The New album is called Watershed : Out June 2nd

springtime = anytime between MArch 22nd and June 22nd imo.

Thanks. That leaves a pretty big window for a release date. According to Opeth.com, the release date has yet to be confirmed, so maybe RoadRunner Records Australia jumped the gun announcing a June 2nd release.
 
Yeah, strange. Seems to me that everyone knows the release date except the band themselves! :P
Even Mike says he forgets the dates...
 
they probably don't wanna make definite statements after other stuff got pushed back so many times before and it pissed people off. so good thing, the band doesn't name any definite dates!

they will play a new song on the Mellotronen boat apparently ... so new songs will get leaked on the internet through crappy live recordings made by people present there. hopefully the full album will not get leaked, but I doubt that it won't.
I'm gonna put my Opeth enthousiasm on hold for a couple of months now, no point in being all excited when I can only listen to it a half year from now. I'll be excited over other stuff.
 
after reading through this entire thread I believe you are the first person to mention damnation in reference to 'least metal'. you bring up a good point.

I'd be pretty happy with damnation V2 with some spices from blackwater park thrown in there.. and some mellotron.

just because the person mentioned it being the least metal doesnt mean it will be damnation soft. I'm thinking it will be still energetic and have a huge sound, but not as heavy on the metal side.
 
I hope Road Runner does the release like they did with the last Dream Theater album. Release the regular and the Special Edition on the same day...

If not I for sure will just download the album and wait to buy the Special Edition. Roadrunnah ain't playin' tricks oh me.

But let's wait and see... Maybe there won't even be a Special Edition.
Perhaps it's just my mood today... but don't come in here posting about how you're going to d/l the record if RR doesn't follow your release schedule ffs. This is the band's official forum, remember?

Wow I really pissed you off there huh? Not my intetion, I actually thought of what I wrote as quite harmless, so I hope it's just your mood. I mean is it such a naughty deed to download an album that I know I'll be buying later anyway?

I don't know about most of you guys, but I love the element of surprise. Especially when seeing or hearing something for the first time instead of already expecting something from what someone else has told me.

Yeah I kind of feel the same way. But no one forced me or you to read reviews or the stuff in this thread. So if you don't want to spoil the surprise, then just don't seek information about the album. There's really not much else to say about that.
 
^ No release date is solid.

Labels or management may want a large window in order to react to a changing release schedule or market. This is especially true where artists are competing -- internally at a label -- for continually constricting resources (personnel, marketing, radio, etc.). Say Slipknot wants to release its album in June. This may force RR to move the Opeth album up/down the calendar so that Opeth has the proper resources at the label. It's in the label's best interest to ensure that A) they get a quick return on investment B) Opeth continue to be exposed to a larger audience outside of its core audience and C) the cycle can be repeated with greater ROI and artist exposure.
 
And where this puts fans is probably between a rock and hard place, especially now when everything is immediately available. We've grown impatient, sadly. The upside is that the record will be released and it's every bit as awe-inspiring as you think it will be.
 
Eh, I do wonder how this will turn out. It will probably be good, but we'll see. I will buy it regardless.
 
^^ Relic? Interesting choice of words. No, just a long time fan/observer/friend/supporter.

^ Yup, there's a good amount of vocal harmonies. Add a ton of confidence to it and the result is killer!