COFFEE WITH OPETH / Mikael Åkerfeldt

Had a lovely coffee today with Mikael Åkerfeldt of ‪@opeth‬
We talked about the new album The Last Will and Testament, songwriting, influences etc.
TICKETS FOR THE ESCAPE THE INTERNET @Bernthguitar / @CharlesBerthoud / @OlaEnglund TOUR can be found here - bit.ly/3WBqCLE
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#metal #metalguitar #guitar #opeth

[@TheLotusEater725]

Hey Mikael, I doubt you will see this, but.... Sorry i upset you back in 2005 by shouting out "forest of october" at the SOTU festival, specifically the starland ballroom gig. It was rude of me to interrupt you while you were speaking. That look you gave me still haunts me 20 years later.

[@denniskielton2447]

liking and commenting on this just so you hopefully get heard

[@leeDs718]

I guarantee you don't want him to see this, because he has definitely forgotten about you immediately after looking at you. So it will be to your detriment if he sees this because it will reawaken that moment and he will definitely despise you a tad more than before.

[@dee-taylor]

Lmao I saw them on this tour in Tulsa, OK. That festival was a circus.

[@ToothlessWizard]

@@leeDs718 Doubtful. Remorse is Gold.

[@giorgospvl]

Mikael he's sorry pls forgive him/her

[@declanbarhu7457]

Man you have no idea how happy and grateful I am to see this video. An interview between my all time favourite band's song writer and my favourite metal KZbinr. Just amazing thank you Ola for this

[@OlaEnglund]

Lots of love

[@t0sserlad]

@@OlaEnglund Found grandpa on social media again

[@erik.kangas]

appreciate your alcest profile pic.

[@beneathsands]

It's not the growls, it's the Spooky Forest Vibes

[@Salomon_G]

This. It wasn't just the growls that went away with Heritage. It was a near whole style change. And as far as the whole 'but the they did Damnation!' Yeah, I still like Damnation way more than the post Watershed albums. Bringing the growls back also hasn't mattered to me much so far because I don't like the singles they've released.

[@infinidominion]

I hope we havent bid them farewell

[@Marol2137]

Exactly, but now I'm getting more of Spooky Prog vibes instead of whatever it used to be in the past

[@terria8825]

@@beneathsands THANK YOU

[@haarmegiddo]

Agree completely. There are plenty of songs on older albums with only clean vocals that have that authentic Opeth vibe that the new albums don't have, and that no prog hash rock thing can convey, to me at least.

[@Lennart_Holm]

It's happening, guys. IT'S HAPPENING!

[@MusicheadRick]

MAKE MIKAEL GROWL AGAIN !!!!@😂😂😂

[@mikegallagher2732]

Coffee with ola is COMPLETE !!! 😄😄😄🤘🤘

[@dralithi]

YUSSSSSSSSS

[@aemcinematiccomposing]

How is this happening 😮

[@raulbrandibur7770]

@@Lennart_Holm everybody stay CALM! 😂

[@GilPaulbert]

am i the only one who loves the way, how Mikael says "sh1t" ?

[@GUOMENTAREVIEWS]

yes

[@RX120D]

"Shi-T"

[@sahamal_savu]

No, I love it too. The Swedish accent is wonderful 😊

[@RaspiRoope]

Shit

[@Volksgranadier]

like a gent

[@IsmailElBakkali]

Gosh I wish that Mikael Akerfeldt would launch a podcast at some point! I could listen to him talking for days about anything and I'd never get bored the slightest

[@CikisHelyzet]

NO!

[@Hocke11]

A podcast where Mikael talks about old albums and artists that has inspired him through the years would be amazing.

[@kahwigulum]

i felt the same way about devin townsend, and it turns out, he's a terrible speaker. nice voice. but he has nothing to say.

[@ryanmtbbrown6749]

What I love about Mikael's vocals is the weaving the growling and screaming in with the clean vocals. It vastly improves the song dynamics and enhances the story telling. Combining this with the heavy, progressive arrangements is ART.

[@Aenigmakil]

This is why we all love Opeth, but Mikael seems to not realise this 😅

[@AxelordSMIJES]

Soooo, what they did for 25 yrs until Heritage?

[@Albert-Freeman]

''My best friend Jonas from Katatonia''... Hope Steven Wilson doesn't hear that... Really happy to see a coffee with Mikael.

[@lattjeful]

Coffee with Jonas next!

[@svartsjokolade]

That gave me a good laugh but to be fair Steven is more than a friend ;) And yes, would be nice to see Jonas here sometime soon!

[@BrofUJu]

I mean he's known Jonas for what, 30 years? 35?

[@stevemuzak8526]

And guess who introduce Mikael to Porcupine Tree.... Jonas :D True story.

