Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on In Cauda Venenum, “Heavy” Music, and More

[@josueignaciomm]

I love this band so much I can't even put it in to words.

[@altaybayr]

Same here

[@ToothlessWizard]

Definitely feel that too. :)

[@fcamiola]

Yep! My fav bands of all time (no particular order): Opeth Zappa Jethro Tull Cardiacs Rush Magma

[@hpunofficial]

Mikael is an epic guy, would love to sit down with him just discussing about music, listening to vinyl and sipping fine whiskey.

[@Krustoffalone]

I like how the new album has a more psychedelic feel than previous albums!

[@persianskeptic4814]

Magma T shirt. love it

[@AntaraDuaDarjat]

I can't agree more. I been listening to metal since the 80's. I also listen to Coltrane & Miles Davis.

[@michalrusin3132]

New Opeth is gonna be great.

[@SyberianLynx]

Aaaand it IS great!

[@shailendraahangama3627]

I don't understand. Metal doesn't only and exclusively mean Death Metal. Guaranteed, Opeth were heavier back in the day, but that doesn't mean they've let go of heavy music. Doesn't anybody hear Rainbow, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin vibes in a fair amount of their tracks after Heritage? There's Tull and Yes too, but man, the Wilde Flowers, Sorceress, Chrysalis, Era and some stuff in In Cauda Venenum were pretty heavy too. Not Death metal heavy but, still hard rock/heavy metal heavy.

[@MrJordwalk]

One thing we haven't heard from Opeth, and this is something that would be awesome if they did: A PURELY INSTRUMENTAL RECORD.

[@vutib]

intersting proposition ideed, but the passion of Mickael for vocals are to high i think, mostly these last years.

[@poisoNation]

Honestly I would love an instrumental album but of just acoustic interludes. A whole album of stuff like Patterns in the Ivy or For Absent Friends

[@josueignaciomm]

Do you think not having vocals would in any way be a plus for a sound like this? I love it just like it is man

[@austin5732]

There not good musicians. There not viruosos like they dont have Guthrie govan,Marco minneman,

[@hentyhorsay]

@@austin5732 They're definitely good though lmao

[@xedasxedas]

Mikael always imediatly deconstruct any presunptuous question and simply answer it. No unnecessary lirycisms around it. Also...this guy was overly startruck with Mikael...to tense.

[@mikereiss4216]

I didn't know he was a Magma fan. Way cool.

[@jonatanpinadulucmusic]

In the dead of night is amazing!!!!

[@hazardousjazzgasm129]

New album is a lot better than the last 2 imo

[@davidgoodship3893]

I listen to Anonymus from Montreal metal band which they sing is English and French. When they started singing only in French in recent years it was weird at first but now I love it just as much not understanding the lyrics

[@MrJordwalk]

Kvelertak, one of my favourite bands, is the same. Their lyrics have exclusively been in Norwegian so far, though I don't know if this is going to continue being the case going forward, as their new album is going to be the first to feature Ivar Nikolaisen, their chosen replacement for their founding frontman Erlend Hjevik, who left the band in 2018. So, I don't know if Ivar will write in English, Norwegian or both. At any rate, Erlend's screaming in Norwegian fit Kvelertak's sound perfectly and they're in my Top 10 Favourite Metal Bands of all time despite the fact I can't understand what he's saying.

[@mellertid]

Sometimes it's not *despite* not understanding the lyrics ;-)

[@OfficialArthusamakh]

So when do we get the bonus tracks?

[@adamwright7954]

MAGMA

[@pineapplepeanuts]

The thing that hit me first when I heard the lyrics would be in Swedish was the Viking metal bands who do that sort of thing. I think there's a band called Thyrfing that does that. Of course Opeth isn't Viking metal and probably did it for reasons other than to be kvlt tr00 nekro.

[@LoudnessJP]

Jonah Quizz - Hjärtlös Stad kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZitg4RrraaiqpY is the best metal demo ever come out of Sweden, IMO One of the best demos in metal overall.. And arguably the best black metal song ever is written in 10th century Swedish Norse: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnKwknaurJ6Iqtk

[@GreenWooofx]

i am gay for mikael

[@gandalf8216]

I dismiss the notion of genres, there's only acts and producers of material, or artists and bands as they're commonly called. Each is unique in their own way, and ultimately the very concept of a music genre is meaningless, because it carries so little information. Opeth is Opeth, and time encourages change. Formula and recipes ruins music, because creativity is a force that works against that, and doing the same thing over and over again inhibits creativity after a while. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but that's irrelevant. "I don't like blues, it's this and that. I like soul, like Rihanna." vs "I like everything from Roy Buchanan (genius blues act) to Evangelis (electronica legend) to Heilung (experimental tribe music) to Chicane (a cheesy electro house act) to Tool to Iron Maiden to goddamn Lilac Lungs (a pop rock teen band). As long there's creativity and craftmanship, it's at least tolerable.". Who enjoys music more between the two?

[@austin5732]

This album sounds like storm corrosion

[@jamma246]

It doesn't sound at all like Storm Corrosion.