Swedish progressive metal masters OPETH and dark rock icons KATATONIA have continued their successful co-headlining North American tour with a commanding performance in Pittsburgh. The "Last Will And Testament North American Tour Part 2" has been delivering career-spanning performances from both bands, and the Pittsburgh date proved to be no exception, with fans braving frigid February weather to pack the venue.
OPETH's Mikael Akerfeldt has been in exceptional vocal form throughout the run, seamlessly switching between soaring clean passages and guttural death growls across material spanning three decades of the band's evolution. The setlist has drawn from across OPETH's vast discography, from the progressive death metal fury of early classics like "Blackwater Park" and "Deliverance" to the retro-progressive explorations of "Pale Communion" and "In Cauda Venenum," along with material from 2024's acclaimed "The Last Will And Testament." The latter album marked a triumphant return to growled vocals after a decade-long absence, and hearing songs like the towering "§1" and "§3" in a live setting has been one of the tour's defining moments.
KATATONIA has been equally captivating, weaving their signature melancholic soundscapes through a set that balanced atmospheric brooding with moments of genuine heaviness. Jonas Renkse's hauntingly understated vocals provided a perfect counterpoint to Akerfeldt's more dramatic delivery, while guitarist Anders Nystrom's shimmering guitar textures filled the room with layers of darkness and beauty.
The pairing of these two Swedish bands, both of whom emerged from the Stockholm metal scene in the early 1990s and have maintained a close friendship ever since, has been hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the most inspired touring packages of early 2026. The tour moves on to Detroit's Masonic Temple on February 10 and Chicago's Riviera Theatre on February 11, with more dates running through mid-February.