Sorceress is the twelfth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth.[13] The album was released on 30 September 2016 via record label Nuclear Blast and the band's own imprint Moderbolaget.[13]
Sorceress | ||||
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![]() Cover art by Travis Smith | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 30 September 2016 | |||
Recorded | May 2016 | |||
Studio | Various
| |||
Genre | Progressive rock,[1][2] progressive metal | |||
Length | 56:35 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Opeth chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sorceress | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 81/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blabbermouth.net | 7.5/10[6] |
Exclaim! | 7/10[7] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metal Injection | 8.5/10[9] |
Metal Storm | 7.2/10[10] |
Pitchfork | 6.7/10[2] |
PopMatters | 8/10[11] |
Sputnikmusic | 4.1/5[12] |
Background
editThe album was produced and mixed by Tom Dalgety and recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales.[13] Following the album's release, the band embarked on a world tour with bands the Sword, Sahg, and Myrkur as supporting acts.[14][15] Thematically, the album draws inspiration from Åkerfeldt's personal life, as he divorced in 2016.[16] The album was streamed via SoundCloud on 29 September.[17]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Mikael Åkerfeldt, except "Strange Brew" music composed by Åkerfeldt and Fredrik Åkesson
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Persephone" | 1:51 |
2. | "Sorceress" | 5:49 |
3. | "The Wilde Flowers" | 6:49 |
4. | "Will o the Wisp" | 5:07 |
5. | "Chrysalis" | 7:16 |
6. | "Sorceress 2" | 3:49 |
7. | "The Seventh Sojourn" | 5:29 |
8. | "Strange Brew" | 8:44 |
9. | "A Fleeting Glance" | 5:06 |
10. | "Era" | 5:41 |
11. | "Persephone (Slight Return)" | 0:54 |
Total length: | 56:35 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "The Ward" | 3:13 |
13. | "Spring MCMLXXIV" | 6:11 |
14. | "Cusp of Eternity" (live with The Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra) | 5:44 |
15. | "The Drapery Falls" (live with The Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra) | 10:23 |
16. | "Voice of Treason" (live with The Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra) | 8:10 |
Total length: | 90:16 |
Personnel
editOpeth
edit- Mikael Åkerfeldt – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, production
- Fredrik Åkesson – electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- Joakim Svalberg – Hammond C3, Mellotron, Fender Rhodes 88, harpsichord, Yamaha grand piano, Minimoog, percussion, backing vocals
- Martín Méndez – bass guitars
- Martin Axenrot – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
edit- Pascale Marie Vickery – spoken words on "Persephone" and "Persephone (Slight Return)"
- Wil Malone – string arrangements
- Tom Dalgety – engineering, mixing, production
- John Davis – mastering
- Travis Smith – cover art
Charts
editChart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] | 7 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] | 10 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] | 20 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] | 13 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] | 11 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] | 3 |
French Albums (SNEP)[25] | 29 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] | 1 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[27] | 18 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[28] | 12 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] | 28 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[30] | 8 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[31] | 17 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[32] | 20 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[33] | 10 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[34] | 31 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[35] | 7 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] | 6 |
UK Albums (OCC)[37] | 11 |
US Billboard 200[38] | 24 |
References
edit- ^ a b Lawson, Dom (29 September 2016). "Opeth: Sorceress review – metal masters click into higher gear". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Andy (8 October 2016). "Opeth: Sorceress". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "OPETH – Sorceress: Studio Report – Episode 9: The Producer – Tom Dalgety". YouTube. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ "Sorceress by Opeth". Metacritic. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ Jurek, Thom (30 September 2016). "Sorceress – Opeth". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Gorania, Jay H. "Opeth – Sorceress". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Slingerland, Calum (22 August 2014). "Opeth – Sorceress". Exclaim!. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Opeth : Sorceress". Kerrang!. No. 1638. 24 September 2016. p. 51.
- ^ Ulrey, Jeremy (1 September 2016). "OPETH – Sorceress, A Track-by-Track Review". Metal Injection. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Opeth – Sorceress review". Metal Stormaccess-date=15 August 2022.
- ^ Blum, Jordan (27 September 2016). "Opeth: Sorceress". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Kuettel, Ben (28 September 2016). "Review: Opeth – Sorceress". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Hartmann, Graham (18 July 2016). "Opeth Unveil Data, Album Art + Track Listing for 'Sorceress'". Loudwire. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt: What Fans Can Expect From 'Sorceress' Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Opeth adds supporting acts to their Sorceress World Tour". 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ Franklin, Dan (21 September 2016). "Dead Man Touring: Mikael Åkerfeldt Of Opeth Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
Although markedly different from those albums, Sorceress has something of the mood and tone of that work, driven by Åkerfeldt's personal experience, including a recent divorce, more than a reflective, authored distance.
- ^ "In Cauda Venenum – Out Now!".
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Opeth – Sorceress" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Opeth – Sorceress" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Opeth – Sorceress" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Opeth Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Opeth – Sorceress" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Opeth: Sorceress" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Opeth – Sorceress" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 40: del 30.09.2016 al 06.10.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Opeth – Sorceress". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Opeth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2016.