Opeth have 12 songs written for next album

Opeth have written 12 tracks for inclusion on what will be the follow-up to 2016 album Sorceress.

Guitarist Fredrik Akesson reports that they’re demoing new material as the band move towards their target of having 15 finished tracks for their 13th studio album

Akesson tells Face Culture: “We’re very much into demoing. I’ve recorded a lot of solos so far and Mikael Akerfeldt has already written 12 songs for the new album, so we have more  than enough material for an album. 

“But I think we will at least try to finish 15 songs. Hopefully we’ll work on song ideas very soon.”

Akesson says they hope to release the record in the first quarter of 2019 and adds: “Compared to the last three albums, I would say this album is more complex, more energetic and I think it’s gonna be something.”

Speaking last year, vocalist and guitarist Akerfeldt said he wanted the follow-up to Sorceress to be “something twisted”.

He said: "Sorceress for me is old hat – it’s a lovely record, but it’s back ‘there.’ I’m not lingering on it because it’s old now.

“I’m not lingering on this record as being a beacon of hope for anything – it’s just what we did then, and I’m hoping next time we’re going to do something different, and I hope, something twisted. Nothing necessarily great, but twisted at least.”

Further details will be revealed in due course.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.