Hot off their recent win at the Swedish Grammis Awards, Swedish progressive metal icons OPETH have just released the official video for “§1”, a standout track from their critically acclaimed album The Last Will And Testament, which dropped on November 22, 2024 via Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music.
The album marked a triumphant return for frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt to his growling vocal roots after a 16-year break from the harsher side of his dynamic range—a move that thrilled both long-time fans and critics alike. Now, with their world tour in full swing and a stop today at the legendary Sweden Rock Festival, the timing for a performance-based video couldn’t be better.
The clip showcases the entire band live in action and was filmed during their recent European run in an industrial area of Birmingham. According to Åkerfeldt, the setting may not have been glamorous, but it did the job—and led to a highly anticipated dinner at a local curry house.
As always, Åkerfeldt brings his trademark dry wit and candor to the announcement, delivering a classic anti-“content” statement that fans will no doubt appreciate:
> “Here is a sort of video for your ‚entertainment.’ We’ve been asked from all directions to create some ‚content’—one of those pitiful ‚lyric-‚ or ‚visualiser videos.‘ Three words I truly despise! Within our circle of trust, I’ve made it clear that we should avoid using the word ‚content‘ at all costs, even though that’s exactly what we’re creating. We’re not bloody influencers. What do you say? Can we please get it together and use the old-fashioned word ‚video‘ instead of modern online vocabulary? Because that’s the term that simply describes the outcome best. A performance. Nothing more, nothing less. We realised that if you would like to indulge yourselves, there’s simply more to discover in this than in a lyric video. ‚§1‘ is the first track on ‚The Last Will And Testament‘. A good song. I like it! The video looks good. As good as it gets when five middle-aged, slightly hungover dudes move about a bit. It was shot during our last European tour in an industrial area of Birmingham. Everyone, i.e. band and crew, were anxious to get out of there as we had a reservation at a fancy local curry house for dinner. Thanks to Ash Pears and ASH TV, who showed their professional and/or quick side, the whole affair turned out to be a breeze for us. People, I hope you enjoy the result!”
🎬 Watch the full video for “§1” now:
As The Last Will And Testament tour picks up momentum, OPETH continue to prove that even after decades at the top, they still have plenty to say—and a wickedly entertaining way of saying it.
Photo Credit: Terhi Ylimäinen