Opeth’s 12th studio album, Sorceress, now has an official release date! The next release in Opeth’s phenomenal discography will see the light of day on Sept. 30.

The consistently inventive Swedish band has been creating for 26 years with Mikael Akerfeldt at the helm. Sorceress will consist of 11 tracks. The opening cut, “Persephone,” will have a “Slight Return” edition (perhaps in the same vein as Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” and “Voodoo Chile”) and two tracks have been given the name “Sorceress.”

Opeth travelled back to Rockfield Studios in Wales, where 2014’s Pale Communion was put to tape. Rockfield has also served as home for legendary bands like Queen, Rush and Judas Priest. The new collection of songs will be Opeth’s first on Nuclear Blast released via the Swedes’ own imprint, Moderbolaget Records.

”The new album Sorceress is our 12th studio album since our beginnings in 1990,” says Åkerfeldt. “I find it difficult to understand that we’ve been going on for 26 years, let alone that we’ve made 12 records now, all of which I am very proud of. Sorceress is no exception. I love this album, as does the whole band. I wrote the music during 5-6 months and we spent only 12 days recording it at Rockfield studios in Wales."

He continued, "I find that once again we’ve taken a step forward. Or sideways, Or backwards. Somewhere!? It’s different! It’s extremely diverse. And if I may say so myself, extremely good. I feel the right to say that since I like to think I know this band better than anyone on the planet. Also, I always manage to detach myself from the record and listen as a fan. It’s a fine little record. My favorite in our discography right now. Of course. That’s how it should be, right? It’s both fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed. Heavy and calm. Just the way we like it. Hopefully there’ll be others around the globe sharing this opinion. It was a joy to make it. A f--king joy to record it, and a sheer joy listening to it. So there you have it!”

Get ready for Sorceress to hit on Sept. 30! Opeth will embark on a North American tour with The Sword shortly after Sorceress’ release.

Opeth, Sorceress Track Listing:

1. "Persephone"
2. "Sorceress"
3. "The Wilde Flowers"
4. "Will o the Wisp"
5. "Chrysalis"
6. "Sorceress 2"
7. "The Seventh Sojourn"
8. "Strange Brew"
9. "A Fleeting Glance"
10. "Era"
11. "Persephone (Slight Return)"

Opeth Albums Ranked

Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt Plays Wikipedia Fact or Fiction?

More From Noisecreep