Sweden's OPETH has announced the release of their eleventh studio album, Pale Communion, which arrives everywhere on June 17th. Frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt recently spoke to Ultimate-Guitar.com about the album; an excerpt from the interview is available below:

UG: Does Pale Communion continue on where Heritage ended?

MA: "I guess that's inevitable because that was the record before. It's not like I've gone through some renaissance. I think what we wanted with this record, I wanted it to be slightly heavier and sound wise I wanted it slightly more updated."

UG: Updated in what way?

MA: "Not modern. I always liked how Heaven and Hell by BLACK SABBATH and "Mob Rules and how those records sounded. I liked late '70s and early '80s productions and I guess we wanted to get something like that, which is why we went to Rockfield Studios in Wales (QUEEN recorded 'Bohemian Rhapsody' here] and recorded. But musically, I'm not sure. In a way I guess it's a continuation of Heritage but I don't think they are similar."

UG: How are they different?

MA: This record is more melodic, slightly heavier and a bit more schizophrenic. Inevitably it is also a continuation of Heritage, I guess."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Pale Communion, which was produced by the band’s very own Mikael Åkerfeldt and mixed by longtime collaborator and PORCUPINE TREE frontman/guitarist Steven Wilson, will be heralded by the lead single, 'Cusp Of Eternity' and available for pre-order starting Tuesday, May 6th.

Pre-orders for Pale Communion made via the iTunes Store will receive an instant download of 'Cusp Of Eternity', with multiple configurations also available via both the Roadrunner Records Webstore and O Merch.

The new material find’s Opeth once again challenging the boundaries of extreme music. In a recent interview, Åkerfeldt stated, “I wanted to do something more melodic with this album... there’s stronger vocal melodies and more melodies overall... I was pretty consistent with that frame of mind throughout the writing process.”

Pale Communion follows 2011’s Heritage, which proved a milestone album for Opeth, earning them widespread acclaim and an ever-growing fan following.

Pale Communion tracklisting:

'Eternal Rains Will Come'

'Cusp of Eternity'

'Moon Above, Sun Below'

'Elysian Woes'

'Goblin'

'River'

'Voice of Treason'

'Faith in Others'

Further details are forthcoming.