Opeth - The Last Will And Testament | Initial Impressions

[@Josh-hi7tc]

I like the bits where he goes GRRRRR!

[@alpeshsrivastava]

It’s a masterpiece, they have never done a bad album imo. Already on my 4th listen. It’s so fucking good.

[@moonlightreveries1459]

“A Story Never Told” is a beautiful closer. Well said. Paragraph 4 is like 5 top Opeth song for me off the first few listens. That song is insane. The whole album is just beautiful and nuts. The narratition is so cool, I agree. Still processing much of it. Heard it maybe 5-6 times. Opeth takes much time like you said. I still struggle choosing between older albums. I need many more listens for this, you are not alone on that. Great video sir.

[@JohnsonBruckheimer]

I can tell Mikael loved going "HEEYYYY!" through the second half

[@dieselman8837]

I loved it every time it happened

[@shaneregan7745]

I loved it too lol

[@MartinUglow]

Received the LP this morning and on about the 4th listen through... finding new things each time I listen. Amazing album.

[@brianmorrison2578]

I've had this masterpiece since Tuesday and I have not stopped listening to it. I've listened to it at least a couple dozen times and I'm still discovering things with each new listen. It's Opeth so I knew it would be he really good album but this thing has far exceeded my expectations. It will be my album of the year. It is perfection.

[@tonipolkki4728]

Amazing album. Best of both worlds.

[@Cornelgeorge141]

I've never heard an album that's so difficult to discover and at the same time so intriguing. It has many amazing moments, but also things that i dont quite get yet. But im sure they'll grow in time as only the opeth songs can, this band helped me to evolve my taste and understanding about music so much. This album is a new peak of complexity. Also, A story never told made me cry. Good times for opeth and prog fans ❤

[@dieselman8837]

"HghuEY!" Best part(s) of the album

[@bradharris1459]

100% with you on Opeth...the greatest band to me...and Still Life...HOLY SHIT. Amazing.

[@fcamiola]

This sucker is going to take some "work" to really get. Mikael is an absolutely brilliant composer.

[@747jono]

Fantastic to see Ian Anderson on this Opeth have taste.

[@VampireJack10]

As a 50 year old Englishman I'm having a great day - not only have I received my THE SPECTRUM I've also been able to listen to a new OPETH album, which is fantastic. It feels like Christmas. Great album.

[@alexperry4691]

I love this album. It's been a while since I've been genuinely excited by an Opeth record, but this one really hits the spot for me. Probably their best since Ghost Reveries!

[@Mad_atoms]

I listened to it a couple days early, and after listening to it about 10 times it's honestly one of Opeth's best. At least in the top 3 albums they've ever done in my opinion. But I have to admit that it does take some really actively engaged listening for it to click. Not an album for casual listeners.

[@griefforest1870]

AOTY for me. I already loved In Cauda Venenum. I'm glad the growls are back but what's more important for me regarding Opeth is the emotional component which went away even on parts of Watershed. 95-05 Opeth holds a very special place in my heart. Even Watershed and Pale Communion can't compare despite being very good albums, but Cauda and this one are the ones which excite me the most since Ghost Reveries. Edit: After stomaching this album a bit more , A Story never told might actually be my favourite song on the album. Of course I missed the growls on the previous albums, but it just hits hard just like Ghost Reveries or Damnation or Still Life had. The prog elements are masterfully executed, just like on Cauda Venenum.

[@manfredmar]

I'm getting heavy ICV + Watershed vibes from this album & I love it.

[@ianmcpeck424]

In the same boat. Opeth is by far my favorite band. First listen was jarring and strange. By the 4th listen I really liked it. 11 listens in now and damn is this another masterpiece to add to Opeth's catalog. Ihsahn's self-titled might still beat it out for AotY, but I wouldn't be surprised if Opeth pulls into 1st. My one problem is I wish a couple of parts throughout the album were allowed to breathe a bit more. The intro to §7 in particular. Also, the "Snow made white, ..." part in §2.

