Opeth and Katatonia Sent Sac on a Sensory Trip!
Mikael Åkerfeldt of OPETH
Stockholm’s own OPETH, the band whose name came from the word “Opet”, the name of a ruined ancient city in the Wilbur Smith novel Sunbird and translates to mean “City of the Moon”
brought The Last Will and Testament North American Tour Part 2 to Channel 24 in Sacramento last Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Katatonia
Supporting OPETH, iconic Swedish metal band: KATATONIA. And you *know* the show is going to kick arse when your lineup is that strong! I don’t write flowery reviews like, “The venue was ripe for the riff-picking and anticipation was heavy on the brow of each concertgoer…” but what I do write is the place was packed, it was exciting, and the second KATAONIA took to the stage, the entire venue started screaming. Clear vocals, precise guitars, head-banging drums and a boom boom bass you could feel in your ribcage, KATATONIA gave Sacramento their all and we loved it!
Set List:
1. Thrice
2. Soil's Song
4. Austerity
5. Dead Letters
7. July
8. Lethean
9. No Beacon to Illuminate Our Fall
10. In the Event Of
11. Forsaker
Next was the mighty OPETH. Playing to a packed crowd, the band known for distinctive musical mixes between death metal and progressive rock gave us a performance that was nothing short of ah-mazing. Vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt’s strong performance kept the crowd energized. The crowd surfing began after the second song and I was dodging bodies left and right in the photo pit!
The setlist hit all the right notes, weaving new material with beloved classics in a way that felt both reminiscent of the good ol’ days and what we can expect in the future! OPETH’S stage presence provided fans with a full sensory experience. The lighting was dark and red and forggy, perfect for a performance but not so much for photos! It was abundantly clear this tight-knit band has continually evolved and we are all better for it.
Set List:
1. §1
2. Master's Apprentices
3. Godhead's Lament
4. §7
5. The Devil's Orchard
6. To Rid the Disease
7. §3
8. Demon of the Fall
9. The Grand Conjuration
10. Happy Birhday to Joakim
11. Ja, må han (hon) leva (Opeth sang Swedish birthday song to Joakim)
12. The Drapery Falls
13. Encore: Deliverance
I don’t know if either band has ever played Sacramento but I do know we would LOVE them to come back whenever they want to! Catch the tour if you can! Go to OPETH’S website HERE to get info on the second leg of the tour, buy merchandise, or get some good music!
