I loved Heritage and always will, sure the lacks of growls was deceiving at first but look at damnation, it was, and is beautiful, the album to me was so different yet so similar, because I am a fan of king crimson, yes, deep purple, Uriah heep, pink Floyd, etc. of course alot of Opeth fans relate them more to Cannibal corpse, Dying Fetus and Death, though I love all 3, Opeth belongs more to the Prog style, but it wouldn't hurt to have the classic eargasmic growls and yelps we love and cherish
You ignorant slut. Just because some one doesn't like an album doesn't mean they are retarded, its all based on opinion... stupid fucks... heritage is beautiful, but of course, it wont please all.
Well, Opeth has been my favorite band for many years and I have their logo tattooed on my arm, but the album is basically shit. So maybe Mikael is losing his touch and isn't always a good judge of what good music is.
Starting to question these statements of Peter not contributing nothing. The transitions in the songs on the last two albums seem way different and Fredriks solo's are super cheesy. Maybe he didn't write most of the stuff, but I really prefer Opeth's material up to when he left the band. Really dissapointed with Heritage. The description sounded great, but the material is dare I say, boring...At least they still have 8 albums worth of classic stuff...
Peter is a great guitar player. I guess everyone would admit that. But honestly.. there is no better songwriter in metal than Akerfeldt. No one even comes close to that, so there's no real need to talk Peter being not that creative. For Mikael himself it isn't possible to tell the truth in that way, because he's always understatin about his immense talent. But I bet Peters' tape would blow me away.
bit mean to call peters stuff "shit" right at the end and I hope that mendez and lopez would back up michaels version of events. But in fairness he said he felt terrible about the whole thing
I know exactly what Mike means. Opeth is a band that has a certain high standard. If you can't contribute to that standard than stuff won't get used, that's what happens when you have a band this good.
@blasttyrant666 Mikael states on the Ghost Reveries documentary that Gene was called in last minute to play a few shows and to appear in The Grand Conjuration video, but that's all. Gene Hoglan isn't mentioned in the album leaflet as having recorded the drums to the song, and by law they would have to list his name, thus he did not perform the drums on the recording of the song.
I feel bad for Peter while I'm imagining him watching this interview. But Mikael is right, he shouldn't use Peter's riffs just to be nice. It needs to fit the band or it's not good enough. I think Peter should start his own band/project and let his creativity out on this. I'm pretty sure he made riff that he thought Mikael would like, but he surely sacrificed his own taste on them.
He obviously respects Peter, but hes being honest. I don't mind the past few albums with the new band members but ever since Martin Lopez left I feel the drums have been lacking, he was an amazing percussionist.
This is a REALLY interesting interview. I always wondered what other members of the band feel creatively considering that Mikael Akerfeldt is such a dominating and talented personality.
In all fairness, he is such a great musician and such a great guitar player that as humble and unegotistical as he is trying to come off, he really is that good. I mean hes written some of the best shit metal has ever seen I trust his judgement and I'm sure it was better than Lindgrens stuff.
I have to say I respect the honesty and straightforwardness of Mikael and this interview and the way he presents the entire situation of why Peter left the band. He openly talks about stuff most other egotistical frontrunners of other bands would blatantly deny just in the hopes that they save face and he does it for the sake of honesty and for that, I give him made props. Here's to another 20+ years Mikael.
@hespelerdude17 Well he did a prog project a while back called Sörskogen (I think that's what the tattoo says) that supposedly recorded several songs, the only one I've heard being "Mordet I Grottan." Definitely worth a listen. But I don't know what the word means or the significance of 1974 other than it was the year he was born *shrugs*
@hespelerdude17 "..-skogen" means "the forest" in Swedish. Sörskogen would be a place/small forest around Stockholm I think, but I live in southern Sweden so I'm not sure.
peter was good guy. he threw me a pick when they were on the sounds of the underground in Denver. it was my first time seeing them it was sick as fuck!
yea i get see exactly what he means. you can have all the ideas under the sun, but you still need to be selective in your approach, instead of having any old stuff. and even the riffs that you happen to come off with off the top of your head, you need to keep working on it to make it good or make it fit etc.
What springs to mind when i type this is, that famous moment in Metallica: making the black album, where kirk and Bob rock are having a heated discussion about the solo on unforgiven.
I like the honesty of this interview. It's nothing against Peter, I loved Peter in Opeth just as much as the next guy, but the reality of bands is that one guy writes the vast majority of the music (like 90% at least), and the others just add on it here and there (changing drum parts, solos, etc.). Mikael says it perfectly - Everybody needs an outlet for their own creativity. Opeth is Mikael's, and if Peter wants one then maybe Mikael could've helped out with his as Peter has done for Mikael.
