Roadrunner Records is proud to announce the signing of Opeth. With a release planned for late summer 2005 — following a spate of international touring that includes the much-anticipated Sounds of the Underground tour in the US — Opeth has never been busier – or more excited about the prospect of things. “The combination of a strong label and our best album so far is quite lethal!” states Opeth singer and guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt. With a musical grasp that spans the baroque to the brutal, Opeth have spent the past decade honing a sound quite unlike any band in existence – 1994’s Orchid being the starting point in the evolution of a sound that encompasses elements of metal, progressive rock, folk and classical music. The name Opeth has become synonymous with a soaring, cathedral of sound that has netted the band a legion of loyal fans and scored them Grammy award kudos in their native Sweden for their album Deliverance and were nominated for their other acclaimed releases Damnation and Blackwater Park. With the release of their last album, 2003’s Damnation, the Swedish band cemented their position not merely as standard-bearers in heavy music, but one of the greatest bands of the present day. Since the merger of Opeth’s former label Music For Nations into BMG, Opeth have been one of the most sought after unsigned bands in the world. Opeth and its manager, Andy Farrow of The Northern Music Company finally struck a deal with Roadrunner Records. “Opeth is the sort of band that humbles you with every note,” states Roadrunner A&R man Mike Gitter who adds Opeth to a personal roster of artists which also includes the Grammy-nominated Killswitch Engage. “We’re excited and proud to be working with them.” “I think all of us subconsciously had our minds set from the very beginning about signing to Roadrunner,” says Akerfeldt. “For us it’s probably our biggest career move since we started. Roadrunner is/was the home of many of our favorite metal artists of all time.” He adds “As I’m writing this I am in the studio and we’re recording the new album, I know that this album is going to really KILL! It’s sounding incredible already, and we’re nowhere near finished.” Look out for the release in late Summer 05. Meantime, pick up your tickets for their ‘just announced’ shows in September: Tues 6th September í¢ä‰åäóì BIRMINGHAM Academy Wed 7th September í¢ä‰åäóì MANCHESTER Academy Thu 8th September í¢ä‰åäóì LONDON Mean Fiddler