Mikael Akerfeldt Talks 6 Albums Every OPETH Fan Should Hear | Metal Injection

Mikael Akerfeldt of OPETH, an avid record collector, goes shopping at Generation Records in NYC and discusses why vinyl is his favorite medium. He also picks out six albums he feels every Opeth fan should check out and shares his thoughts why.
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[@SuperBlazeomatic]

If Mikael had a radio show where he just played obscure stuff he loves it would probably become my favorite show.

[@nizamaroth]

Would probably be the psychedelic / prog version of Fenriz' podcast, I'll take that in an instant!

[@andersjaevel]

He actually had a show like that on swedish radio

[@LukeWatts85]

...yeah I really wish he was a radio DJ instead of joining Opeth

[@Ca11mero]

Basically what Fenris (Darkthrone) is doing with his "Radio Fenris". Worth to check out if you are into black metal or metal in general.

[@DB-bt3cd]

greatest music related show of all time

[@akbaselim]

Seems to be a shit ton of Mikael videos popping up everywhere *And I fvcking love it*

[@sashingopaul3111]

Skankhunt42 he and John Petrucci should do a video together

[@akbaselim]

@@sashingopaul3111 fvck yea brotha

[@telefrag.]

It's how fresh album promotions are done these days.

[@evanmadson]

@@telefrag. its naughty!!

[@CikisHelyzet]

It's what happens when ppl are hawking their new record.

[@Anomicx]

6 albums your weird uncle demands you listen or he's taking his bong back

[@naz3858]

Lmao relatable

[@danielcowell8658]

This is by far the single greatest comment ever

[@paullevine1813]

Except if he had picked up the Allman Bros . Fillmore East it would have made it not so weird. LOL

[@htesreyzaw6114]

🤣🤣🤣

[@wayneowens410]

Hahaha

[@JamesSkow]

Manowar - Triumph of Steel Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape Renaissance - A Song for All Seasons The Move - Shazam Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark Lucifer's Friend - Where the Groupies Killed the Blues

[@whiteadi]

yes this I needed ;)

[@kane480]

Thank you sir

[@flaviovizeu_]

@Brad Młodystach prevents you from playing back the video just because you forgot some of the names. Btw, thanks for that (not you, Brad!) :P

[@hamdy-man2237]

Thanks!

[@Cannonballdrive]

It’s strange that Mikael didn’t mention Camel

[@Hammersmashed68]

I wanna sit down with him, have a beer, and just chat music of all kinds.

[@user-bq2xc2fl6l]

I would kill for that opportunity my friend!

[@machomarty8238]

I want to see Steven Wilson drunk

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

Queer beer

[@Hammersmashed68]

TittyFuckingPussySlayer really?

[@charlieo.possum5501]

@@DaPoopIsInDaPudding you're obviously homosexual, or else you would not see homosexuality in everything. That's cool, rock on man! Glad you like beer as well, cheers!

[@Lionheart352]

automatic captions: “hey guys this is Michael from Oprah”

[@keenanoakes784]

Mikael seems like he is in a really good place at the moment. Humbled, passionate and has just released one of the best Opeth records in their newer discography. I am happy to see the hero of my 20s still being the genius he is. All hail Akerfeldt, all hail Opeth! Hoping to see you guys next year again

[@bahadirozer]

one of worst you mean. you seem to forget blackwater park, deliverance etc

[@lehtokurppa7824]

@@bahadirozer He said newer discography, can't you read? Out of the new stuff In Cauda Venenum is the best and in it's own way up there with the classics like Blackwater Park, Still Life, Ghost Reveries, etc.

[@jordanb.1477]

Hard to imagine Steven Wilson drunk and asking that question, but also quite a funny story! Mikael is the best :)

[@alexfilma16]

Interviewer: You never look happy. Steven Wilson: Never heard of that song.

[@XhungryandhauntedX]

Jesus... Does this guy know simply everything about music?

[@Flux799]

Well when you grow up in an isolated small town you have lots of time to study and absorb music.

[@Framesforgames]

@@Flux799 Stockholm is an small isolated town? lol

[@Flux799]

Fredrik Peterson I was speaking for myself personally sorry.

