As the band's co-headlining tour with Mastodon comes to an end, we look back at their compelling Hollywood performance.
Photographs by Ekaterina Gorbacheva (@ekaterinagorbacheva.art):
Two of metal's strongest and constantly evolving acts, Opeth and Mastodon, have just closed out one of this year's strongest tours, the likes of which came properly introduced by Zeal & Ardor night after night. The GRAMMY-winning Mastodon are fresh off of the recent arrival of Hushed & Grim while Opeth deliver a career-spanning set that treads all ends of their versatility. The trio came together on December 1st to give guests at the Hollywood Palladium an evening full of heart and elite musicianship.
Mastodon, who worked with Lady Lazarus to release show-exclusive tour posters at each stop, are no stranger to electrifying sets. That evening was no different with lasers abound, Brent Hinds, Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders, and Bill Kelliher continue to prove how they've built the acclaim they have.
Though most of their playthrough consisted of tracks for their latest effort, the band still ripped through a few staples and fan favorites, including Blood & Thunder, Megaladon, The Czar, and more. That said, fans both new and old had something to love and Mastodon did not disappoint.
Enjoy a gallery of Mastodon's performance below:
With Mikael Åkerfeldt at the helm, Opeth put an end to the night's festivities and excelled as a progressive unit for the ages. Strobe lights and digital screen imagery provided a visual spectacle apt for the band's multifaceted songcraft, shifting from Travis Smith's cover illustration for In Cauda Venenum (2019) to withering trees and more.
Blackwater Park (2001), Damnation (2003), Deliverance (2002), Heritage (2011), In Cauda Venenum, My Arms, Your Hearse (1998), Pale Communion (2014), and Sorceress (2016) all received nods for good variety. The band's expansive trajectory was on full force here and Mikael's joking in between tracks leveled the density brought forth by the band's hefty tracks. Together with Mikael, Fredrik Åkesson and Martin Mendez continue do wonders on the stringed instruments, radiating soul with every riff, resounding bass line, and soothing melody. Decades into their existence and the Swedish ensemble have yet to miss a step, still raising the bar for live performances worth the price of admission. Though another stateside tour run isn't expected until a new full-length comes around, let the documents show that Opeth remain on the upper echelon of progressive music, and by the looks of it, they look to hold that ground.
Enjoy a gallery of Opeth's performance below:
