A new OPETH track, entitled "The Lotus Eater", has been made available for free download at this location. The song comes off the Swedish metallers' new album, "Watershed", which is scheduled for release on June 3 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored OPETH tradition; its modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock.

"Watershed" track listing:

01. Coil
02. Heir Apparent
03. The Lotus Eater
04. Burden
05. Porcelain Heart
06. Hessian Peel
07. Hex Omega

The cover artwork for OPETH's new album, "Watershed", can be viewed at this location. The cover was (as usual) designed by Travis Smith in co-operation with frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt.

All the songs were written by Åkerfeldt apart from "Porcelain Heart", which was co-written with new guitarist Fredrik Åkesson. One additonal track, "Derelict Herds", was also recorded and this was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Per Wiberg. On top of this, three cover songs were recorded. "Bridge of Sighs" from ROBIN TROWER's 1974 LP of the same title, "Den Ständiga Resan" (sung in Swedish) by MARIE FREDRIKSSON as well as the classic ALICE IN CHAINS song "Would?"

On April 22, OPETH will release the album version of "Porcelain Heart". You can buy the track from Amazon.com. The band recently filmed a promotional video for an edited version of the song. The clip was directed by Lasse Hoile (PORCUPINE TREE) and shot in Vaxholm, Sweden at the marvellous Bogesund castle, built in the 1640s. The edit was done by Jens Bogren and Mikael Åkerfeldt.

Commented Mikael: "I think the video came out great! The location and the castle was beyond gorgeous, even though it was cold and empty in there and... yeah, a little scary too. Lasse and his team as well as the actors did a great job! The clip is very gothic-looking which I think is the perfect imagery for the song and for OPETH overall, I suppose. [I] really enjoyed filming that one actually!"

Check out a few photos from the video shoot at this location.

The album was recorded at Fascination Street studios between November 1 and December 13, 2007. Some additional recording was done between January 3 and January 7.

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