Genre: Upbeat Folk / Acoustic Pop / Folk / Prog Rock

Unique album and boardgame combo, printed inners with instructions, gatefold 180GSM Yellow.

Peterborough’s genre-defying six-piece, Opaque, mark their 25th anniversary with Beginning To End—a bold fourth studio album set for release in June 2025. Fusing gypsy swing, alternative rock, carnival folk, and touches of electronica, the band continues to evolve while reflecting on a quarter-century of musical exploration.

Renowned for their dynamic live shows and appearances across Europe’s festival circuit, Opaque has shared stages with Kasabian, The Kooks, and Biffy Clyro, and even curated their own festival. They also transformed a disused pub into the now-iconic Glass Onion Music & Arts Centre in their hometown.

Beginning To End is both a sonic journey and a philosophical one. Built around the idea that every beginning holds the seed of its own end, the album weaves together new material with early songs written by frontman Moony nearly 30 years ago. The result is a timeless reflection on life, cycles, and creative endurance.

But that’s not all. Beginning To End is not just an album, it’s an experience.

In a groundbreaking move, Opaque is releasing the world’s first-ever interactive vinyl board game. Alongside the album’s digital release on streaming platforms, Beginning To End will be available in a limited edition of 300 gatefold copies on high-quality 180GSM yellow vinyl, each featuring a board game integrated into the album’s artwork. This innovative board game will include QR codes, hidden tracks, music videos, and more.

The Beginning To End Board Game is a dice-based game where each square represents one year of your life. As you move through the game, you’ll make choices – go to university or get a job? Get married or stay single? Have kids or not? Along the way, you’ll encounter both good and bad events, accumulating life points. The goal is not to finish first but to experience the best life possible by ending the game with the highest score.

The album artwork itself is just as special. The cover features a wooden box, which was custom-commissioned by Opaque to hold the 12” vinyl album and game pieces. This stunning piece was created by Clark Watling, a local artist and wood/metalwork specialist whose work has been commissioned by notable figures including the late Queen, Prince Charles, Richard Branson, and the Sultan of Brunei. The box is made from recycled oak, which has had its own life journey—from acorn to tree, to wooden beam, and now, to this beautifully crafted box, embodying the metaphor for Beginning To End.