[@codarceasabinbogdan1397]

search Mikael vs Steven Wilson on music and you`ll be surprised :)) Steven is another nerd level

[@XhungryandhauntedX]

@@chaoticevilmonk2223 I'll be sure to check that out, thanks.

[@FFKpar]

Thank you Mikael for introducing me to Renaissance. Simply amazing band!

[@OomBok]

Manowar - Triumph of Steel Rainbow - Bent out of Shape Rennaisance - A Song for all Seasons The Move - Shazam Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark Lucifer's Friends - Where the groupies killed the Blues

[@hashfifon]

also the band The Churchills aka Jericho aka Jericho Jones at the beginning

[@sergeylyon9978]

MVP right here. I'ma make a Spotify playlist

[@sergeylyon9978]

Ey nvm apparently Spotify sucks at making playlists from full albums now (mobile version)

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

That Lucifer's Friend album is awesome.

[@pvdguitars2951]

Mikael is a genius, in the same league as Zappa, Bowie, Mercury. Perhaps even better, time will tell. Great humble man, and so passionate about music, very inspiring!

[@becky2406]

did time tell you ? or it still not the time...

[@thekvistem]

@@becky2406still not the time

[@colemantrebor6574]

Even better

[@dreadfights]

Hearing Mikael do a Birmingham accent just made my day. BUUURMINGUM.

[@HipHopAn0n]

Found out about Camel from Mikael Akerfeldt! Awesome band, Moonmadness and Snow Goose are amazing albums. Peter Bardens has some great solo stuff as well

[@not223]

"Not a good decision." Lmao.

[@Badbell45]

I think the reason I love metal artists, is because they are just regular people. They don’t expect the paparazzi, or the fame. They are just regular people making something they awesome

[@geddhead1971]

You can't really go wrong with any Renaissance release from the 70's...Turn of the Cards and Ashes are Burning is my personal favorites. Annie Haslem's voice is just angelic

[@queensofthedthrone8267]

This guy wrote Dirge for November, of course I'll look up this list

[@andre99249]

I think by now I have watched like 100 interviews he's been doing for ICV and I never get bored of watching this guy talking about music.

[@tony854]

I wonder if he will ever consider making similar songs to Hours of Wealth, Isolation years and so on. Those rank so high on my list....

[@karlorthehunter458]

Agreed such under rated gems.

[@karlorthehunter458]

Isolation years is one of those tracks that will haunt you for days

[@karlorthehunter458]

I would put faces in the snow on that list too

[@keenanoakes784]

@@karlorthehunter458 Agreed! Would add Benighted, Weakness and maybe even Credence to that list.

[@brauliodiaz3925]

We definitely need another Damnation.

[@vincentizghra6144]

Dang your taste in music is fantastic. I'm getting so many new things to listen to that just blow my mind! I wish you did a lot of these videos all the time!! Thank you Mikael! Tack för allt

[@brucegelman5582]

Great selections!!! You are an old soul for appreciating those albums

[@anonymousprime1738]

I could listen to this man talk about music for hours. Please more of this

[@danielbustamante416]

These videos make me want to discover more music. Great suggestions so far

[@wkmac2]

Much older Opeth fan here but also a big Renaissance fan from back in the day. Saw the Song for All Seasons tour and the title track is epic. And bassist Jon Camp is a must check out for bass players. Annie in the day had a 5 octave vocal range so there you go.

[@OscarArzabe]

Where is Mikael during this quarantine. And why is he not serenading us ?

[@advaita2033]

Thank you so much Mr. Akerfeldt for your music and now for your recommendations. Annie Haslam's voice is just majestic and all the other bands are great as well. Good day to you Sir.

[@larkstonguesinaspic4814]

I love his first point. Listening to music on vinyl is a much more engaging listening experience than anything else.

[@stevesmith3990]

All these videos with Mikail are great. Good call on Renaissance and Joni Mitchell.

[@someguyontheinternet2714]

Michael from Oprah lol. I love the captions.

[@grabber_blu_angel]

I have an Opeth Orchid shirt and people always ask me if it says Oprah. I just tell old ladies yes and they think I'ma sweetheart.

