Search Results: opeth

• BEYOND THE GATES 2025 Reveals Full Lineup; OPETH, CANDLEMASS, PARADISE LOST + More Added

  Dec 14, 2024 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  BEYOND THE GATES 2025 FESTIVAL PASSES + TICKETS

  Beyond the Gates Festival 2025 is now unveiling the final lineup for next summer, which is the festival's most varied lineup to date as 18 of the bands have never performed at BTG before! The festival now welcomes Opeth, Paradise Lost, Candlemass, Taake, Tribulation, Lucifer, Hexvessel, Misþyrming, Attic, Helheim and Gehenna to the already-stacked lineup.   In addition to Taake doing a special 20 year set of 'Doedskvad,' this will be Gehenna's first show ever with the original line-up! They will be performing a set based on their newly re-released first three albums - 'The First Spell,' 'Seen Through the Veils of Darkness (The Second Spell),' and 'Malice.'   The four-day extravaganza will once again take place in Bergen (NO) from July 30 - August 2, across several venues, including USF and the iconic Grieghallen, where many of Norway's seminal black metal artists recorded their legacy records.   Festival booker Torgrim Øyre comments:   "So this is it, the full line-up for Beyond the Gates 2025 - Chapter XIII. What is more natural than announcing our thirteenth chapter on Friday the 13th?   "What can we say - we are immensely proud of what is without a doubt our most varied line-up to date. 18 of the announced bands have never played the festival before, which we think is a statement of good health for a niche festival operating for 13 years.    "The 2025 line-up boasts a wide selection of curated sets, including a first ever live appearance of the original Gehenna line-up. The reformed band will perform a set based on their newly re-released three first albums. These are jewels in the Norwegian Black Metal canon and their brilliance can not be overstated. Pure class.   "King Diamond will play his first solo concert in Bergen ever, and his first show in Norway in 19 years.    "Opeth has just released their barnstormer 'The Last Will and Testament' to great acclaim. The album sees the band return to some of their metal roots, while still keeping their timeless prog elements firmly in place. What an album and what a treat it will be to see the Swedish master in the legendary Grieghallen.   "Abbath Doom Occulta will close the festival by bringing his incredibly awesome ‘Return to the Raven Realms’ tour to Grieghallen, featuring songs from his period in Immortal exclusively. Mind you, the production is a sight to behold."

  In addition, Beyond the Gates has launched a December campaign in which fans can enter to win a chance at a free hotel packages and other prizes! To enter the draw, buy your festival pass before December 31, 2024!

  “As a festival, Beyond the Gates is immediately lovable. Bergen is intrinsically part of that embrace… Sure, Norway’s expensive, but seeing the best bands out there, taking in a Tolkienesque fjord or two, pilgrimaging to Fantoft church, hitting up Gaahl’s art gallery (Galleri Fjalar) nestled in the quaint houses at Bryggen while Freyr gleefully and continually pisses rain on you from the heavens? All worth its weight in hordes of kroner.” - Decibel Magazine, December 2022 issue

  Since the inception of the Beyond the Gates festival, fans have been coming to Bergen to see performances of their favorite Norwegian artists in their home environment. As most visitors know, nature and local culture has always been a poignant source of inspiration for the bands emerging from the Bergen scene. Yet again, Beyond the Gates will give all of the traveling fans the opportunity to get an unique insight into all aspects of the Norwegian Metal scene and the local culture in general. In that regard, we’re putting together a series of events before and during the festival so that all of you can discover what inspired – and still does - the Norwegian metal scene.   More special events will be announced, including exclusive listening parties, music and culture panels, in-depth live interviews, and a wealth of of events and activities that will give you a Beyond the Gates Experience that will last for a lifetime. Stay tuned for more...

  Links: Official Beyond the Gates Website Facebook Instagram Tickets

   

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• OPETH's Critically-Acclaimed New Album Charts Worldwide

  Dec 9, 2024 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  OPETH’s highly anticipated and critically acclaimed 14th studio album 'The Last Will & Testament,' was officially released on November 22 via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget and is now charting internationally.OPETH’s highly anticipated and critically acclaimed 14th studio album 'The Last Will & Testament,' was officially released on November 22 via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget and is now charting internationally.

   

  Order ‘The Last Will & Testament’: HERE

   

  Opeth's fourteenth album was written by Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). ‘The Last Will & Testament’ was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on ‘The Last Will & Testament’ were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.

   

  Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, Europe's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2”, while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".

   

  ‘The Last Will & Testament ‘is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth's finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.

   

  Moreover, OPETH has landed the the cover story for Decibel Magazine's current December 2024issue! The in-depth interview with the band was conducted by journalist Chris Dick while the photos were shot by Ester Segarra. The issue can be found HERE.

