North American Tour 2024: Opeth w/ Tribulation Live at Tabernacle (Atlanta)
Swedish metal titans Opeth hinted to their fans about a North American Tour 2024 via their social media channels on April 23rd, then on June 7th the anticipation was over when the dates were finally announced to the eager fans in North America. In addition, fellow Swedish metal gods Tribulation was added as a special guest on Opeth’s North American Tour 2024 on August 28th. Opeth last toured the United States and Canada in May 2022, so they were long overdue for a tour stateside, and their fans were hungry for more. I saw a date for October 22nd at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. so I knew I had to save that date. Truthfully, this would be my first time seeing Opeth perform live, and I was ready to get my first show under my belt. I have also never seen Tribulation live before, so this was a pleasant surprise to get two legendary bands off my bucket list in one eventful night.
Opeth is a progressive rock/progressive metal/death metal band from Stockholm, Sweden that has been together since 1990. Opeth consists of Mikael Akerfeldt (guitars/lead vocals), Martin Mendez (bass), Fredrik Akesson (guitars/backing vocals), Joakim Svalberg (keyboards/backing vocals), and Waltteri Vayrynen (drums). Opeth has released thirteen (13) LPs, four (4) live albums, thirty (30) singles and EPs, six (6) music videos, and six (6) compilations. It is worth noting that Opeth’s latest release, The Last Will and Testament (November 22nd,2024) is available for pre-order through the band’s website. Plus, you can pre-order a special reissue of their fourth album, Still Life, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its release.
Although Opeth has been active for 34 years, I first heard their music after the release of their third album My Arms, Your Hearse (1998). Frankly, I was speechless upon first listening to that album with its rich layers and complex riffs which added to their already very distinctive sound. Opeth would go on to release many incredible albums which are perfect from start to finish. I recommend diving into Orchid, Still Life, Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries, Pale Communion, and Sorceress. I would be remiss if I did not tell you to check one of my favorite live records of all time, Gardens of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater released on Nuclear Blast Records (November 2, 2018). Since purchasing this record off their web store, it is in my constant rotation of records to spin.
Tribulation is a death/gothic metal band from Stockholm, Sweden that has been active since 2004. During 2001-2004 they were previously known as Hazard. Tribulation is Joseph Tholl (guitars), Johannes Andersson (bass/vocals), Oscar Leander (drums), and Adam Zaars (guitars). Tribulation has released six (6) LPs, six (6) EPs, two (2) splits, eight (8) singles, and one (1) live album, their latest release entitled Sub Rosa In Aeternum (2024). I was also late to the party listening to Tribulation, it was not until the release of their third album The Children of the Night (April 20, 2015) off Century Media Records before I heard this band. I remember the cover of the CD catching my eye in a friend’s collection and my curiosity was quickly satisfied after listening to just a few songs.
Something to note about this performance, besides being a sold-out show, the floor for the Tabernacle was seated for this event. I have seen this happen once before for the Jim James (lead singer of My Morning Jacket) solo tour in 2018. But never for a metal tour, so I knew that tonight would be an enchanting and very memorable evening with these two metal legends. Tribulation kicked off the evening with a crushing introduction to their set with their song “Tainted Skies” followed by one of my favorite tracks “Nightbound” from their fourth album Down Below (2018). Halfway through the set, Andersson announced the premiere of a new song, “Hungry Waters”, to the delight of the fans in attendance. This set was everything I hoped for my first time seeing Tribulation perform live. I hear the influence of their music in so many bands, such as Unto Others and the Atlanta-based Cloak.
Check out Tribulation’s setlist from their opening support at the Tabernacle:
· “Tainted Skies”
· “Nightbound”
· “Suspiria de profundis”
· “Hungry Waters”
· “Saturn Coming Down”
· “Strange Gateways Beckon”
· “Melancholia”
You can head over to Tribulation’s website and watch some videos that they have available for viewing.
Opeth took the stage at the historic Tabernacle to the excitement of a sold-out crowd gathered on a Tuesday evening in downtown Atlanta. Starting the set, Opeth debuted the new single, “§1”, from their upcoming release The Last Will and Testament. It was epic to see Opeth perform this song live for the first time in Atlanta. One of the many highlights of the evening was when Akerfeldt requested the audience to sing the refrain for “In My Time of Need” and let me tell you everyone in attendance was ready for the assignment. Later in the set, Opeth debuted another single from their new album, “§3”, and we all knew how lucky we were to watch history in the making. Akerfeldt was adamant that Atlanta was the most enthusiastic and excited crowd so far on the tour. This endearing sentiment by Akerfeldt was happily backed up by Vayrynen sitting behind the drum kit.
While walking around the venue, I noticed Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher (from the band Mastodon) enjoying some free time watching their buds perform in their hometown. I love seeing homies support the homies! During one of my favorite tracks, “Ghost of Perdition”, I had goosebumps when the audience joined in and sang along with Akerfeldt with the refrain and beautiful harmonies throughout the song. After “Ghost of Perdition”, Opeth waved goodbye and left the stage, but the crowd made sure they came back onstage for an encore. And oh my what an encore did they have in store for us this evening. Opeth came out to perform two more songs, “Sorceress” and “Deliverance”, which Akerfeldt admitted that the band considers “Deliverance” to be the band’s quintessential song, and during their performance, you could tell the band enjoyed jamming out to this song.
You can check out Opeth’s setlist from their 10/22/2024 show at the Tabernacle:
· “§1”
· “The Leper Affinity”
· “The Grand Conjuration”
· “Demon of the Fall”
· “Eternal Rains Will Come”
· “In My Time of Need”
· “Face of Melinda”
· “Heir Apparent”
· “§3”
· “Ghost of Perdition”
Encore:
· “Sorceress”
· “Deliverance”
Subscribe to Opeth’s YouTube Channel and stay current on all things related to Opeth. You still have a chance to check out Opeth on their North American Tour 2024 with Tribulation on the following dates:
October 27 Denver, Mission Ballroom
October 29 Phoenix, The Van Buren
October 30 Los Angeles, YouTube Theater LOW TICKETS
October 31 San Francisco, The Warfield LOW TICKETS
Get your tickets here: https://www.opeth.com/tour-dates
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