Opeth [ Original kaleidoscopic metal | Sweden

Metalthai.com >> Interview Index >> Opeth [Date of interview: July 4, 2002]
Opeth [Date of interview: July 4, 2002]
Original kaleidoscopic metal is the kind of the songs from OPETH, the band who standing still into the present with more than 10 years. If you like the music between the metal blend with some progressive, folk, gothic, doom, death. Don't miss this band!

Please introduce yourself to Thailand,
Mikael | Opeth: The name's Mikael and I'm the guitarist/vocalist from Opeth.

I think your songs have influences from 70's and early 80's of rock & roll sound. What do you think about this, please tell me?
Mikael | Opeth: That's right! We listen to all kinds of music these days. The borders between all the styles have more or less been erased, and now we're only concentrating on good music. I have a fascination for 60?s and 70?s obscure rock since I'm a Lp collector, but a lot of what I'm buying is absolute crap!

And about the folk rock, folk music like Simon & Garfunkel?
Mikael | Opeth: I do like Simon & Garfunkel, yes..."Scarborough fair" is one of the most beautiful songs I know. I used to be into folk rock a few years back but have grown tired of it really.

How would you describe your music?
Mikael | Opeth: Original kaleiodoscopic metal.

How do you feel that your sound in "Blackwater Park" had progressed into the positive way when compare over the five albums?
Mikael | Opeth: We've become tighter, more routined, more evil, more technical, calmer, faster, heavier, sexier, subtle, soul-ier...

Opeth continues to grow and mature with each released. You are becoming a very influential band and now others bands look up to you as you once did your influences, how does that make you feel?
Mikael | Opeth: I really like it! I like to think that Opeth can be responsible for making kids start playing guitar or in bands or whatever. However, we're just 4 bums/losers that like to play rock music so I don't think about such things that much.

This album, you worked with Steven Wilson, Steve never produced Metal band before, and what do you think about him? Steven played both piano and guitar on the album, what songs was Steven involved in?
Mikael | Opeth: He did produce the voice + lead guitars for the entire BWP album. Did some piano in the opening track + some vocals in Harvest, Bleak and Drapery falls. Oh yeah, a guitar solo in Bleak too!

What do you think about music from Porcupine Tree (his band)?
Mikael | Opeth: They're my favorite band. I love everything they've done and they simply rule!

Please tell me, when you play live concert or gigs, is that hard to play your songs because your songs have many parts of music and complex.
Mikael | Opeth: Yeah, sometimes you gotta concentrate on what the fukk you're doing. So I tend to saty on one spot like my feet are glued to the ground and just wail. I have the feel to play the songs but I make loads of mistakes, but then again, I gig without mistakes is a wimp gig!

I like your cover album very much, Travis Smith did great job. What do you think about him?
Mikael | Opeth: He's a friend and he's very supportive to us. He's a great artist with a sick mind. He's alike the Salvador Dali or Bosch of this time. Sick twisted and beautiful art!

You cover album want to convey something like the concept album?
Mikael | Opeth: There's not a real concept to BWP other than me taking distance from mankind, but yeah, you could say it kinda refelcts especially the title track.

How's the idea that you create song call 'Bleak', that's sound great.
Mikael | Opeth: I heard this song from a Middle Eastern greaseball singer (like pop music over there, evil to my ears) and was completely blown away and wrote that sick section within 5 minutes. His name was Ibrahim something...totally influential!

Maybe, your next album use some Classical instruments add in your songs, it'll be great. What do you think about it?
Mikael | Opeth: Nah, we're a metal band first and foremost..we might use some vintage keys like piano and mellotorns but that's it...oh yeah, wemight use some more percusiion instruments on the upcoming stuff.

Please brief about your lyrical content.
Mikael | Opeth: As I said before, it's not really a concept however...I see a certain link between the songs mainly because they're all about the same darn thing, which is how much I despise people.

First of your album until to Blackwater Park, your voice so variety, have sound just the way in Black metal , Clean vocal, Death metal vocal mixed together. Whose design the vocal, that's all you? How's the idea come from?
Mikael | Opeth: I do the vocals in the band, and on BWP we had Steven producing me so he helped out a lot with effects and such.

What are Opeth's plans in the future? Touring soon? How about your new material for the next album?
Mikael | Opeth: We're rexcording soon...we're gonna record 2 albums at once...one heavy and one mellow. Touring? Next year.

Well, that's all of the end of interview and wanna say something to Metalthai Readers,..go ahead,.
Mikael | Opeth: Hey guys...check us out + take it easy! Thanks for the interview!