[@Loftus4345]

Was Steven involved in the production of the new album?

[@fcamiola]

Marrow of the Earth is not only one of my fav Opeth tunes, but maybe my favorite 4+ minutes of music, period. That piece is MAGIC. Great interview, I love Mikael so much. Genius.

[@Loftus4345]

Such a moving piece of music, isn't it?

[@ivybeard8337]

Yesterday Ihsahn was on Devin Townsend-podcast and today Mikael has a coffee with Ola…what a great week!

[@rocioiribe5841]

Ihsahn was also on the Downbeat Podcast this week, don't miss out on that one!

[@FellishBeast]

The first (and only) time I saw Opeth live was during the Heritage tour. I was bummed initially that there wasn’t any growling, but I have to say it was the best sounding show I’ve been to. I enjoyed it a lot. I do remember a drunk guy yelling “Where’s the fucking metal?!?” And Mikael said something along the lines of “I’ve been playing metal for 20 years…how about you?” Great stage presence.

[@Aenigmakil]

Hahaha great story 😂 I was at a show on that tour too and it was great and disappointing at the same time.

[@mattstanford2789]

I saw them live in 2022. Honestly, I was blown away by the Hertiage/onward material they played. I predominantly love the Watershed/prior material, but, man, the more recent songs really sound absolutely amazing live.

[@RUNESFYRE]

If you are talking about when they were out with Mastodon, they played Demon of the Fall and Grand Conjuration at the end of the set.

[@fv1005]

I saw that tour in Houston

[@internaljeremy726]

Arguably the best growls ever. Especially on Katatonia’s Brave Murder Day album.

[@jaedonbusch6679]

@@internaljeremy726 that’s one of the best Death/Doom albums ever made. It’s my personal favorite, it feels like despair in the best way.

[@BrofUJu]

The live Bloodbath album is my favourite death metal album ever. Insane vocals, insane energy

[@knackbaby9187]

Thanks for the album recommendation!

[@INCRYPTIDFORM]

Even sounded good when he has a cold on MAYH

[@sirdacier7159]

That is still my favorite extreme metal vocal performance ever. His voice fit the atmosphere of the album beautifully.

[@thecrypticstench]

You finally got Mike!! This is gonna be good, can’t wait for the new record 🔥🤘🏻

[@dysthymiabearer]

Great record you have as a profile picture man, was one of my favs last year. Cheers, have a great day.

[@thecrypticstench]

@@dysthymiabearer hell yea dude, Starpath and Shambhallic Vibrations were my most played albums last year, 20 Buck Spin has been cranking out the goods. You as well, cheers 🍻

[@EverythingisFire]

@@thecrypticstench Dream Unending are 3 for 3 ❤ I bought that split on Vinyl but it got misdelivered/stolen.

[@ChrisLT]

Been nice to see all these Mikael interviews over the past month or so.

[@Nickolaars]

Åkerfeldt should start doing bedtime story audiobooks. Could listen to that shit forever 😉👌

[@AudreyRobinel]

I understand that people are into the growl. But The band is so much wider than just that. What i like about the band is both the outstanding compositions they make, with many subtle details, as well as the variety of it. I like that they switch from melancolic sound to full death in an instant, in the same track. And the singer is also amazing for the same reasons : his range is pretty insane. Opeth is, in my eyes (or in my ears) definitely among the best of the best of this new century.

[@gandalf8216]

Mikael's growls are sooo good, though. That said, so is his clean singing. I consider Opeth to be up there with Death, when it comes to the value in development and evolution they have brought to Death Metal in general. It's not just about speed and aggression, it can also be about contrasts and atmosphere - the dynamics, if you will. And both were and are so fun live. Plus, Opeth introduced the Hammond organ to death metal, something I wished to hear since I was a kid and a simultaneous Deep Purple and Death lover. I just knew it would go so well together, then a friend back in high school recommended Opeth to me. Now Ghost Reveries is one of my top 3 favorite albums of all time.

[@AudreyRobinel]

@@gandalf8216 I do agree, but i think if it was only growl, it would end up beeing "same-ey". And also, i find that the ones that hit the hardest are the ones that are prepaired with a clean singing before, and the contrast it causes make them pop even more :) Anyhow, it is nice also that the whole band is ultra technical and super skilled, but don't end up beeing show offs to the detriment of musical construction. I like super fast guitar solos as the next metalhead does, but when the whole track is just that, well it gets old. I remember when i discovered micheal Angelo Batio, and seeing him play, i was like "what the fuck, how can one play this?", but, well after watching it over and over and beeing impressed, well i don't listen to his music. Opeth also came in for me at a good time when i was growing tiired of the old stuff, like, i loved the older bands, and was impressed by the prog scene, but didn"t find the band that would capture the heavyness of some bands while providing something new, different. And they came in :)

[@darkwarrior1194]

To be honest these days I find myself returning more to the prog rock albums than the Death Metal ones. Still my favourites are Sorceress and Ghost Reveries

[@apostolispaspalakis2627]

I actually remember seeing them at the webster theatre when i lived in the U.S. I witnessed first hand how upset people were when they played the softer songs. Cusing booing etc. They were so upset and i couldn't understand why. I remember absolutely loving it because i couldnt believe how amazing they sounded and seeing the mellow side of them. I'll never forget how amazing Akerfeldt's clean vocals sounded with the harmonies etc. What a band

[@DeuceDeuceBravo]

@@apostolispaspalakis2627 I was at that show! The crowd was so obnoxious. The new stuff (at the time) sounded fantastic. I loved the show but I was embarrassed by the crowd.

[@_grigoryta]

I don't get why people hate proggy and mellow Opeth. It literally throws you into 1970s time trip (or nostalgia, if you actually have been there) with the proggy stuff except with greater quality and a bit of a darker flair (because it's Opeth), and better vocals in my opinion (60-70s singers are really good, I just don't like the style). And the mellow side (say Damnation) is just pure slow dancing material, which I guess is why certain types of people hate it - because they could never have the warm embrace of a woman. The only proggy/mellow record I dislike is probably Heritage (i can listen to only one song on that one), but I also dislike the first two

[@hoistthatrag]

I saw the Heritage tour in Charlotte, and it definitely felt like witnessing a pivotal moment in the band's history. Crowd was definitely restless over the lack of growls, so the pit was desperate to mosh by the time the band got around to Hex Omega and A Fair Judgment towards the end of the set lol I'd hoped fans would eventually come around to appreciate Heritage in hindsight, and it seems like a lot have

[@mocool13]

I was there too for both nights in NYC as well, still have some videos from that show on my channel

[@HexOmega3113]

At the ryman auditorium in Nashville Tennessee everyone loved every bit of it. The soft and the heavy alike. It was an amazing experience and I got to have it twice!!! My wife and I will never forget it.

[@ryanloney3448]

Couple swedish lads just having a casual polite conversation, love it, awesome to see mikael on here Ola as you can imagine hes a big deal to most of your fans. I’m also incredibly excited for the new album and can not wait to hear it.

[@jmcsquared18]

I have never clicked on an Ola video so fast in my entire life.

[@jorgenmalmros6306]

Opeth are unique in their way of making air molecules vibrate. I am so glad I discovered them. No one else comes close to what they do!

[@donailin]

Agree, theyre the GOLD STANDARD for me, and have ruined it for pretty much all other musicians in the genre that I listen to. Like "yeah, this is a good band but Opeth is still better." Probably because every single album - even heritage - is a journey. Theres always so much to unpack and enjoy. The process of learning each new song is so much fun, and then knowing it note for note, drum beat for drum beat is as enjoyable as it gets. And there's just zero mediocrity with Mikael, zero. So much talent, like mozart level talent.

[@baphometwingsof666]

I love the autumn forest vibes I get from Opeth and their guitar tone. I also love that their riffage has a lot of creativity in it, not just chugs for heavy's sake. And of course the lyrics.

[@NicolasREVA7X]

Daaaamn, Mr. Akerfeldt himself! Simply the greatest musician of all time for me! Thank you Ola! Cheers!

[@wulfman15]

He's so right about the in ear monitors and screams, it really tripped me up the first time I ever played with monitors.

[@YersinisPestis]

People always argue about their favorite album and it breaks down to post-scream/pre-scream with fans and it always feels 2 dimensional. I will say my favorite album is whatever album I'm listening to at the time. My wife and I have been together since Watershed, and we never miss a show when they roll through Cleveland. We listen to the entire discography from start to finish before each show. The discography is a journey. Every album is a journey. Every song is a journey. I love the way Opeth paints its audio landscape with every stroke of the brush. 🤘See you in Cleveland next month!!!!

[@aksimtaioreunin5385]

Watershed and In Cauda Venenum, if they are to be described as closing albums to a phase (like Mikael described here), are absolutely perfect albums in capturing collectively the sound of 'each phase'. But otherwise I agree with your experiences. Each album is something unlike the other, before or after

[@philip863]

@YersinisPestis I also plan to be at the show🤘

[@dee-taylor]

​​@@aksimtaioreunin5385 Ghost Reveries is the culmination of their early career. Watershed's heavy sections were different than their earlier career. Watershed kind of stands on its own. It's heavy like the old stuff, but also very tonal, chromatic, and filled with his new vocal style, all found on the newer records.

