Reviews
Album review: Opeth – The Last Will & Testament
Swedish prog metal overlords Opeth return with intense, beautifully delivered but ultimately baffling concept record.
A fan-chosen Opeth headline set! Hatebreed and Enslaved on the main stage! Bloodstock have added more bands to next year’s line-up…
Following August’s announcement that Architects and Amon Amarth will be headlining Bloodstock 2024, the festival have just confirmed their final headliner, and announced several more bands.
The mighty Opeth are set to top the bill on the Friday of the heavy metal bash, with a special fan-chosen set marking their only UK gig next year. “So…” begins frontman Mikael Akerfeldt. “Back to Bloodstock 2024 for us, it appears! I don’t remember how many times we’ve played the festival, but we do have fond memories from there. ‘Filling in’ for Heaven & Hell when RJD had passed is one. Fuck! Can’t remember a more emotional event onstage for us, to be honest.
“Anyhoooo, we’ll be there ‘rocking’ and ‘rolling’ in our own way, playing songs that you’ve chosen (apparently). Please be gentle. Right now I feel pretty far from being a rocker, as I’m writing this sat in my (favourite) greasy sweatpants, and my hair is greasier than ever. I’m working, you see. But I promise I’ll have a look in the mirror before we hit the stage. The band will be tight (that’s also a promise). I’ll sing OK (semi-promise). You’ll recognise the songs (I really have no idea, but you picked them!) and, we’ll be IN. THE. ZONE! All in all, providing the weather’s nice and the beer is cold, the possibilities for a magical night are rather decent. Wouldn’t you say? Hope to see (and hear) you there.”
Elsewhere, Hatebreed will be celebrating their 30th anniversary on the main stage on Friday, while Enslaved will be there on the Sunday. On top of that, Nervosa, Crypta, Beast In Black and Forbidden have also been added to the line-up.
Bloodstock takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire, on August 8 – 11.