  Lineup: Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals, guitars Fredrik Åkesson – Guitars, backing vocals Martin Mendez – Bass guitar Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums and percussion Joakim Svalberg – Keyboards, backing vocals   Special Guests: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) - spoken word (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7) // flute (tracks 4, 7) Joey Tempest (Europe) - backing vocals (track 2) Mirjam Åkerfeldt - spoken word (track 1)   All Music and Lyrics written by Mikael Åkerfeldt Lyrical concept by Mikael Åkerfeldt, dramatic consultation by Klara Rönnqvist Fors   Produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt Co-produced by Opeth and Stefan Boman Engineered by Stefan Boman, Joe Jones and Opeth Mixing by Stefan Boman and Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe, Stockholm, Sweden Mastering and vinyl lacquer cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road studios, London, UK   Strings conducted by Dave Stewart at Angel Studios, London, UK Strings arrangement by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart Drum technicalities by Kit Cunningham   Artwork by Travis Smith with directions from Mikael Åkerfeldt   Biography by Dom Lawson

  About Reigning Phoenix Music   Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. But most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success!   More on RPM: reigningphoenixmusic.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | YouTube

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• OPETH Streams Visualizers for Song, "§4 ," New Album 'The Last Will & Testament' Out Today

  Nov 22, 2024 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  The wait is finally over and OPETH's highly anticipated 14th studio album, 'The Last Will & Testament,' is now available worldwide today, November 22, via Moderbolaget // Reigning Phoenix Music! To celebrate this release, the Swedish prog legends are now sharing a visualizer for the song "§4," which can be found at THIS LOCATION.

   

  Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt comments on the track, "'§4' is an oddball song, just written by instinct. I'm not a clever guy when it comes to writing music. People call us 'thinking man's metal,' I think that's laughable. I listen to music from so many different genres, it's impossible to me to stick to one genre. I find the idea boring to try and belong somewhere, we're a bit all over the place, and I think this song shows our diversity. For '§4' I was inspired by something called 'twelve note music,' which I think is a classical term, where you're supposed to play twelve notes und you cannot repeat a note twice. I heard some of that music by classical pianists playing, and it sounds wicked, it sounds evil, it sounds really strange - so that inspired the initial guitar theme. There's a melodrome theme in the beginning, it just sounds odd, like it doesn't fit in, almost like a free-form jazz solo or something like that. But it quickly kind of lands in an almost traditional metal theme with a common response type death metal vocal that has a stereo double-tracked normal vocal response. 

   

  "I can't remember what happened during the writing process, but I reached a point where I just stopped and felt, 'ok, time for something strange!' We ended up with a flute solo by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, which was kind of an accident in a way, because I asked him to do a narration, not flute. As he was doing the spoken word bits, he asked me 'do you need a flute solo?' I was like, 'yes, please!‘, while I didn't really have a part for a flute solo! I had to shuffle through the songs quickly in my head before he would change his mind. I had him on the hook, of course I was gonna find a piece! So, he played almost like a common response type flute solo in '§4.'

   

  "This is a great song with the ending piece being one of the more evil pieces of music I've written in a long time: it sounds really menacing, sick almost!“

   

  Order ‘The Last Will & Testament’: HERE

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• NIGHTWRAITH Unleases Progressive MeloDeath Epic Album “Divergence”

  Sep 13, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  NightWraith, the progressive melodic death metal band from Denver, USA presents their latest and new offering "Divergence". An album featuring eight original tracks and a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Us and Them", the full-length has a lot of depth to it and is not a traditional metal record.

  Vocalist guitarist Benjamin Explains further:

  "We hope people can appreciate the risks we took on this record. We wanted to really kick it up a notch for anyone who already knows our music since they might be expecting that from us. We also don’t want to turn off any potential new listeners, so it was kind of a fine line between what current fans expect from us, and what brand-new listeners are willing to keep an open mind for. There’s really something for everyone on this album, whether it's 80’s style guitar riffs, blast beats, electric piano, or guttural vocals."

  "Divergence" takes listeners on a sonic journey. There are many layers to it and the band's idea was for people to hear something new with each listen. The album is intended to lift you up with major melodies, evoke emotion with harmonic minors, and harken overall feelings of nostalgia and hope. ‘Divergence’ often utilizes classic songwriting structures (verse/chorus/bridge/lead). Each instrument is not overly complicated, but when layered on top of each other, the music has a lot of depth. The drums are fast with lots of big rock fills and the choice to use fast double bass and blast beats was meant to give the album a driving, more ‘classic’ metal sound. The keyboards/synthesizer tones are the icing on the cake and are what truly color the album in a nostalgic-sounding way. The melodies that were written to lay on top of the guitars are what give the songs the musical complexity that can be rare within the heavy metal genre. There are also a lot of solos on this album, but none of them are overly ‘shreddy’ and are meant to serve the song, not the player.

