Opeth share video for new track Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand

Opeth
Opeth (Image credit: Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast)

Opeth have released an animated promo for their new single Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand.

The band teased the track earlier this month when a snippet of the music featured on a trailer for their European tour.

Both the Swedish and English versions of the song are featured in the promo, with the English version kicking off at the 8 minute 28 second mark.

It’s the first taste of the new material that’ll appear on Opeth’s upcoming studio album In Cauda Venenum, which is set for release on September 27 through Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast.

Vocalist and guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt says: “Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör or Heart In Hand, as it’s called in English, is one of the first couple of songs I wrote for In Cauda Venenum

“I immediately knew that it would probably be favoured by ‘the powers that be,’ when talks of future singles for the record would commence – and I was right.

“I generally leave it up to the label or management to pick the so-called singles. I’m indifferent, as I put an equal amount of dedication into all songs, so it doesn’t matter all that much to me. I guess it’s one of the more straightforward songs on the album – a rather rocking little thing. 

“It’s got one of the ‘happy mistakes’ in it too. Mendez’s bass broke down in the middle of recording. At the time he played an old Hofner Beatles-esque bass guitar that started humming real bad, but it sounded so good we immediately decided to keep it in there. 

“I’d be putting myself down if I said that noise is the best part of the song, but it’s up there! I like when stuff happens out of your control, and it actually adds to the piece.”

Akerfeldt adds: “This is the first full taster of the new Opeth album, and of course I hope you like it. All the songs on the new album are different from each other and therefore equally representable in my view. Enjoy!”

Opeth are currently on tour across Europe and have dates planned throughout the remainder of the year.

Opeth - In Cauda Venenum

(Image credit: Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast)

Opeth: In Cauda Venenum 
1. Livet’s Trädgård / Garden Of Earthly Delights (Intro)  
2. Svekets Prins / Dignity  
3. Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand  
4. De Närmast Sörjande / Next Of Kin  
5. Minnets Yta / Lovelorn Crime  
6. Charlatan  
7. Ingen Sanning Är Allas / Universal Truth  
8. Banemannen / The Garroter  
9. Kontinuerlig Drift / Continuum  
10. Allting Tar Slut / All Things Will Pass

Opeth 2019 tour dates
Jul 12: Warsaw Prog In Park III, Poland
Jul 14: Montmeló Doctor Music Festival, Spain
Jul 27: Sibiu ARTmania Festival, Romania
Aug 02: Wacken Open Air, Germany
Aug 03: Borgholm Brinner, Sweden
Aug 09: Kortrijk Alcatraz Festival, Belgium
Aug 11: Leeuwarden Into The Grave, Netherlands
Aug 16-18: Las Vegas Psycho Las Vegas, NV
Oct 27: Norwich UEA, UK
Oct 29: London Palladium, UK
Oct 31: Glasgow SWG Galvanizers, UK
Nov 01: Dublin Olympia Theatre, Ireland
Nov 02: Leeds Damnation Festival, UK
Nov 03: Bristol O2 Academy, UK
Nov 08: Munich Backstage Werk, Germany
Nov 09: Milan Alcatraz, Italy
Nov 10: Zurich Volkshaus Zurich, Switzerland
Nov 11: Paris L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, France
Nov 13: Cologne E-Werk, Germany
Nov 14: Munich Schlachthof, Germany
Nov 15: Nuremberg Meistersingeraal, Germany
Nov 16: Berlin Huxley’s Neue Welt, Germany
Nov 17: Kobenhavn Det Kongelige Teater, Denmark
Dec 10: Torrensville The Barton Theatre, Australia
Dec 11: Perth The Astor Theatre, Australia
Dec 13: Melbourne Palais Theatre, Australia
Dec 14: Sydney The State Theatre, Australia
Dec 15: Brisbane The Tivoli, Australia

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.