Pale Communion is the eleventh studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. The album was released on 26 August 2014 through Roadrunner Records. The album was produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt and mixed by Steven Wilson. Pale Communion is the first album with keyboardist Joakim Svalberg after the departure of Per Wiberg in 2011. The album sold 19,090 copies in its first week of release in the United States, debuting at number 19 on the Billboard 200.
Cover art by Travis Smith
Opeth are a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. The band incorporates folk, blues, classical, and jazz elements into its usually lengthy compositions, as well as strong influences from death metal, especially in their early works. Songs may include acoustic guitar passages, Mellotrons, death growls, and strong dynamic shifts.
Opeth at Rock Hard Festival 2017, Germany (L–R): Fredrik Åkesson, Joakim Svalberg, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Martin Axenrot, & Martín Méndez
Åkerfeldt (pictured) and Isberg carried on with Opeth after all other members left.
Peter Lindgren left Opeth in 2007 after sixteen years with the band.
Mikael Åkerfeldt and Martín Méndez live in 2008