  The band also stepped up the production on this album by recruiting some talented guest musicians to contribute and added extra rhythmic layers using acoustic guitar and percussive instruments like cowbells and shakers. Then stepped up the production again by involving producer Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Immolation) to mix and master the record, which gave it a top-shelf-sounding production quality.

  Due out on September 13, 2024, from What’s Left Records, “Divergence” is available for album pre-order at https://nightwraith.bandcamp.com/​

  Vinyl pre-order - https://whatsleftrecords.bigcartel.com/product/nightwraith-divergence-lp-clear-red-vinyl ​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Fruitless (5:15)
  2. Perpetual Night (5:13) ft. guest Cole Rudy - Pedal Steel Guitar
  3. One Flower (5:14) ft. guest Andreas Wild - Baritone Saxophone
  4. Whispers of Dragonflies (5:27) ft. guest Kelly Schilling - Concert Flute
  5. Invocation (2:19) ft. guest Joey Truscelli - Guitar Solo
  6. Fallen Kings and Queens (4:20) ft. guests Dan Phelps & Chuck French - Backup Vocals
  7. Nothing Left to Lose (3:24)
  8. Divergence (5:20) ft. guests Jeremy Portz & Xander Galvin-Soto - Auxiliary Percussion
  9. Us and Them (bonus Pink Floyd cover) (5:18)
  Album Length: 42:08

  More info: Nightwraithband.com | Facebook.com/nightwraithband | Instagram.com/nightwraithband | Twitter.com/nightwraithband

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• FEN Returns With New Album “Dear Mouse”

  Sep 12, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  After a twelve-year hiatus, progressive rock band FEN is set to release their sixth studio album, “Dear Mouse”, on September 12, 2024. Emerging from the mountain shadows of Nelson, Canada in 1998, FEN has consistently impressed critics and fans alike with their unique blend of technical proficiency and purposeful songwriting. The band comments:

  “‘Dear Mouse’ is less a comeback album than a tying up of loose ends. The ten songs were all started in 2014 or earlier. They sat as fragments for a long time, but as life pulled the band apart, we couldn’t ignore these unfinished gems—or so we thought of them. We chipped away at them on and off. They dragged us along almost painfully at times. For the final three years, we pushed as hard as our lives would allow. Ultimately, Dear Mouse was a test of our perseverance and of getting out what needed to be said. We can rest now. And we will. We hope you find something in the music to appreciate.”

  “Dear Mouse” marks a significant milestone for the band, breaking their decade-long silence. The album stands at a crossroads of genres, incorporating elements from throughout FEN's discography. Fans can expect a diverse listening experience, with tracks ranging from the multi-movement composition “Seam of the Heart”, which echoes the eerie concept of their earlier work “Heron Leg”, to the infectiously melodic “Ritual Lite”, competing for the title of poppiest tune in their repertoire.

  The album's guitar work is a particular highlight, seamlessly transitioning from jagged riffs to ethereal textures, offering a comprehensive summary of the band's decades-long refinement of their craft. Lyrically, many of the songs on "Dear Mouse" explore themes of endings, touching on subjects such as the conclusion of long-term relationships, employment, and even one's physical home. Despite these potentially heavy themes, the band aims to provide an overall uplifting and energetic listening experience, with a couple of slower tracks for balance. It is recommended for fans of Tool, Porcupine Tree, and Opeth.

  Album Order - https://fencanada.bandcamp.com/album/dear-mouse​

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Ritual Lite - 4:28
  2. Recall - 4:29
  3. Season to Live - 4:57
  4. The Password is I Believe - 2:48
  5. Dying on a Hill (of Cubicle, Window, Steel, and Concrete) - 4:19
  6. The Seam of the Heart - 6:52
  7. Our Latest Quarry - 3:56
  8. E.D.B.D. - 2:37
  9. Dear Mouse - 4:56
  10. Into the Blaze - 5:18
  Album Length: 44:40

  Album Credits:​
  Produced by Fen
  Sheldon Zaharko of Zed Productions: tracked drums and bass, and mixed all songs
  Album mastered by Andy Vandette at Evolve Mastering
  All songs written by Fen
  Oil paintings by Jason Froese
  Band:
  Randall Stoll: drums
  Jeff Caron: bass on tracks 1-9
  Sam Levin: guitar, piano, programming, bass on track 10
  Doug Harrison: vocals, lyrics

  More Info: https://www.facebook.com/fenmusic

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