[@Shezmen88]

Correction, blackwater park had many middle eastern chords and melodies.

[@Hellenicheavymetal]

I just heard it too. It's awesome.

[@thepredator666qc4]

You took all your words out of my mouth Questy on this, loved to hear your first impressions 😊

[@ShoggothSounds]

Paragraph 4 is my favorite track on the album. The flute solo is crazy but it also fits the track.

[@oregonwoodelf]

First of all - Still Life is also my favorite album of all time. The correct answer🙌😂So I got about a dozen reps in on this album and it's in the bottom few of the catalogue for me...could change in time of course, but that's where I'm at now🤷‍♂The performance and execution are no doubt a 10/10, but it's TOO damn proggy. So much beepin and boppin around with all this start/stop transitions and staccato madness. I know it's a concept album and the scenes are constantly changing (definitely hear the Clark soundtrack influence on here), but hard for me to get on board with. Lacking in big fat juicy open metal chords and sustained bits. It's just too busy and not enough breathing room IMO. We'll see how I feel about it in a couple years🎵🧝

[@alexmaraver5581]

This Is one of my top 5 Albums of the year. Seems everyone slept on the 2022 Swedish Netflix Series Clark and the score and soundtrack. Well Mikael wrote the music and the album was technically his solo album. Many of the symphonic/groovy jazziness comes from that soundtrack album

[@747jono]

They're an amazing band there seems to be everything on it. Yeah

[@chilepeulla]

Totally agree on your point about not being able to rate it and not "loving" the album yet. It has been like that for me with every Opeth album. As I was listening to it for the first time I was enjoying it and there were some parts that caught my attention that's when I knew that it's only a matter of time and multiple more listening sessions for this album to be part of my regular rotation

[@RockyRaccoon1122]

You're not alone on that one. I'm the same - and they are my favourite band.

[@darrenbooker8144]

Mate, its a masterpiece, the first song i heard was the drapery falls which grabbed me straight away, and this album did it again... aoty!!

[@RBProductions1988]

I’m with ya man. It’s going to take some time to really collect my thoughts on the new album and decide where I would place it in their discography. This I can say for sure: it’s a brilliant album and belongs up there with their best material. The concept is executed PERFECTLY. Love the atmosphere, love the musicianship and songwriting, and love how truly “progressive” it is.

[@LightsOfSkadi]

Great reaction, Love the new Opeth album. Ian Anderson is amazing in it aswell. Would be interesting to see what you think of our album "Shimmer" from 2019.

[@nietzscheente1271]

HEYRRRR! Love the new album. Peak prog. Needs many listenings. And the closer is just beautiful.

[@allen5700]

"HEYYYYYYY"

[@bryanmack5410]

I'm waiting until the ned of the day to listen in its entirety...until then I'm listening to you people discuss. I feel like a kid NOT peeking at the gifts before christmas.

[@mehdi_gh8797]

Yes what I can absolutely say is that it needs 4 to 5 listens for us to really wrap our minds around it, S4-S5-S6-S7 can possibly top the entirety of watershed for me, maybe just not Heir apparent. Top tier album

[@deployedbyinversesuns5038]

These lads know how to craft a tune or two. Album of the year.

[@w-james9277]

Can’t wait to see them next year!

[@hectormendoza7261]

I have a new pair of sorround speakers on the way to my house. I'm actually waiting for them to arrive to listen to the album.

[@chrisbirks2751]

Definitely get what you mean about chaotic. Had a couple of listens and preferred it second time round. I'll leave it to digest for a couple of days then have a listen through headphones so I'm literally picking up everything. As for review or reranking why not both. They generally change over time so we'd all be interested.

[@Count_Deangeli]

True the evaluation of the album is just beginning...

