The Last Will and Testament is Swedish progressive metal band Opeth’s fourteenth studio album and the first since In Cauda Venenum (2019), marking the longest break between albums in the band’s history. The first album to feature new drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, who officially joined in 2022 after the departure of long-time drummer Martin Axenrot. This album marks a return to the band’s death metal roots, featuring growled vocals for the first time since Watershed (2008), and it’s their first fully conceptual album since Still Life (1999). Set in the post-World War I era, the album tells the dark story of a wealthy patriarch whose last will reveals shocking family secrets, including the revelation that his twin sons are not his biological heirs and that his true heir is an orphaned, polio-ridden girl who was fathered with his maid. Nearly all tracks are titled as sections of the will, a unique storytelling device explained by frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, with the album unravelling like a dramatic reading of the patriarch's testament.

Opeth, known for their mastery of blending progressive metal with elements of death metal, jazz, and folk, have continually pushed the boundaries of heavy music since their formation in 1990. Led by Åkerfeldt, the band has evolved from raw death metal beginnings to a more expansive, genre-defying sound, making them one of the most innovative and respected acts in modern metal. The Last Will and Testament continues Opeth's legacy of complex narratives, intricate compositions, and bold experimentation.

Pressed on double vinyl and released via Warner Music in 2024.

Tracklist:

Side A