OPETH and KATATONIA brought their "Last Will And Testament North American Tour Part 2" to Chicago's Riviera Theatre for another sold-out performance that left the packed house mesmerized. The Swedish progressive metal masters delivered what many attendees called the best show of the tour so far, with OPETH debuting two songs from their acclaimed 2024 album "The Last Will And Testament" that hadn't appeared on previous dates — reportedly "Section 3" and "Section 7," both of which translated beautifully to the live setting.
Frontman Mikael Akerfeldt was in particularly engaging form, sharing stories between songs about the band's long history with Chicago and joking with the crowd about everything from Swedish weather to prog rock excesses. His vocal performance was extraordinary, seamlessly shifting between the crystalline clean passages and the thunderous death growls that defined OPETH's earlier work. The setlist drew from across the band's entire discography, including deep cuts from "Still Life" and "Blackwater Park" alongside newer material, creating a dynamic flow that never let the energy dip.
KATATONIA opened the evening with a haunting, atmospheric set that drew heavily from their recent material alongside fan favorites like "July" and "My Twin." Vocalist Jonas Renkse's voice carried a weight of emotion that perfectly suited the venue's acoustics, while the band's precise musicianship underscored why they remain one of progressive dark rock's most respected acts. The chemistry between the two bands was palpable — a bond forged in the early '90s Stockholm scene when both acts were finding their footing.
The Riviera Theatre, with its ornate architecture and excellent sound system, proved an ideal setting for the progressive metal spectacle. Social media was flooded afterward with fans calling it a once-in-a-generation concert experience. The tour continues to St. Louis on February 12 before heading to further dates across North America through mid-February.