Opeth members share rare insight into the writing and recording of “Blackwater Park”

In a 25-minute interview, Opeth bassist Martín Méndez and vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt discussed the process of creating their 2001 masterpiece, “Blackwater Park”, as per theprp. The two discuss in detail how they came up with that progressive metal project, which was their first time working with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame. Naturally, the fact that Opeth just released a fresh 25th anniversary pressing of that exact record late last month also doesn’t hurt.

Upcoming shows:

• Thursday, June 11, 2026 – Zamora, Spain – Z! Live Rock Fest 2026
• Friday, June 19, 2026 – Clisson, France – Hellfest 2026
• Friday, July 10, 2026 – Pompei, Italy – Amphitheatre of Pompeii
• Saturday, July 11, 2026 – Bologna, Italy – Sequoie Music Park
• Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Antwerpen, Belgium – OLT Rivierenhof
• Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Halifax, United Kingdom – The Piece Hall
• Sunday, August 2, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
• Wednesday, August 5, 2026 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
• Friday–Saturday, August 7–8, 2026 – Helsinki, Finland – Hellsinki Metal Festival 2026
• Friday, August 7, 2026 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen
• Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Rättvik, Sweden – Dalhalla
• Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
• Friday, November 6, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Espaço Unimed
• Sunday, November 8, 2026 – Bogotá, Colombia – Royal Center
• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Ciudad de México, Mexico – Arena CDMX

After more than thirty years in the business, Opeth have taught their fans to anticipate the unexpected. However, even by their own standards, the Swedish progressive titans have created something truly remarkable this time. “The Last Will & Testament”, the band’s fourteenth studio album, is the most daringly progressive and darkest record they have released in decades. This concept album, which tells the story of a recently deceased man’s will being read to his surviving family members, is filled with eerie melodrama, startling disclosures, and some of the most bizarre and unpredictable songs that frontman/songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has ever composed.