[@aksimtaioreunin5385]

@@dee-taylor Great insight. I dont disagree

[@Loftus4345]

Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries are my favourite purely because of the song structures and mood setting. I love all their newer stuff as well though. I feel like Opeth do the "melancholy" thing better than anyone else.

[@sytorias7143]

I love all Opeth, Screams or not, Burden, In My Time of Need.... Spring 1974, Will O the Wisp.... some of my favourites

[@CapitanFinnart]

Mikael Åkerfeldt mentioning Soulside Journey... hell yeah!

[@mykullthecimmerian7183]

Sing however you need to sing! Wailing, screaming or growling............just keep writing that music brother! Cannot handle the wait for this album. 🤘

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

It's not just that the Metal elements are back - I'm even more excited to hear that their new music has moved back in a dark, gothic direction.

[@sormedoce.]

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THISSSSSS THANK YOU OLA!

[@britt4995]

Best interview I’ve ever seen featuring Mikael, and that’s saying something. NEVER heard Mikael talk about bands like At the Gates, Darkthrone, Pantera, etc. before, and it was cool to hear his take on all the classic metal albums. He may not listen to much metal anymore, but he’s clearly not ignorant to it either. I could have watched this for two hours easily. Opeth changed my life, they’ve been my favourite band as long as I can remember and that will always be the case. Can’t wait to hear the new album, like always!

[@akitamayne1507]

Mikael's right. It is annoying as hell that a good percentage of fans only really like Opeth for their growls and dont really see Opeth for what they are as a whole. I've been a fan since 2008. I definitely was a little hesitant when Heritage was released, but I grew to enjoy it just as much as the last album, and every album since has been fucking amazing. Metal doesnt have to be growls, and Opeth doesnt have to be Death Metal. Im glad these things never brought Mikael down enough to cave or give up. Every album is good in their own way.

[@MaaZeus]

Don't take the "growls" thing literally. It is about making heavy, intense music and growls is just part of that, the first clear sign that something changed and was lost. I am not a smart man, progressive music mostly flies over my head and I need something rigid to latch on to that takes me for a ride. For Opeth it was the quality death metal part and progressive elements were an icing on the cake whenever it clicks with me. I rememeber going to Opeth concert (which I never had been in before, it was my first time) but unfortunately that was exactly at the time they did Heritage and toured that. I was so gravely dissapointed and bored to tears... I was looking forward to a good metal concert and got anything but that. Talk about bait and switch. I know that is unfair and it is not what the band was doing but as a listener of their older stuff that is what I felt like in that moment.

[@akitamayne1507]

@@MaaZeus i can understand that argument, and i understand for a lot of people it was the switch between sounds, ultimately once Steve Wilson got involved like, majorly; again it was kind of a little rocky a switch for me as well but i began to appreciate the music for what it was. I havent actually been able to go to an Opeth concert so i cant speak on that either, but especially now if I go to an Opeth concert i'd be expecting anything they had released. But thats after knowing y'know. Anyway, i get your point. I think i was just talking about the ones on the comment sections only talking about 'oh. Mikaels growling again! Hes back!' when thats just not a good enough reason, because they were excited for P1, and once P3 came out they were just disappointed again.

[@soakedbearrd]

I like all phases and eras of Opeth. Imo all genius in their own way.

[@fortheloveofmusic860]

Opeth doesn't even need to be metal. They can do whatever they like.

[@MaaZeus]

@@fortheloveofmusic860 Of course, it is their band. But if you have an established fanbase and you suddenly make dramatic changes you should not be surprised if you alienate a lot of the old fans. Opeth did survive the change and thrived but still I say that they should have just put Opeth on ice and rather started a new prog rock band side project. Everybody would have won and there would have been less friction between the band and their fans. Case in point, Ihsahn and Emperor. Emperor was put on ice because Ihsahn no longer felt a need to create black metal and wanted to explore the progressive side of music. Rather than to change Emperor he started his own self titled band. Now Emperor is alive again, albeit just a live band, but Ihsahn is also thriving.

[@YpSiLoN666]

I still think it's not just about the growls, it's about the dynamics. One of Opeth's main attractions for me were always those changes in dynamics. Also, the ability that screams give you to "fill" a part that otherwise would have average or boring melodic vocal lines is not to be understated. The result is usually a more interesting and entertaining piece of music, and that's where Opeth's strength lies.

[@Aenigmakil]

Basically what I've said and others too. I think we as PROPER Opeth fans all love the band because of dynamics first. People who were crying "If you want growls back, go listen to any other death metal band...." clearly haven't HEARD Opeth. Listened, maybe. But they've never heard Opeth because that comment is ridiculous in every sense of the word and implies Opeth were just another death metal band. Yes, because they've always sounded like Entombed, Cannibal Corpse and Nile. Yes...

