor
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13. writes:
Oh yeah, I love the hell out of Soen. Both of their albums are excellent. Their 2nd album shed some of the Tool influence and established them as more distinctive. The replacement for Steve Degiorgio is no slouch.
Unfortunately, Peter hasn't done anything musically since leaving Opeth. At least not that I know of. I miss his contributions terribly.
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22. writes:
Speaking of the missing in action Peter Lindgren - when that went down I was just dumbfounded. Who would want to leave Opeth (the band I thought of as the greatest in the world at the time)? Now as a 30 year old with a kid, I get it. There's no way I'd ever spend two years on the road at a time just to come home, record a new album under the displeased gaze of one M. Akerfeldt, and then start the whole process over again.
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1. Houston from Houston writes:
Great....opeth was one of the few bands that didn't release an album every 2 year which was awesome but looks like that's gunna change