[@burningyokan666]

I‘ve listened only two times so far, but I can say it‘s really their best album since Watershed. Probably in the middle of their catalog for me (for now)

[@danieldelrio1411]

1. Time Will Testament 2. Ghost Reveries 3. Still Life 4. Watershed 5. Black Water Park ❤❤❤

[@JC-yr5by]

i love Watershed, this give somewhat the same vibes i love it

[@hvitekristesdod]

Haven’t bought an Opeth album in a while but pre-ordered this one 🤘🤘

[@Lyka-clock]

I didn't like Still Life for years but one day threw it on and it was like wtf? why didn't I like this. Even Blackwater Park wasn't thrilling me, I thought it was depressing until one day I went back to it and it's my favorite Opeth record now. I know I'll love the new record, no need to rush it.

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

Does Joey Tempest (of the band Europe) do anything on this album? I've heard that he does!

[@joelhartley5108]

Loved it!

[@unleashthebloodthirst69420]

Love this album

[@Heavymetalbiker]

Iv pre ordered the vinyl and got a ticket to see them in glasgow 2025. Don't know if I should listen to it first on Spotify.

[@Nick_K1te]

It's quite good, may be on the same level with "Watershed".

[@whiteglovepc]

It's hard to equate it to other albums because it's very different

[@Nick_K1te]

@whiteglovepc I mean the way I enjoyed it was similar to enjoying "Watershed", and, for example different to enjoying "Pale Communion" or else

[@henrywalton5967]

So far im not really getting this album, gotta keep listening i guess...

[@Eraser18574]

It’s as if Opeth and Between the Buried and Me had a baby. I love this album.

[@Colebenson98]

Don’t hear btbam, do hear DT though

[@nathanmoore5435]

I guess I'm the only one who feels that this record is lackluster and doesn't even come close to Opeth's greatest records such as Still Life and Blackwater park. The Last Will & Testament is essentially just a continuation of what Opeth has been doing since Heritage. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't sound bad, and there are plenty of standout moments musically speaking, but regardless, it's still a far cry from Opeth's greatest material, including the last record that featured Mikael's growls, Watershed, which I still feel is one of Opeth's strongest and, in some regards, most underappreciated records. This latest release it's mostly just all-out 70's prog rock with some death metal vocals on top. It's very disappointing to me.

[@thatdevilmusic6670]

My feelings exactly. Let’s see what people think of this album in a few months after the freshness has worn off. Blood Incantation has the prog death AOTY for me over this,

[@nathanmoore5435]

@@thatdevilmusic6670 That new Blood incantation record is something else. Amazing stuff.

[@Nall412]

💯💯 same sentiments. Regarding the album Watershed.

[@Nall412]

Mikael and his 70s prog man. Holy shit. It just kills it for me. Ever since Opeth went in that direction. I like Prog, more Prog metal though, Fates Warning, Porcupine Tree. But this stuff that Mikael does , I can’t for the life of me get into it.

[@derekd.4156]

§4 - §6 or 7 are my favorite songs (after 1 listen)

[@theotherhouse5910]

Pre-heritage...🤘

[@dekideron5199]

HEEEYY⛵️⛵️⚓️⚓️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️‼️‼️

[@michaelford4360]

I just can’t get into it . Opeth is probably my favorite band . I listened to it but since they went with the the 70s prog rock tone , with the guitar , the tone of the drums it just doesn’t catch my interest like their older stuff. It’s very compressed and watered down . These just something about their new style that just really turns me off .

[@oriolprogram.2340]

Hey! I have never listened to Opeth. Do you think this album would be a good startpoint?

[@mikejacob3415]

Deliverance/Damnation and Blackwater park

[@VampireJack10]

Yup. It will give you a bit of everything they've done, all in one place.

