Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has voiced his irritation regarding the excitement over his return to growling vocals in the band's upcoming works. Known for his mix of clean singing and death metal growls, Åkerfeldt recently recorded screamed vocals for a new track, marking his first foray into this vocal style in 15 years. The song is part of Opeth's anticipated album, "The Last Will And Testament," set for release on October 11, 2024, through Moderbolaget. In a discussion with YouTuber Ola Englund, Åkerfeldt acknowledged the outpour of enthusiasm from fans about his growls, but he also expressed feeling overwhelmed by the focus on this aspect of their music.
He commented, "I think it's cool that people appreciate it. It's also a bit slightly annoying... I don’t have social media... I’ve seen some comments and videos saying, 'Oh, my God, Opeth's back, Mikael's back,' that type of thing." Despite enjoying the new material, Åkerfeldt mentioned a desire to explore the concept of being more than just a growling metal band. He humorously mused about potentially releasing an intentionally poor album full of growls to challenge audience expectations.
The band is gearing up for a North American tour alongside Tribulation on the album release date, with plans to tour the UK and Europe in February 2025. Fans can view the complete list of tour dates and purchase tickets on the Opeth website.