You could miss Peter for his person, but for his guitarplaying? Nah.. He replicated Mike's sound, and as Mikael states hmm.. 10 times during this interview - he plays mostly what Mike tells him to. I like Peter alot, and yes - i do miss him. But i have no problem at all stating that Fredrik Åkesson is a WAY better and more independent guitar player.
@EarlMcCrackin Mike plays with way to much soul and heart to play in necrophagist, necrophagist is fast and technical, something mike does not care about
I don't see why people use Ghost Reveries as the Opeth standard of a good album. Ghost Reveries wasn't a very good record in my opinion. The keyboards felt out of place and the songs were often repetitive (Grand Conjuration at a gig is a great song to go and get a beer *yawn*). Watershed was polished and the keyboards felt like they were part of the music and making it stronger. If you're going to compare, Blackwater Park should be your standard. That was a perfectly produced album.
@Dneverend I must give it to you, Harlequin Forest has grown on me over the years and so has Baying of the Hounds. But that's kind of it for the harder songs on that record.
mikeal mite make a valid point on everything, but ive noticed opeth got a little bit worse since akesson entered the picture, srry watershed wasnt ghost reveries or nething like that
i used to think the same on watershed. i thought it was one of there weaker albums. it has grown on me now and it is probably now im my top 3 opeth albums
I thought watershed was awesome... totally different feel from Ghost Reveries and totally different from Deliverance ... thats what i love about Opeth, is that every album has a different feel
@11EasyT Whats there not to like about him? Appearancewise, he doesnt fit in but whats that matter? He's only been w/ the band for one album. Hes a phenomenal guitarist and he plays tastefuly. I dont find his playing overbearing, so what's there not to like? Give him a chance. I can't say the same 4 Axe though. I REALLY like his drumming, especially after listening to his work of "The Fathomless Mastery" but that one part in Porcelain Heart I think is way overdone. He's good overall though.
Mikael knows what he's talking about, no arrogance its just professional and honest. The truth can come across as arrogance when somebody is self assured. I think this guy has all the credits to be self assured.
I agree with mikael, yea he can come across as arrogant but what is the point in putting material into your music that every single member is not 100% with? it would be pointless and cause the dissolve of the band.
All we can hope for is that opeth continue to make their fantastic and inspirational music.
at the oakland colisium????? if so lamb of god stole that show, opeth isnt great at large venues...but they are amazing at smaller clubs like in SF or LA
I think Opeth is one of the most diverse bands ever! Their sound is unique and original... And I think they keep progressing and changing and keep things fresh I heard some material from the new record and it's awesome. Opeth old and new is amazing to me. They keep expanding and doing new things. I do miss Peter Lindgren but in no way can I say that the new line up is bad they are actually really good musicians. No doubt Peter and Martin Lopez would be missed. Hail OPETH!
Watershed was their worst album yet. It would be great if tey could get te Mikael, Peter, Martin, and Martin lineup back together but it will probably never happen.
I really hate the new guitarist.. Shred has its place but it isnt in Opeth
I agree. Axenrot does not fit in Opeth and losing Lopez was a shame. Further, Lindgren if for no other reason had a great style of soloing that contrasted with Mikael's and yet fit with the band.
i think opeth are brilliant! there's no doubt that mikael is the leader/inspiration in the band, but that doesn't diminish the contributions of the others. listen to the iterations of band members with and without peter and martin -- very different than the brilliance with them. ghost reveries, blackwater park, damnation/deliverance are simply fantastic. i really miss the fills and inventions from both of them
Peter was the perfect guitarist for Opeth. Mike says his riffs and stuff werent good enough but hey he never had a problem playing any of the songs. And hell one of the best Opeth solo's are played by Peter in the song Deliverence! Its ashame he lost interest but people move on. If i was Peter i would of left after Ghost Reveries too because they were going for a more progressive sound there. Opeth is awsome and in these days everybody tunes down. They still play in E most songs! HAIL OPETH!
maybe so, but most of the songs Roger Waters wrote by himself were fucking horrible opera ballads, he did write some good stuff, but without Waters and Gilmour his music is very limited
im curious to hear Peter's 1-2 minute riff tape.. and see what Lopez, Mikael think are shit haha.. cuase its prolly fukin badass.. i hope Peter finds his own way to his own group.. cause he is just as great.. maybe not writing wise.. but he played in opeth.. thats all i have to say.... Could be the next best band in the world. Hail Opeth. Mikael !!!