[@scarem84604]

I would LOVE to see Mikael and Steven Wilson collaborate again. I am looking forward to the full release of The Last Will and Testament!! Thanks, Ola!

[@KLAS_]

I can't wait to get this album on vinyl, playing it and reading the contents absorbing the whole story!

[@jonathansantaclara6835]

Brothers, rejoice! The time has finally come \,,,/

[@heli0s101]

They're my friends favourite band and I never listened to them, then I was front row for them at Bloodstock this year. Fell in love with their music, and binged every album over the next two weeks. Remarkable talent, and much rarer and more important - remarkable vision. Also, at 13:31 - what Yu-Gi-Oh universe is that guy living it?

[@leilahamaoui3564]

They were incredible at Bloodstock, I was also front row and got to crowd surf, definitely a core memory moment! 🥲

[@claudevieaul1465]

Yes!! Finally - Åkerfeldt has, next to his musical skills, such an amazing and bone-dry sense of humour... Brilliant guy 😎🤘

[@glimailustra]

Great interview! Mikael is "the sh1t"! 👀 Really looking forward to the new album! 🔥🤘

[@the_trash_mane5875]

After hearing Mikael speak for this interview, I get the impression he listens to a lot of ambient music. Wonderful

[@stevemuzak8526]

12:18 I have seen Opeth when they played only clean vocal songs back in 2011 on Heritage North American tour. It was one of a kind experience. I enjoyed every second of that show.

[@samswales9280]

AT LAST! An interviewer that doesn't interrupt Mikael every 2 seconds. Great work Ola!

[@Aenigmakil]

Bloodstock? 😅

[@samswales9280]

@@Aenigmakil maybe I'm on about that one... maybe I'm not 😂

[@balmain2496]

JESUS CHRIST THIS IS WHAT WE BEEN ASKING FOR 10 YEARS

[@bobsala7780]

He said that writing Heritage was a watershed moment.

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIllIlIII]

When Mikael talked about his favorite guitar players I just knew Reine Fiske would get mentioned despite being hugely unknown. Definitely my favorite guitar player in the world, and the tonal influence on Mikael is obvious (or at least their shared influence of acts like Jan Johansson and Jojje Wadenius). People tend to don't get why so many musicians love him, but it's like Mikael says about so much more than his classic technical ability.

[@Ultrahardfeelings]

Holy fuck...A LEGEND

[@alesandro3844]

I want a ten hour video of Mikael's voice saying just the word "metal" in a loop. I would even pay for it xD

[@theunforgiven849]

I asked for this like 5 years ago. Thank you so much Ola!!!!

[@wtfisgoingon8587]

I remember that, glad he saw your comment.

[@chrishastings]

Thanks for organising this interview @Ola, Mikael is my favorite comedian!!..... also singer,songwriter guitar player :)

[@KingDiaboli]

"Heritage" was a huge turning point for me with music. Screams or not, love this band. Awesome interview! 👍

[@cosasDEguitarra]

I love his voice when singing but when speaking too! great voice for dubbing movies or for a night radio show

[@GoneForDays]

0:14 I LOVE THIS MAN

[@leilahamaoui3564]

Absolutely love the idea of using different styles of vocal's for the different character's on the new concept album, very cool!

[@bastianbasaure1108]

Please do a Coffee with Ola with Neige from Alcest 🙏🏻

[@LegionairMusic]

Mikael's perspective on his growls opened my mind to appreciate that he just wanted to sing with his normal voice and progress as a musician. In saying that, it's the beautiful contrast of death metal growls with those autumnal folk passages that made early Opeth so special to me. The growls were just an added layer of depth that fit the theme of their albums and tapped into some primal emotions. The albums without growls didn't resonate as much with me mostly because of the Moog synths and wacky 70s prog structures NOT the lack of growls.

[@pyepye-io4vu]

"Wacky" is right. The vocal harmony part in "Moon Above Sun Below" sounds like a barbershop quartet.

[@GeminiWoods]

I saw Opeth with Strapping Young Lad and GWAR a very long time ago and it was INSANE. They put on a great show.

[@leilahamaoui3564]

@@GeminiWoods wow! You're very lucky! I would've loved to have seen SYL live, let alone Opeth alongside them, amazing!!

[@BrofUJu]

I saw Dev open for Opeth with Dark Tranquility, Ghost Reveries tour! So sick.

[@adamfudalej1007]

In my opinion, it's not entirely about the growl itself. People appreciate Opeth for the contrast, which other bands can't achieve with this level of finesse and sense of good taste. I'm glad as hell that Mikael is singing hard again, but an album with “In Your Face” growl alone would definitely not appeal to me.

[@Zwidawurzn]

Holy cow, it's the guy from KZbin talking to the guy from Opeth!

