Since forming in the tiny Stockholm suburb of Bandhagen in 1990, Opeth have eclipsed convention, defiantly crushed the odds and, most importantly, crafted twelve stunningly beautiful, intrinsically intense albums to become one of the best bands on the planet; whether live or on record.

Opeth’s new album, ‘Sorceress’, their first for Nuclear Blast via the band’s Moderbolaget Records label, is proof that chief architect Mikael Åkerfeldt has a near-endless well of greatness inside. From the album’s opener ‘Persephone’ to ‘The Wilde Flowers’ and ‘Strange Brew’ to the album’s counterpart title tracks ‘Sorceress’ and ‘Sorceress 2’, Opeth’s twelfth full length is an unparalleled adventure, where visions cleverly and secretly change, colours mute as if weathered by time and sounds challenge profoundly. ‘Sorceress’ is, by definition, moored in Åkerfeldt’s impressive record collection – his one true vice – but, as always, there’s more invention than appropriation at play.

In 1995 Orchid reset the rules of death metal. Six years later, ‘Blackwater Park’ hit the high note for musicality in a genre generally devoid of it. In 2014, ‘Pale Communion’ officially bridged the progressive music gap by twisting the intrepid sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s into contemporary brilliance. ? For ‘Sorceress’, Opeth returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, where the Swedes had tracked ‘Pale Communion’ in 2014 with Tom Dalgety. The experience was so positive and historical – the countryside studio was also home to pivotal Budgie, Queen, Rush, Judas Priest and Mike Oldfield recordings – that there really was no other option for Opeth and crew. Åkerfeldt and bassist Martín Méndez, drummer Martin Axenrot, guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and keyboardist Joakim Svalberg have been together since 2011’s ‘Heritage’ was completed and according to Åkerfeldt he’s not been in a better band situation before. Not since ‘Orchid’. Not since ‘Still Life’. Not since ‘Ghost Reveries’: “It’s the best band situation I’ve ever had. Fans will look at our eras and have their favourite line-up, but this is the best. Even the happiest days of the first and second line-ups aren’t comparable to what I have now. We never fight. It’s like a good work team. We know each other professionally and personally. As much as we’re a band, we’re also friends. We hang out when we’re not doing Opeth.”

Heavyweight double LP in gatefold sleeve with two bonus tracks.