Opeth Continued Its Move Toward Prog on Sorceress

Opeth continued its move from metal toward prog with its 12th album, Sorceress, in 2016. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Tom Dalgety. Sorceress combines classic prog, folk touches and hard rock riffs. Mikael Åkerfeldt said he tried to make every song on the album as different as possible and said its themes were largely about love.

The album followed Opeth's 2014 release Pale Communion, which reached the Top 20 in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2016, Opeth also performed as the main act at Wembley Arena in London. Fredrik Åkesson said Sorceress was the heaviest Opeth album since Watershed.

Åkerfeldt said it was important for the music to remain fun and interesting, develop and involve experimentation. He also said Steven Wilson played him Jethro Tull's Stormwatch album. Åkesson said he was obsessed with the song Orion from Stormwatch.