[@Meshuggapeth]

Been enjoying life all the more thanks to the twenty plus years I’ve been listening to this man’s music. I’m so glad he’s recruited such incredibly talented musicians and continued to grow as an artist

[@lokithorns]

What saddens me is that 80% of people watching this will only remember about Ola saying that the new record has a lot of growls on it. A great interview, by the way

[@lawrencefine5020]

That saddens you? What made me sad wasn't that the growls were gone, but the music had softened and my favorite band became Jethro Tull over night from that brilliant Watershed album to Locomotive Breath. (No slack against Jethro Tull, cuz I like them). But we already have a Jethro Tull. THAT saddened me, Have you noticed many people are actually excited by this new album unlike the previous 4 that (for me) were below par? It's ok to criticize a band for legitimate reasons. And I did and Opeth deserved it. I still love Opeth but that's because between 99 and 07 they put out the greatest music I ever heard, and I'm 60. So I've heard it all. Don't be afraid to criticize a band if you feel they deserve that criticism. I welcome the New Old-peth back. The last 4 albums, that's what saddened me.

[@TheMTalMilitia]

Who cares what people think. Give it up man, you're not THAT special, it's just an interview, don't belittle strangers you don't know

[@ZauTa]

@@lawrencefine5020 this new album is a further musical departure from the old era than in cauda or pale communion. it's literally just the growls making people excited. it's shallow and moronic. Mikael's writing is what makes Opeth Opeth, and it's never left. If your closed mindedness makes you sad, that's on you, not Mikael.

[@lawrencefine5020]

@@ZauTa Aren't you glad that music is always subjective, and never objective? The last 4 albums were to me, SOLO PROJECTS, not Opeth. It's really ok to criticize when criticism is warranted. The last 4 albums sucked, sorry not sorry. I listened to them and thought "hmmm, this isn't Opeth, it's some lame imitation of Yes/Camel and Jethro Tull". That's my opinion. and you know what they say about opinions. And that includes yours. BE objective. If you liked the last 4 albums, great. I thought they sucked. You're a Mikael stan, ok. To me, Opeth is about the dark, the light and all the shadings in-between. And that includes the singing and the growling. The dark and the light, get it?

[@Aenigmakil]

And I thought I was sensitive... 😅

[@808berg]

Love this, a couple of Swedish legends

[@sahamal_savu]

Honestly never been a big fan of Opeth but Mikael is my kind of guy. Cool interview, I'll ha ve to give some of their new stuff another chance 👍

[@joachimekstrom]

So happy he mentioned Frank Marino, the greatest! ❤

[@thomascoolberth2648]

I was at that Massachusetts concert mentioned at 12:21. People were in shock. The mosh pit started dancing in a circle in a medieval style. I thought there was going to be a riot.

[@soakedbearrd]

lol I can imagine.

[@fullmetalguy8357]

33:18 Man am I glad to hear Mikael is a fan of the first At the Gates album. It's also my favourite and I think it's their most complex and atmospheric album. There is very little that sounds similar to that album in the genre. A unique and nightmarish release.

[@ernestoleighton3067]

Yeah it's also my favourite! I love the guitar harmonies and they took those harmonies so seriously... The part in kingdom gone where the guitar stands in tremolo is a death metal landmark

[@MikeLozanoGuitar]

Man that was such a good interview. I hope you manage to get Joe Duplantier in the future.

[@_Erendis]

Absolutely delighted with this interview... 😍 Just two Swedish metalheads discussing old music they like and why... The best conversation you can have in real life.

[@Cretd]

Coffee with Ola and guy from Opeth leeeeeeet's go

[@subaquaticencountersofthed8515]

This was so good. As an American fan since childhood, I saw the tour he spoke about... I can't thank you enough Ola for digging into this! Sweden Rules!!

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Heritage made all other Opeth albums make sense to me. I can't wait for the blend of old atmosphere with new songwriting and influences.

[@richiejackson9321]

@@RohannvanRensburg interesting. Could you explain that? When I think of Opeth, I think I’m cycles. Those first 3 albums have a really raw death metal sound (and maybe you could put Still Life in there, but that was really transitional to the next record), Blackwater Park through Watershed have a sound, and that’s my favourite Opeth time period. I loved that band. The groove between Mendez and Lopez was so good and always felt incredible, whether they were playing riffs or grooves. Ghost Reveries is a perfect record in my opinion. I love the proggy “Newpeth” sort of stuff, and Pale Communion is my favourite of that bunch. All this to say, I’m with you and am looking forward to the new record and next evolution of their sound. Liked the singles so far!

