Opeth: 'Watershed' Artwork Revealed

The cover artwork for "Watershed", the forthcoming album from Swedish metallers Opeth, can be viewed at this location. The cover was (as usual) designed by Travis Smith in co-operation with frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt.

"Watershed" is scheduled for release on June 3 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored OPETH tradition; its modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock.

"Watershed" track listing:

01. Coil
02. Heir Apparent
03. The Lotus Eater
04. Burden
05. Porcelain Heart
06. Hessian Peel
07. Hex Omega

All the songs were written by Åkerfeldt apart from "Porcelain Heart", which was co-written with new guitarist Fredrik Åkesson. One additonal track, "Derelict Herds", was also recorded and this was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Per Wiberg. On top of this, three cover songs were recorded. "Bridge of Sighs" from Robin Trower's 1974 LP of the same title, "Den Ständiga Resan" (sung in Swedish) by Marie Fredriksson as well as the classic Alice In Chains song "Would?"

The album was recorded at Fascination Street studios during November 1 and December 13. Some additional recording was done between January 3 and January 7.

Says Mikael Åkerfeldt: "I've worked so hard with these songs for quite some time now, I've listened to 'em a zillion times. I don't hate them just yet! The album sounds great sonically and I think I can hear us evolving as the record plays on. It is taking us somewhere musically and I don't know where. It's very exciting to say the least! I can't remember having enjoyed a recording this much ever before."

Opeth performed a new song, "Heir Apparent", on March 8 during their appearance on the 21st anniversary Schizoid Boat in honor of Mellotronen's birthday.

Thanks for the report to Blabbermouth.net.

Comments

[OneEyedMan]

Can't wait for the new album

[Gunpowder]

Agreed. I've never heard a bad album, or even a bad song, from Opeth.

[CyanideChris]

This is my most anticipated album by far.
Can't waittttt.
Heir apparent sounds badass and the quality is horrid, so how good can the studio version be :|?

[Infamou$17]

They covered Bridge of Sighs? This had better be f*cking good.

[lukeuh36azabc]

can't wait for the new album

and i'm going to see them in the defenders of the faith tours and thier meant to be playing some of thier new song then

[AtomicMaelstrom]

Infamou$17 wrote:

They covered Bridge of Sighs? This had better be f*cking good.

Wow. I saw Robin Trower live a couple weeks ago in Philly. You have no idea how much of a pleasant surprise this is (or maybe you do, haha).

[sneaky11]

Hooray for progressive metal!!!!! Opeth and Dream Theater FTW!!!!!

[cman138]

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!

[omarrodrigez]

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!

Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

[break-me-in]

Damn, I was hoping this was an April Fool's which would have some sort of seriously uncharacteristic album cover (pink and with bunnies) and Opeth describing how it's a real departure from their normal sound.

[MrGuitar123]

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

to each their own man, your allowed to have an opinion. Don't get elitist because someone said something you happen to disagree with.


That being said, Can't wait for the new Opeth album, these guys are very good. Agalloch's new EP turned out to be amazing, hopefully so will Opeth's new album.

[StupidHuman]

MrGuitar123 wrote:

That being said, Can't wait for the new Opeth album, these guys are very good. Agalloch's new EP turned out to be amazing, hopefully so will Opeth's new album.

+1 for Opeth and Agalloch!

[TeenBite]

Sigh, yet again another bad UG article. "Released internationally a day earlier" it states, but fails to mention where it is released the day after...

[Jondy]

...APRIL FOOLS HAHAHAHA
jk

[killyoutonight]

They are a really good band. They are coming near me soon and I'd love to see them.

[uberphreak]

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!



Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

Decent musicians, and nothing special?? How about you actually go LISTEN to them before you start talking.

chex

[Sylvanus]

uberphreak wrote:

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!



Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

Decent musicians, and nothing special?? How about you actually go LISTEN to them before you start talking.

+1
Opeth are amazing musicians. You can't really compare them to a death metal band anyways, the styles are too different.

[dingo356]

dude i dont even like death metal but after i heard these guys i was like WTF. there musical talent is crazy, so original n all i heard was 'Still day beneth the sun' i still need to stock up on there back catalogue but i might get this one first.

[bigtimmy]

hell ****ing yes...i'm actually starting to think ghost reveries is one of my favourite albums from opeth, so i can't wait to hear what the newest installment will be like!!!!

[kevinm4435]

hessian peel?
a.n.u.s. reference?

[The Novice]

As always I expect brilliant music and beautiful artwork from Opeth. I've never been disappointed. Can not goddamn wait for this.

[tbarrettl]

This rocks and I am hoping this returns to the orchid day sound.