Demon! Demon of the Fall !!
o yea and My Arms, Your hearse is the best album
then Watershed, then Damnnation, and Deliverance :D
opeth was an amazing band from their first album to about the deliverance and damnation albums, i started losing interest after that, the newer group of albums is nowhere near as good as the first 4
Can't blame Peter. . . Opeth is an amazing band and it's really hard to live up to that, let alone, come up with amazing ideas for every song. For some people, writing riffs that are GOLD, is very difficult and takes years just to perfect one single song. People who think Watershed was shit are dumb, though. The record label makes them release new albums by a certain deadline. When you put a time limit to make music wonderful, you're taking away the potential for it to be wonderful. I love Opeth
Very candid conversation. I'm surprised Mikael was willing to say that much. But he is the heart and brain of the band, as someone else said, and if he feels like Peter's material isn't good enough, well then thats it.
Peter said he left because he wasn't interested anymore basically, and I think he's telling the truth. If he was still interested, he would of stuck at it and kept coming up with material until he made an impact.
well in case you dont know Mikael is heavily influenced by Bathory the one man band created by Quorthon and also the progenitor of Black Metal.... he also draws inspiration from Emperor one of Norway's biggest Black Metal bands so it shouldnt be surprising
I disagree. Mikael is both the brain and the heart. Mikael is Opeth, Opeth is Mikael. Without Mikael Opeth would not exist in a proper way anymore. (Btw you missed Ghost Reveries, that one is great as well :) )
I also love Watershed, though I think the Axenrot needs to look more what Lopez did. Axenrot is more of a deathmetal drummer, and Lopez was more progessive. Though Axenrot is still great. Anyway, Peter was lard I tell ya. The new guitarist is awesome.
then mikael is all that matters, a body can function fine without a heart, even a plastic pump can replace it. the same cant be said for the brain. of course, a plastic pump wont function AS well as heart, so i suppose your analogy is very fitting indeed. lol
Watershed was awesome. i love it, but wouldnt call it my favourite either.
Peter's departure was a shame. But you know, when there is only one main driving force of creativity in a band, this tends to happen. Ironically, I really did find "Watershed" to be Opeth's weakest effort released by the band so far, and it was also the first to not have Lopez or Lindgren involved in playing.
As they said before, something to the effect of "We will be here as long as we have new material" and it seems Peter was creatively exhausted at this point. For as long as he had been in Opeth I can't blame him really. Peter can't be in Opeth if he's not up to it.
As for "They don't fuckin pretend" I'm assuming he means the other guys don't pretend that a riff is good if it's not, like Mike was saying about convincing himself to use Peter's stuff even though he thought it was bad.
I laughed a little at the end because of how blunt Mike was about what Mendez and Lopez said "that's shit" and "they dont fucking pretend." On a more serious note though, this is incredibly sad how Peter couldn't be creattive like mike and no one liked his ideas.
You always think that its just fabricated B.S. when the reason for breakups is "creative differences" but its all real.
if such is the case.. then there are still things to argue there..
I love Blackwater Park, and so Dirge for November, even if I find them less creative than the rest of their good songs... stil... they are great songs
This is a complicated issue, I love to write music, and I like to do that in my own way...alone, but if you have a big band like Opeth, with long time mates, seems to be hard to keep the equilibrium between band collaboration and personal composition.
I don't know if Mikael acted well or not capitalizing the songwriting, but I totally understand his doubts and his sadness. He seems a very good person... and he IS a musical genius.
i think that, when you have a band you have to listen to what everyone says to you when it comes to talk about song writing or music composition or making new riffs, but it has to be one member in the who centers all the ideas and focus to get to a same horizon... its difficult to be that guy but someone has to do it...
I understand your point, but gotta admit he's been the creative all along.. which can cause problems if you ask him aftr all that time to accept someone else's ideas
I really think Åkerfeldt is putting himself on this "I'm a professional rant." It seems like he just doesn't want to write with other people. He expresses this in a very smug way. Therefore, I don't believe this to be the full story.
They were straight up with Akerfeldt, and just said - the stuff on the tape, isn't good enough. And it can't go on simply because one of the band members made it. No favours, only the best music.
