Here's a bit of news I didn't expect to be writing in 2016 at all – Opeth has a new album coming out this fall! The band has announced via its Facebook that it has signed to Nuclear Blast Records and will be releasing Sorceress this fall through both the aforementioned record and Moderbolaget Records (which is the band's own imprint label).
According to the band's note, Opeth is currently holed up in the studio with Tom Dalgety, who also worked with the band on 2014's Pale Communion, putting the finishing touches on the album.
"We're happy to confirm that we have indeed signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment and will be putting out our twelfth studio album, Sorceress, via our own imprint, Moderbolaget Records," states Opeth guitarist/vocalist and main songwriter 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 says "I am honored that Opeth has joined the Nuclear Blast family. Mikael Åkerfeldt and his fellow bandmates have demonstrated time and time again that Opeth are a band that never releases 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 has 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 am thrilled to have such a unique genre-leader on the label. The future for Opeth and Nuclear Blast looks very bright."
Nuclear Blast Entertainment president, Monte Conner adds "Opeth are a band that has 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."
Naturally, the band says absolutely nothing about the music's sound though, so we'll have to wait until we hear some music off it. This will be the first time since 2003's Damnation and 2005's Ghost Reveries that Opeth has only waited two years to put out a new album. I guess that's Opeth for you, though… they don't want you to know anything about any of its doings until you absolutely need to know.
