Opeth has unveiled their latest album, The Last Will and Testament, showcasing the standout track “§4,” which features the legendary Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. The seven-minute song takes listeners on a captivating musical journey, enhanced by Anderson’s iconic flute playing and spoken word contributions.
Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt explained that “§4” was created almost instinctively. “I’m not a clever guy when it comes to writing music,” Åkerfeldt admitted in a press release. “People call us ‘thinking man’s metal,’ I think that’s laughable. I listen to music from so many different genres, it’s impossible to stick to one.”
The collaboration with Anderson came about unexpectedly. Åkerfeldt initially requested Anderson for spoken word narration, but as the recording progressed, Anderson suggested adding a flute solo. “I didn’t have a part for a flute solo,” Åkerfeldt confessed, “but I quickly found a piece when he asked. I had him on the hook, of course, I was going to find something!” The result is a flute solo that adds an unexpected yet perfect layer to “§4,” blending Opeth’s progressive metal sound with Anderson’s unmistakable touch.
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