[@AMushroomEnthusiast]

No perfect place to start but I would say right in the middle of their career with 'ghost reveries'

[@VampireJack10]

@@AMushroomEnthusiast Great choice - but I'd personally recommed Watershed, Blackwater Park and Sorceress if I were trying to get someone into the band. Pretty much a variation in sound to show just what the band are capable of. I've been listening to the band since Orchid was released back in the day, so a loooong time now, and found that I've got a couple of friends into the band with Blackwater Park (arguably the band's Master Of Puppets), but I find I need a couple or so albums by a band before I know if they truly click with me, whence the reason I mentioned the 3 above, which would be a great place to start alongisde the new album. I actually feel a little jealous that my Opeth journey isn't just beginning - new fans of the band are in for such a ride!

[@Nall412]

Ghost reveries

[@Thabba76]

A bit too theatrical for my taste but its still great, above Sorceress but bellow In Cauda imo, tho my opinion might change as i listen to it more

[@estebanpaz4909]

in cauda is progressive rock. this new one is death metal

[@rubensilva5204]

@@estebanpaz4909 This one is death metal? Why? Because of the growls? I don’t hear a lot of death metal riffs on this album honestly… the composition is more similar to the prog rock era than the early 2000s albums era… it feels like a continuation of In Cauda Venenum but with growls and a heavier guitar tone… to me at least

[@Nall412]

@@estebanpaz4909not even close to death metal buddy

[@vince8081]

I'm like you dude, not really hyped on first listen. Very chaotic and sounding basically similar throught the list except for the two last tracks, that i prefer. Don't really care about the growls return, even it's cool, but i would prefer some more great acoustic parts Opeth is known for and more variety in ambiance. It's not bad at all, and i have to listen to it a few times, but there's a lack of melodies that i can grab to. Maybe i expect so much from them (him).

[@mortuarymax]

Lol some people have had the album for 3 months now so i think that's why u see so many reviews

[@Questformetal]

Lucky for some haha

[@anony-moon]

Wow

[@manegarm999]

it's betteer than las 5 albums, but still to prog for me. i prefer the old opeth, and of course blackwater park the best of all them

[@lawrencefine5020]

Excellent return to form for Opeth. Kudos to the new drummer for reminding Mikael why we loved Opeth in the first place. Cuz I couldn't stand the last 4 albums. Thank you Mikael for giving what the people wanted. Reminds me a lot of Ghost Reveries..it's haunted. 4.5 out 5.

[@NorbertNahumEvreuklovic]

Why people believe Opeth are death metal... It s definitely LESS death and MORE melodic or progressive or whatever. They have NOTHING in common with cannibal corpse,or death. So HOW are opeth death metal?

[@davidbutton4414]

Can honestly say I didn't like this album at all on first listen. It sounded jumbled, erratic, disjointed, lacking in hooks and just plain odd. I thought to myself they've finally gone too far and lost their magic. Then I thought Damn I'm going to see them live in Bristol next spring and they'll be playing this album which I don't even like!! But everyone seemed to love it so I kept going back to it and after a week or so I'm slowly coming round to it. Its growing on me but slowly. Its as you say Questy Opeth albums need time to digest and its usually these types of slow burners that end up being the long burners 🤘

[@karayaziband]

technically good, emotionally empty album. cant relate, I don't feel it.

[@dee-taylor]

Another meh release imo. Excellent musicianship, excellent composition skills, but nothing fresh or compelling. Mikael's still stuck in this noodling, phrygian scale melodic trip he's been on for about 15 years now. It's either a chromatic scale or a phrygian scale. One or the other. Ugh.

[@moodlefyful]

Huge disappointment.

[@moonlightreveries1459]

@@moodlefyful that’s a bit absurd. Opeth never disappoints. It’s impossible

[@moodlefyful]

@moonlightreveries1459 They do and they have.

[@moonlightreveries1459]

@@moodlefyful I mean you are entitled to that opinion. It is a crazy rollercoaster of an album and I love it so far. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it. That’s why they have 14 other albums you can go back to that are all perfect albums. That’s one thing to be happy about I guess. Compared to Tool and their 5 albums over 34 years or whatever

[@747jono]

I have ordered the box set fingers crossed 🫰it arrives next week ❤

[@Questformetal]

@@747jono I shall cross my fingers for you as well