[@maladroitcolors]

Really enjoying Renaissance. Thank you, Mikael!

[@TwoandaHater]

There is an incredible Steven Wilson story burried in here. @5:05

[@petergabriel8448]

Such an interesting guy. Love his music. Will give Renaissance a spin.

[@jordanb.1477]

I would highly recommend "Scheherazade..."

[@oaspe]

I already did. It’s cool.

[@IAmisMaster]

Peter Gabriel Song for All Seasons is not even one of Renaissance’s most acclaimed albums, but I agree it is a very underrated album. Very soft and beautiful, and surprisingly good to hear Michael digs it. I love that he has such varied taste in music.

[@platonicdescartes]

I picked it up due to both Mikael and Tobias recommending it, and they were correct. It's a wonderful album.

[@pupperemeritus9189]

ashes are burning is what hooked me to renaissance

[@EzraStrayer]

Seeing mikael @ my favorite store in NYC is goosebumps

[@HorridFcknCvvnnt]

I see a bunch of 'came here from the Mikael interview' comments on the videos of the artists recommended, very nice to see :)

[@andreluizcamy]

what a great video! thank you!!

[@DAN-C]

Thanks for sharing some great new inspirations for me. I have never heard of Renaissance.. kool prog tunes

[@jarosawbaliun5897]

I adore this Renaissance album one of my favorite prog rock/symphonic rock albums!

[@jlobiafra]

Damn that allman brothers info! Never heard about it before but it totally makes sense after seeing the cover

[@joseafonsoleiriaofilho3302]

Thank you Mikael! Cheers

[@johnreid2962]

Can't wait to see you guys in Glasgow, and on Halloween -of all nights!

[@xavierpaquin]

Thanks for the recommendations, I'm loving both Manowar and Renaissance

[@jarinokkosmaki143]

Always a pleasure to see someone who knows what he is talking about.

[@christianmonteith8568]

"He, uhh.... he didn't answer. So I still don't know." Comic genius.

[@druid187]

So awesome and not really coincidental that he mentioned one of my all time favorite but overlooked bands.. Renaissance!....... i was telling my friend how the new track dignity has some renaissance influence trip to the fair to be exact!

[@richardbiggs2098]

Yep.love that album.Day of the Dreamer is one I loke to play when want to start the day in a good mood.

[@thomasfoster4091]

Wow Renaissance is fantastic. Thank you Mikael!

[@matiasvergara1385]

I had just listened renaissance’s “live at carnegie hall” after many years and mikael recommends a record i thought it was bad. Love it.

[@HighTicket2Freedom]

What about...... Brave Murder Day by Katatonia? I think every Opeth fan should listen to that record! 🤘🏻 But I will be sure to check out those recommendations though!

[@temporarymomentary]

Every Opeth fan knows Katatonia. Trust me. Same with Edge of Sanity.

[@HighTicket2Freedom]

Black Phillip yeah... good point.

[@jarosawbaliun5897]

Michael sings lead vocals on that record I mean Brave Murder Day

[@jarosawbaliun5897]

@@temporarymomentary I like better Swano's vocals on Crimson but Michaels are also great)

[@temporarymomentary]

Jarosław Baliun Swano’s growls on Purgatory Afterglow are insane. Probably my favorite growls ever after Mikael’s Blackwater Park growls.

[@peanutty_poop]

That Allman Bros Live at The Fillmore is my favorite album in my collection. Such a great record

[@polymathing1614]

Whipping Post from the Fillmore is from a different dimension .. love it

[@paullevine1813]

He should have bought the album, missed one of the best Live records ever.

[@danielg335]

For thise who don’t know, The Move morphed into Electric Light Orchestra...

[@alexzais1935]

Interesting. I thought they looked familiar.

[@26scootinkitten19]

When I saw Bev Bevan & Jeff Lynne in the video I thought they had the wrong video for The Move.....LOL Thanks for the info Severyan……..Have a good one.

[@yurismono]

Thank you Mikael. Very cool.

[@scottkollar9593]

He mentioned a band called Acid Bath at a concert I attended years back and I checked them out and think they were phenomenal.

