Opeth doesn't really blab to the media about where they're at with new music or what it'll sound like. Last we heard back in November 2018, frontman and guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt said he had about 90 minutes of new music written, and before that only defined the new music as "complex and energetic". The the former point, Åkerfeldt told Metal Hammer he's got about "an hour and a half's worth of material" and that he "was definitely in the studio before New Year's."
"I have, actually. I told myself I'd be taking a break, maybe even a sabbatical or something, after the last tour but I think I lasted until after Xmas. I was definitely in the studio before New Year's.
"I started writing in December last year and I’ve got a lot of music – I think I've got about an hour and a half's worth of material, but I'm going to take it easy. I'm going to be very methodical and listen to a lot of stuff I've done and just make sure there's no gaps of any kind on the next album. That feels important to me."
While there hasn't been any announcement just yet, Opeth dropped a hint when announcing a string of European headlining tour dates for November by saying the tour is "in support of their forthcoming new studio album." Now, there is a new hint. One Redditor posted a screenshot in the band's subreddit of Opeth's manager saying the band hopes to release their new album in September. That would line up with a November European tour. The news should be taken with a grain of salt of course, who knows what sort of delays Opeth may run into?
Opeth's management confirms new album release "probably in September" from r/Opeth
Here are Opeth's European dates.
8 Fri DE – Munich, Backstage Werk
9 Sat IT – Milan, Alcatraz
10 Sun CH – Zurich, Volkshaus
11 Mon FR – Paris, L'Olympia
13 Wed DE – Cologne, E-Werk
14 Thurs DE – Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
15 Fri DE – Nuremberg, Meistersingersaal
16 Sat DE – Berlin, Huxley's
17 Sun DK – Copenhagen, Det Kgl. Teater