[@RohannvanRensburg]

​@@richiejackson9321 I totally agree with you about cycles, they had distinct "timeframes", although I personally feel like My Arms Your Hearse was its own thing, but I'm nitpicking here. I'm totally with you on loving all of it, but I honestly got into Opeth pretty late. I had heard some of Ghost Reveries and some of Watershed, but the music never gel'd with me. I then discovered Heritage when they had just released it, and it sounded so "different" at face value that it intrigued me. I loved the distinctly folky Scandinavian feel to it, and the more I listened to it the more their melodies and sinister undertones clicked with me. I bought The Roundhouse Tapes and realized I loved it, and then went back and just sat down and listened to Ghost Reveries front to back on good heaphones -- mind blown. I have to say that was life changing and made me pick up guitar again. For some reason hearing the proggy and folky side distilled made their metal side make sense to me.

[@richiejackson9321]

@@RohannvanRensburg that’s awesome. Your name looked familiar, and I think you’re in my general vicinity on Vancouver Island, yeah. Wild! Haha. Ghost Reveries was my alarm clock for like a year or two. When “Isolation Years” was over, I knew it was time to get up, but I’d set that alarm for the duration of it, so I could listen to it daily. I had Heritage, and some of the lyrical stuff was a bit off putting, but the tone of that record is a different kind. I liked Axenrot’s drumming. It brought a different flavour to their sound, and I like what Mikael said in this interview about it finally sounding like the band, rather than just him.

[@RohannvanRensburg]

​@@richiejackson9321 Oh crazy! Small world :) Yeah agreed, I loved the more "live" and warm sound. I'm with you on some of the lyrical content, although Mikael explained that it wasn't philosophical, it was just atmospheric, so I think it bothered me less. The vibe of some of the songs and the somewhat schizophrenic nature of the record kind of made it feel like walking through the ruins of an abandoned city full of quiet madness hidden under the surface. It reminded me -- for some reason -- of the abandoned city in the first book of the Wheel of Time.

[@JG-guitarsandpaintbrushes]

It was already 1998 by the time I discovered Swedish Heavy Metal, these bands changed my life for the better, and my playing for that matter.

[@sadhappy8860]

I like the nod to the sims where you talk in a made up language at the start. :p really excited about this one

[@cfstoriz]

@@sadhappy8860 meta haha

[@topsecret1837]

It’s almost like they came from the same place 🙃

[@Likeaforest]

Thank you so very much for this opportunity Ola ❤❤❤❤❤keep it up 😊

[@rumble3348]

At 21:06 he references Jante’s Law from the novel ”A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks” by the great writer Aksel Sandemose. Just fyi for those who didn’t catch it.

[@BrofUJu]

What does that refer to exactly?

[@mellertid]

@@BrofUJu It's similar to the Tall poppy syndrome.

[@audunrundberg9180]

@@BrofUJuIt’s when people start to criticize you or strongly dislike you if you become successful. It’s common for Scandinavian people to refer to the concept when they talk about their own success or their struggle with their success. “I achieved everything I had hoped for, but lost my old friends” or “I didn’t dare to tell anyone about my success because I was afraid of Jante’s law”

[@BrofUJu]

@@audunrundberg9180 wow. Is that a jealousy thing, or just it's better to be humble? I feel that deeply, but it's the opposite in North America

[@audunrundberg9180]

@@BrofUJu Both, I guess. For example, if someone is successful, other people will be jealous, so the successful person will (or should) be extra humble.

[@RiffRock51]

Brilliant songwriter and musician. Great interview, especially hearing about his songwriting process. Next Opeth tour should be awesome.

[@seananderson5334]

I'll give my opinion as someone who was a diehard Opeth fan up to Watershed and of the growls--the journey one single song could take you through was unparalleled at the time compared to other bands. Opeth could start with heavy grows and naturally go into soft singing. I loved the way Opeth composed their songs when there was that extra element involved. Heritage just didn't click with me and neither did any of the following releases. A return to growls is much more to me (and I'm sure others) than simply "Mikael sounds angry again" -- it is *hopefully* a return to that era that many fans loved so much.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I saw them at bloodstock a few weeks back playing a fan picked setlist. All but one of the songs was from watershed or earlier. He even joked about it saying "So we haven't don't anything decent in 15 years. Message received." Safe to say the majority of fans feel the same as you.

[@blppt]

I prefer the classic era stuff, but ICV was a great album.

[@pyepye-io4vu]

Unfortunately I don't think so, the complex emotions, or the "soul" / "essence" seems to be gone since Ghost Reveries / Watershed. I haven't felt much emotion from the last 4 albums. (Except 1-2 songs) They are (at times) sophisticated, very competent, quality music, but they give me no feeling / emotion. New album feels the same.