[@openmindedmetaldad]

Yes, Renaissance, if you haven't heard them, check them out, particularly the early albums. As a Philly-area native, I was lucky enough to discover them a while ago... For some reason that I'm perhaps too young to know, the band had a huge fanbase in Philly, so much so that Annie Haslam moved to Pennsylvania, and as far as I know, she still lives there. She plays local venues a lot.

[@platonicdescartes]

Thanks to Mikael's recommendation, I picked up Renaissance. Anything that both Mikael and Tobias love, I will purchase without listening. And they were totally correct, it's an amazing album, especially the final (title) track.

[@MysteriousCactus01]

Renaissance - A Song For All Seasons total Opeth. love it . Thanks Michael and M.I.

[@markdisanzo3796]

So far, I"m totally diggin' that Lucifer's Friend album. Thanks for the recommend!

[@brettgoodchild6798]

He's been wearing the same shirt for all his recent interviews.

[@sludgefactor6332]

Just love listening to musicians pull these influences from their ass like this! I have only heard of one of the artists he mentioned. Most heavy metal musicians have a very broad spectrum of influences as this video reiterates. I’m just amazed by some of the things they pull out! I’m not an Opeth fan either. I could talk about music with this guy for hours! I can’t play either. Just love music!

[@DrakusRecords]

Glad to hear Mikael is a big Renaissance fan. A truly underrated great band. Not metal, but definitely should be counted among great prog rock bands from the 60s and 70s.

[@Vinyltar]

I need to hang out with this guy

[@gyberic]

He seems like the best dude

[@HarujiSubayama]

I listened to When the Groupies Killed the Blues thanks to this video. Fucking great record! Loved every single second!

[@Valogragu]

Thank you Wery very much

[@IDGAF_PLUS]

I got that Lucifer's Friend album on vinyl 35 years ago. It's epic!

[@nicksmart5469]

Another fantastic choice of music again from this dude ! Boy he knows his stuff ! Credit for showcasing renaissance (memories of childhood) and lucifers friend (the only hard rock band I’ve heard with French horns !) Genius

[@stevenvalenti3722]

I've always loved Bent out of Shape. I believe it's an incredible album. An underrated album. Most RAINBOW albums were really Great or verygood in my opinion.\m/

[@blue_dragon6736]

I love this man so much hes an inspiration

[@gog583]

Glad to see Rennaisance - A Song for all Seasons getting some love. :)

[@mel124177]

The diversity in this repertoire explains the genius behind Mikael's music--and then some. He knows his stuff, what a swell guy to have a beer with and talk anything under the sun!

[@JesseSprague-cc3sy]

On the Allman's cover they were laughing because on of the roadies (maybe Reddog) just bought an 8ball right before the photo and had it in his hand. So he quickly hid it out of view and they got the photo. It cracked the boys up.

[@mikhaillopez8773]

He's the best

[@gooseabuse]

I love his taste in music

[@ricobonifacio1095]

I'm Listening to renaissance right now. She is like the female Jon Anderson. Hints of abba tone on her voice too. Very cool prog folk album. Music reminds me a bit of old genesis mixed with some Yes.

[@PierrePRESTAT]

That's Renaissance in 2011 : I, in particular like, the intro kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2nbiX1seNOpmrM

[@MusicVersa]

Renaissance are wonderful. Make sure you listen to Scheherazade.

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

Turn of the Cards is my favorite from them. Mother Russia is a stunner, one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.

[@Mike-hm7ro]

I totally see Tobias forge loving this, i hear some ghost stuff in there tbh.

[@l.revisited5933]

Åkerfeldt starts with Manowar and goes right to AOR Rainbow. Much respect for the guy (and he has a point about Manowar)

[@SCUMCHRIST888]

Generation records is awesome and the best place in nyc to get band shirts

[@FabioFonseca0123]

Cool video! Hugs from Brasil, land of the Great (KRISIUN)!

