Product Description
Pale Communion, which was produced by the band's very own Mikael Åkerfeldt and mixed by longtime collaborator and Porcupine Tree frontman/guitarist Steven Wilson, is heralded by the lead single, "Cusp of Eternity."

The new material finds Opeth once again challenging the boundaries of extreme music. In a recent interview with VICE's Noisey, Åkerfeldt stated, "I wanted to do something more melodic with this album... there's stronger vocal melodies and more melodies overall... I was pretty consistent with that frame of mind throughout the writing process." Metal Injection's Greg Kennelty broke down Opeth's Pale Communion in a track by track review, exclaiming "This record knows exactly what it's doing and nails it through and through... one of my favorite records of 2014. If not my favorite record of 2014."

Pale Communion follows 2011's critically acclaimed Heritage which proved a milestone album for Opeth, earning them widespread acclaim and an ever-growing fan following. Debuting Top 20 on the Billboard 200 and racking up numerous "Best Of" accolades in 2011, Heritage landed at #2 on both Decibel's "Top 40 Albums of 2011" and Guitar World's "Top 50 Albums of 2011" lists.

The 2-Disc Deluxe Edition includes a bonus Blu-Ray with 5.1 audio and 2 bonus tracks plus expanded packaging.

1. Eternal Rains Will Come
2. Cusp Of Eternity
3. Moon Above, Sun Below
4. Elysian Woes
5. Goblin
6. River
7. Voice Of Treason
8. Faith In Others

Deluxe Edition Bonus Blu-ray
1. Eternal Rains Will Come
2. Cusp Of Eternity
3. Moon Above, Sun Below
4. Elysian Woes
5. Goblin
6. River
7. Voice Of Treason
8. Faith In Others
9. Solitude (Live)
10. Var Kommer Barnen In (Live)

CD Standard Edition
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KQYNGVA/?tag=imwan-20

CD/Blu-ray Deluxe Edition
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KQ5RCA0/?tag=imwan-20

And I also believe Steven Wilson helped out on this one too.

Man, does Steve Wilson ever rest?

Rick A.

Mikael Akerfeldt says Opeth recorded upcoming album Pale Communion using digital technology so they could hold on to a spontaneous feel.

It means their eleventh studio outing is the fastest-recorded in their history.

Akerfeldt tells Ultimate Guitar: “I have recorded many records on tape, and even if I love the sounds, it’s so time consuming.

“We didn’t have time. We recorded much faster than we ever have – it was only 13 days. When we have recorded onto tape, even if we’ve been well-rehearsed, we spend a month or six weeks, which I didn’t want to do this time. I wants it to be fast, spontaneous and fun.”

Opeth still aimed to capture an old-fashioned sound on the follow-up to Heritage. Akerfeldt says: “I don’t like modern-sounding heavy records. I think many of them sound just not human.

“You get tired, and your ears get tired, listening to new records. I think many of them would benefit from an old-school sound.

“The musicians themselves would probably benefit: less cheating would probably push yourself as a musician.”

Pale Communion, which was co-produced by Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson, is set for release later this year. Opeth play this year’s Download festival on June 13-15.

Looking forward to this, I'm seeing the mastermind Thursday night in NYC.

Pushed back to August.

Nice!

Cusp of Eternity video:



Good song although it's a rather straight-forward'ish for Opeth. I like this more than the vast majority of stuff that was on the last album.

Limited edition now available at Roadrunner. Only 2500 copies worldwide, so I don't know if anyone other than Roadrunner and Opeth's website will have these available (discounting the lowlife ebay flippers of course).

http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/delu ... 82214.html

Looks like the 5.1 is on a BluRay.

Ooh, that's very enticing. Thanks for the info. I'm going to ponder this, probably decide to order it tomorrow only to find out it's already sold out. When will I ever learn?

As much as I'd love to have that beautiful box set edition, it's hard to justify the $49.99 cost (even though it's reasonable for what you get). The Roadrunner store is also showing a 2-disc Special Edition with CD + Blu-ray (for only $19.99), which I'm guessing will be available through normal retail channels. I'll probably opt for that. Here's a link to preorder that version:

http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/musi ... undle.html

I'm a sucker for these box sets so order it I did.

I think you were missing some text in your last comment, John. It should have read as follows:
"I'm a sucker for these box sets with unlimited funds and an endless supply of shelf space so order it I did with my American Express Über-Platinum Card."

OT will be very good this Summer.

Bump:

This is now due Aug. 26.

Okay, I've added pre-order details to the first post, including the track listing which Joseph had originally provided us with. The CD/Blu-ray Deluxe Edition will be in general release too, as Rich was hoping for, and that's scheduled to come out one day before the regular CD edition.

Rich is extremely happy that the CD/Blu-ray is getting a general release (or at least his wallet is). I will be preordering it soon.

I may get the CD/Bluray as well as the previously ordered Limited Version. One for the shelf and one for the player.

Opeth had big news for fans on Wednesday. The band announced they will be teaming up with In Flames to launch a North American co-headlining tour this winter.
The tour will be kicking off on December 3rd Theatre in Chicago, IL at the Riviera Theatre and will run until December 21st where it will conclude in Toronto, ON at Kool Haus.

Opeth are launching the tour in support of their forthcoming album, "Pale Communion," which will hit stores on August 25th. Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt produced the effort which was mixed by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson.

Åkerfeldt had the following to say about the trek and also revealed their tour plans beyond this outing, "We are delighted to return to North America to tour our latest album 'Pale Communion.

"This will be the first of two North American Tours and the fact that we are teaming up with our old friends In Flames for this co-headline tour means that we can get to play some large venues and present our new stage show. I am also looking forward to drinking expensive whiskey with Anders on his account!"

In Flames frontman Anders Fridén also commented on the tour, "I met [Opeth guitarist] Mikael [Akerfeldt] for the first time in 1998 during the recording of Opeth's album 'My Arms, Your Hearse.' I was working in the studio and we've been friends ever since.

"Now 16 years more beautiful, we release albums in the same cycle and it's with great honor and pleasure that In Flames share stage with our friends and fellow countrymen in Opeth."

In Flames will be on the road supporting their forthcoming album "Siren Charms" which will be released on September 9th in North America and on September 5th in other territories.

12/3 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
12/4 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
12/5 Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium
12/6 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
12/8 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
12/9 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium
12/10 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
12/12 Houston, TX Warehouse Live Ballroom
12/13 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Live
12/15 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
12/17 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
12/18 New York, NY Terminal 5
12/19 Worcester, MA The Palladium
12/20 Montreal, QC Metropolis
12/21 Toronto, ON Kool Haus

Opeth have launched an exclusive stream of their highly-anticipated 11th album Pale Communion. All eight tracks are streaming on Prog's website, ahead of its official release next week.

Mainman Mikael Akerfeldt recently told how he'd first thought of calling the record Nux Vomica after a herbal remedy used to treat those suffering from light and sound sensitivity.

He said: "It comes from the same tree that produces the poison strychnine. I liked how it looked and everything. But then somebody read about the side effects, and it was erection problems and constipation.

"I figured, 'That's going be the first question in interviews,' - and I thought it was maybe not a good title after all."

The first three songs on this are great but it loses steam after that (do like Goblin as well). I was getting pretty bored by the seventh track. Overall it's a better album than Heritage, but it's nowhere near the incredible run they had from 1996 to 2005.