After some delays, the public gets its first taste of what the new Opeth album, Pale Communion will be like. Today, the band unveiled the artwork to their new record, which you can see above.
The artwork was designed by Travis Smith, who also designed the cover to Opeth's previous album, Heritage. Art direction was provided by Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt.
The artwork contains some Latin text which I can't make out, but the multilinguals at at Heavy Blog is Heavy have figured it out:
Left Panel: “Don’t you know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?”
The quote in the first panel was written by Axel Oxenstierna (Swedish First Chancellor) to his son, who was negotiating the Peace of Westphalia in Germany in the 17th Century. It is often used as one of the first quotations that signify the advent of real politique or politics as science.Middle Panel: “In these days friends are won through flattery, the truth gives birth to hate. “
The quote in the second panel was written by Terence, a Roman playwright, usually used to signify the end of days and the erosion of society.Right Panel:”He grieves truly who grieves without a witness.”
The quote in the third panel was written by Marcus Valerius Martialis, a Roman poet living in Hispania (modern day Spain) in the 2nd Century and is a beautiful piece of poetry.
So smart!
The new Opeth record is out August 26th via Roadrunner. The first single, Cusp of Eternity is due June 3rd. If that's too long to wait, check out our track-by-track review of the new album and recent interview with the band.
[via MetalSucks]