[@garethallen4191]

I kept looking at that Lucifer's Friend album on the back wall of the store during the entire video thinking, He must've missed it, or maybe he already has it. And damn if he didn't end with it! You should take his advice and look for their first LP. I also personally love Banquet, their 4th album. If you like Uriah Heep's Salisbury, you'll LOVE Banquet. And speaking of Uriah Heep, you should look for Firefly, their first LP with John Lawton from Lucifer's Friend on vocals. Brilliant album! And he plugged Renaissance! That is so cool! And he's right, that whole album is brilliant, but you should also look for Turn of the Cards. And then he pulls out The Move, and I lost it! I'm a new fan to their music and Shazam is the one that got me.

[@ChelseaH1]

“I’m also nostalgic so people might take this home and say, ”What the fuck is he on?” That’s hilarious. I can relate to that deeply. 😂

[@semicollin4517]

Getting all these albums as soon as I get off from work

[@TheHunter2]

I checked the Renaissance band he suggested. Holy cow Mikael...THANK YOU. That is good music! This guy knows his shit

[@mvunit3]

Was that Bev Bevan of ELO in "Shazam" on drums? Who was also in Sabbath for the "Born Again" tour. Like most people here, be great having a meal and just talking music with Mikael.

[@TheSemtexCow]

Bev Bevin was a founding member of The Move 👍

[@user-bq2xc2fl6l]

He's not joking about Lucifer's friends kiddies. Amazing band!! Auctually their evolutionary trajectory was very similar to Opeth's. They evolved from a metal band into something that defied classification. Coolest band name ever too.

[@gemsandlasers269]

I was hoping he'd mention some classic Fairport Convention. I always felt their influence come through in parts of Opeth.

[@artivism4068]

One of my goals is to meet him, give him my copy of Yes - Relayer with a letter I wrote describing why Opeth is my favorite band and just talk about music for hours drinking red wine. He's always getting me into new music.

[@l30S3UX]

some respect for Manowar !

[@dudley0826]

He seems like a pretty chill dude.

[@octopusonfire100]

At first I thought he was trolling with Manowar, but then I remembered they were one of my absolute fav bands from my teens. Don't know much about the other picks, but I'll take a listen.

[@Psycherz]

Here I am listening to Day of the Dreamer like a fool, and I love it.

[@jamespeterson4275]

I CANNOT BELIEVE they were playing MALPRACTICE by Testament at the record store. That's their BEST old era song Id argue to my last breath. It's practically prog thrash but just.... Every aspect of the composition is 10/10 CRIMINALLY underrated

[@fminns]

So happy to see Mikael validate my Manowar guilty pleasure.

[@ofermashiach4519]

Listening to music you love is never a guilty pleasure, unless you listen to that music for some other reason not related to the music itself so that you have to explain people why you listen to it.

[@fminns]

@@ofermashiach4519 well said.

[@TheJlogan27]

the man thank you mikael

[@dl4209]

Just listened to song for all seasons - well that explains ALL of Opeth.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

A very wise, funny and interesting man & Rocker !!

[@eirikotten4594]

For the people who liked the album by renaissance - a song for all seasons I highly recomene to check out this album from The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Brilliant, simply brilliant.

[@richardbiggs2098]

Lucifer's friend! I got the first four albums. Kick-Ass Rock/Prog rock(Banquet album). Led Zeppelin ish at times , but their singer holy shit!!!

[@panagiotisexplorer213]

1:14 Exactly!! Manowar wrote great songs and that's the whole point! Manowar records from Battle Hymns up to Triumph of steel were monumental and at least in Europe (i don't know about USA) we show them the respect they deserve. Hail and kill \m/

[@teetoys76]

New Opeth is fan...tastic !!! Very groovy .

[@arkasengupta6132]

Do you have only one t-shirt Mikael?

[@mcmlxxxviimcmxcvi8641]

It's his girlfriend's band....

[@Ignacio2092]

Thought the same, I think that after all he's a metal head after all 😂

[@jakubswiatek2272]

bu he has many sweters though

[@MeenToss]

Three. He's got a Morbid Angel and a Comus T-shirt too.

[@fearthepointman3134]

If he loves it he will wear it. Are you one of those change clothes everyday clean freaks? Lol.

[@MadnessOpus]

The music in the background: Testament - Souls of Black

[@misanthropickat6167]

Fuck yes. Chilling here in my Legacy t shirt right now