[Avedas]

HOLY CRAP! I love the album work. I always love Opeth's mellow art. Damnnnn! They better have shirts at Prog Nation!

[sunofnothing4]

Jesus, I seriously can't wait to hear the album.

[Centurion]

Guaranteed to be one of the best moments in metal this year.

[In_Flames_ftw]

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

Define "special" and tell me your idea of talent.

[kyleblackflag]

In_Flames_ftw wrote:

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.


Define "special" and tell me your idea of talent.

obviously his idea of talent is pretty lame if you look at his name

the mars volta sucks dude

[guitarhead93]

Gunpowder wrote:

Agreed. I've never heard a bad album, or even a bad song, from Opeth.

+1

[megatallica666]

Great band and i really cant wait for the new album june is to far.

[RobinTrower12]

bridge of sighs cover?! oh my goodness

[StealthyHayze]

Theres also a the lotus eater by nevermore

[Anno[fzk]]

kyleblackflag wrote:

In_Flames_ftw wrote:

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.


Define "special" and tell me your idea of talent.


obviously his idea of talent is pretty lame if you look at his name

the mars volta sucks dude

Your just as foolish as he is! lol
He didn't outright bash them. I don't know why everyone is getting all defensive. If he doesn't agree with what someone else says, that should be ok. He wasn't being an douche and brought a valid point to the table.
Then again, **** it. Y'all can say whatever the hell you want. There's no point in everyone getting ass hurt tho.

As for Opeth, they really don't do it for me. They have skill, no doubt. While they are pretty damn good, I don't hold them in the highest of regards. As I said, it just isn't my style.

[SharpObject]

So excited to hear the material, especially because I'll probably hear it live first. Opeth rocks

[emr_steelmech]

where do I hear the bonus tracks? I wanna hear the AIC cover especially.

[Burning_Angel]

tbarrettl wrote:

This rocks and I am hoping this returns to the orchid day sound.

They wont be returning to that sound.... Ever. Mikael hated that sound after Morningrise, and his influences are completely different now. Not to mention no Johan DeFarfalla.

[thecameronator]

why must people come into a news article and say something even relitively close to something negative about a band.... you know quite well people will get annoyed and spam up the comment section

[Robert I.]

can't wait...
am i the only one who thinks playing patterns in the ivy is veeery tricky? (but i can manage, barely)

*checked*

Don't start band flaming

[BKGMorley]

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael
Akerfeldt is God!

Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

plus their not really a death metal band

[g-tarist]

Anno[fzk] :
kyleblackflag wrote:

In_Flames_ftw wrote:

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.


Define "special" and tell me your idea of talent.


obviously his idea of talent is pretty lame if you look at his name

the mars volta sucks dude


Your just as foolish as he is! lol
He didn't outright bash them. I don't know why everyone is getting all defensive. If he doesn't agree with what someone else says, that should be ok. He wasn't being an douche and brought a valid point to the table.
Then again, **** it. Y'all can say whatever the hell you want. There's no point in everyone getting ass hurt tho.

As for Opeth, they really don't do it for me. They have skill, no doubt. While they are pretty damn good, I don't hold them in the highest of regards. As I said, it just isn't my style.

opeth owns all of you

[Hexagram]

I can't wait!

Robert I. wrote:

can't wait...
am i the only one who thinks playing patterns in the ivy is veeery tricky? (but i can manage, barely)

I believe so since it is a very easy song

[omarrodrigez]

In_Flames_ftw wrote:

omarrodrigez wrote:

cman138 wrote:

Opeth is the best Death metal band ever. Mikael Akerfeldt is God!
Wow.....no.

These guys are good song writers, and decent musicians, but really nothing THAT special.

Define "special" and tell me your idea of talent.

Fredrik Thordendal.

[omarrodrigez]

And just for the record, I never said they were bad, just not as groundbreaking as everyone says.

[omarrodrigez]

kyleblackflag wrote:
obviously his idea of talent is pretty lame if you look at his name

the mars volta sucks dude

And look at your name, Blackflag? seriously? And to the guy that said I have never listened to them, I have Blackwater Park and Damnation and have listened to them both all the way through. They're good, not god.

[Quicksand15]

i just bought damnation this week, so this might become my first "hard" opeth record =)

[TheAmenCorner89]

Opeth = God

[XCursedEternity]

dam i dont think u notice but they are progressive death metal and people used to call them black metal in the days orchid and blackwater park but to tell u the truth u cant classify them they are like the greatful dead of metal and most of u are probly kids sad ive been listening to them since they came out and their music changes from cd to cd they evolve unlike other bands in metal .