[@ChrisOrrick-g6d]

Thank you Ola! I love hearing Mikael talk. He could talk about anything and I would listen. You have a great way of asking the best questions. Great conversation between two people you can tell actually like one another. I can’t wait to get the new album in my hands! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jsl21]

It's not just the growls, Damnation is a beloved record because it contained all the hallmarks of classic Opeth - haunting, gothic, melodic, ethereal, ghostly - and it was all clean. The newer albums had little or none of that. The rhythm guitar tone from Blackwater Park to Watershed was also AMAZING, so tight and aggressive, but glassy and saturated perfectly. From Heritage on they abandoned all of that, it became 70s psychedelic soft rock, which is just not what a lot of loyal fans wanted after becoming invested in the haunted forest death metal they had loved for so long. Imo the last 4 records just got worse as they went along. But i'll love Opeth forever because of that decade long run of incredible metal they made from Still Life to Watershed. And super excited about Last Will and Testament!

[@pyepye-io4vu]

Exactly, well put. Finally someone who gets it. The last 4 albums abandoned all those elements and regressed (to an unfocused prog / jazz thing). Damnation had all those elements, and no growls. The deep emotions are just missing in the later albums. (Opeth fan since 1999)

[@zockroach]

His voice - just talking - is so insanely full of tone and great saturation. Love this so much. Cheers.

[@FellishBeast]

Yeah, it’s crazy how many people are so focused on the growls that they haven’t noticed how much Opeth’s songwriting has matured during this prog era. I love that the growls are back on the table, but I really enjoy Opeth as a whole. Mikael dropping them back in Heritage was disappointing to me at first, but it ended up challenging me and expanding my taste in music.

[@budafool3333]

If i was stranded on an island i could listen to the damnation album on repeat and stay happy.

[@MahmoudOsman666]

fastest click of my KZbin life

[@vlsis91]

Saw Opeth live after maaany maaaaaany years on July, they where amazing! They even played Black Rose Immortal, exceptional band cant wait for the new album! Thank you Ola!

[@lukasgraesslin]

You did it, you crazy *** you did it!

[@MrJingles021]

Mikael is easily one of the best metal vocalists who can do cleans, scream and do it live. Damnation is one of my favorite albums ever.

[@blackfatpig5783]

I really appreciate these two swedish gentlemen avoiding speaking in their native language just for us the average english speaker can understand. Just want to point out that I wouldn't mind if this had subtitles so they could speak more openly and comfortably in their native language. I'm not saying their english is bad, it's actually really good, I'm just saying that it will be an interesting take to upload videos in swedish.

[@hessianmusicdealer]

That Jethro Tull shirt is pure class

[@manuelgarciamiranda5178]

The GOAT of metal music.

[@DavidMacVicar]

I know it is not all about the growling, but who else agrees that Mikael is THE definitive death metal vocal? So menacing!

[@GreenSmog17]

Great interview. Hes a natural conversationalist, could watch and listen to this dude for hours lol. As well as his music of course🤘

[@JenMajuraOfficial]

❤

[@Severe-Serenity]

This was awesome! I always love hearing Mikael talk about music and with Ola here no less! Beyond excited for the new Opeth record!

[@ileutur6863]

The growling discourse around Opeth never made sense to me. When they made the big shift towards vintage prog, what was lost was the dark forest, cold, baroque, rich sound of previous albums. They made songs and an entire album without growls before, no one cared because the atmosphere was still there. Suddenly all everyone is talking about are the growls.

[@12012dollars]

Imagine he does a troll move and puts out a record ft. Chris Barnes. Shit record with "EEEEEEEEEEEEEE" growls everywhere. 😂

[@doomcrewoutdoors1613]

Hell yeah!! I discovered Opeth through a recommendation by a friend and the latest album at the time was Ghost Reveries- such an amazing album and I fell even more in love with it after watching the documentary of the making of the album. Then I went back and listened and loved all the earlier stuff! For me I’ve never been a huge fan of growling or screaming vocals but it just seemed to work on these albums and with their music. If I missed anything over these last 4 albums it wasn’t the growl but rather just the style of that music on the earlier stuff. But still an Opeth fan till the end!! Thanks Ola

[@Werehog2006]

Thank you for the interview Ola. It's great to finally have Mikael as a guest. Can't wait to see Opeth live on October.

[@omarheavy2009]

It's awesome to see you both! I've seen Opeth 3 times live in concert & I'm going to see them in Feb. in Brussels! I like Mikael & I even bought his signature Prs se model & still have it since 2011! Lucky me! 👌

[@emperoroftheeternal]

Always nice to see/hear Mikael chatting

[@Metalfreak327]

Thank you so much for doing this

[@SAPlaysMetal]

Holy moly!!! Finally!!!

[@alanalvarado2151]

Great job Ola bringing the Master , great interview!!!!