Swedish giants Opeth have announced that they will be reissuing their critically acclaimed 2003 album Damnation on vinyl on December 15.
The reissue will mark the first time that Damnation has been available on exclusive and deluxe vinyl pressings. The album was a departure for Opeth, as it saw the band move away from their death metal roots and embrace a more progressive rock sound. The album was also the first Opeth album to feature all clean vocals.
The reissue will feature the 2015 Steven Wilson remix and remaster of the album, which is widely considered to be the definitive version of the record. The album will be pressed on standard black vinyl, as well as being available on deluxe and limited colour finishes. For the first time ever, the album will also be available on an exclusive picture disc.
In a statement, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt said: "We want our records available on vinyl at all times, and it turns out we can’t keep stock! Our vinyl editions are flying out. I’ve seen it with my own eyes when I helped out in a record shop during the pandemic. Some customers didn’t know they’re buying it from one of the people responsible for the music. Of course I went: ”Good record, good band!”. So before there’s any moaning about ”another reissue, another cash grab” I want to stress out that it really comes down to public demand."
Åkerfeldt also spoke about the significance of Damnation to the band's career: "Damnation is a special record, even if they’re all special to me. I remember hearing the first mix on headphones in a crummy hotel somewhere in the UK. I had trouble believing it was us, myself, Peter, Lopez, Mendez (as well as ol’ Steve on keys). It was completely different from anything we’d done up to that point, and quite frankly, since. Out of all of our records, I think this one is most suitable for the vinyl format due to the fact that it is not really cluttered with stuff. A pretty airy recording with 5 musicians and done on 2 inch tapes as well. It’s a record I’m immensely proud over and it also remains a fan-favorite I believe."
Added Wilson: "Opeth's seventh album Damnation was released 20 years ago! Mostly recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden during the same sessions as their previous album Deliverance, it was later finished and mixed at my studio back in the UK. The album was a big step in the band's evolution, moving completely away from their metal roots to create something more organic, imbued with the sound of early seventies mellotron driven progressive music. It's become recognised as a classic, and I'm proud to have been a part of it.
"Damnation is being reissued for its 20th anniversary on several different vinyl variants using the slightly improved 2015 mix. If you've never listened to Opeth because you thought they were a metal band, this is a perfect place to start and be surprised!"
Get your hands on the pre-orders happening here.