Members of the band; he's saying that in addition to not enjoying the riffs himself, he showed them to Lopez and Mendez and they were brutally honest, that's why he says "they don't fucking pretend."
i like how Mikael is so down to earth like for example take dream theatre member, for some reason i percieve them to have a bit more 'frantic' life style as apposed to mikael's calm interlectual manner, which is really refreshing, lol im not really conveying my point very well but hopefully some one gets me. Really good interview though such a sad topic and you can really tell mikael was sad about it. I really enjoy mikaels interviews it really shows he's an interlectual.
yeah it's heaps funny eh, especially because being an intellectual has nothing to do with spelling, it's the use of intellect for analytical thinking. Good thing i know how to spell pretentious
That looks like the shirt he bought when he was in England, I think. But that guy was following him around with his video camera and he bought a Comus shirt and that looks like the one he picked up.
definitely. miles ahead of them. i think him and john petrucci are very equal. mikael is better at writing i think, but john can play just a tad more insanely, though i like mikael better.
I think he's just stating the truth. He's writes the overwhelming majority of the music, why should he not be the one to decide. It's not as if he's completely shutting everyone out.
I loved Heritage and always will, sure the lacks of growls was deceiving at first but look at damnation, it was, and is beautiful, the album to me was so different yet so similar, because I am a fan of king crimson, yes, deep purple, Uriah heep, pink Floyd, etc. of course alot of Opeth fans relate them more to Cannibal corpse, Dying Fetus and Death, though I love all 3, Opeth belongs more to the Prog style, but it wouldn't hurt to have the classic eargasmic growls and yelps we love and cherish
HMUnderground666 3 weeks ago
I would love to see another concept album. I thought, and would have liked Heritage to be more like a ghost reveries type album...
ozzzzy939 1 month ago
You ignorant slut. Just because some one doesn't like an album doesn't mean they are retarded, its all based on opinion... stupid fucks... heritage is beautiful, but of course, it wont please all.
ozzzzy939 1 month ago
Heritage is fucking amazing, you guys are retarded musically if you dont like it
Khachik2003 3 months ago
I miss Peter. I have a feeling he had alot more to do with the songwriting than we all know.
MetallicOpeth 3 months ago
Well, Opeth has been my favorite band for many years and I have their logo tattooed on my arm, but the album is basically shit. So maybe Mikael is losing his touch and isn't always a good judge of what good music is.
Iscarius9 4 months ago
Starting to question these statements of Peter not contributing nothing. The transitions in the songs on the last two albums seem way different and Fredriks solo's are super cheesy. Maybe he didn't write most of the stuff, but I really prefer Opeth's material up to when he left the band. Really dissapointed with Heritage. The description sounded great, but the material is dare I say, boring...At least they still have 8 albums worth of classic stuff...
EarlMcCrackin 4 months ago 3
3:38 Obviously!
Luciocalion 5 months ago
So the statement on the website about Peter tiring of constant touring was just some PR BS from the band management/record label?
EnragedSephiroth 7 months ago
Great interview. Respect to Mike & Co.
mrdeathamore 7 months ago 2
he looks like a swedish andrew wk
underscoreisnotvalid 7 months ago
Comment removed
SideWays8Productions 8 months ago
Peter is a great guitar player. I guess everyone would admit that. But honestly.. there is no better songwriter in metal than Akerfeldt. No one even comes close to that, so there's no real need to talk Peter being not that creative. For Mikael himself it isn't possible to tell the truth in that way, because he's always understatin about his immense talent. But I bet Peters' tape would blow me away.
Soilwar 11 months ago
@blasttyrant666 he meant live. There's no way that's gene, 100% Lopez on he whole album. He is in the music video though...
EarlMcCrackin 11 months ago
bit mean to call peters stuff "shit" right at the end and I hope that mendez and lopez would back up michaels version of events. But in fairness he said he felt terrible about the whole thing
arklowrockz 1 year ago
I know exactly what Mike means. Opeth is a band that has a certain high standard. If you can't contribute to that standard than stuff won't get used, that's what happens when you have a band this good.
MetallicOpeth 1 year ago 7
@blasttyrant666 Mikael states on the Ghost Reveries documentary that Gene was called in last minute to play a few shows and to appear in The Grand Conjuration video, but that's all. Gene Hoglan isn't mentioned in the album leaflet as having recorded the drums to the song, and by law they would have to list his name, thus he did not perform the drums on the recording of the song.
fraserpaterson 1 year ago
@blasttyrant666 Gene didn't record the drums in that song, he just appeared in the film clip.
fraserpaterson 1 year ago
is this a part of an opeth DVD??? if so which one??
ramtin1001 1 year ago
Taste changes (and you can see it in their albums). Who knows in the future Mikael will come to appreciate Peter's stuff ?
BrillanteBunny 1 year ago
Karma
plopcropbop 1 year ago
swedish people are honest and direct
Opethitis 1 year ago
Peter didtnt like this video 5 times!!!
guir0 1 year ago
If you've ever been in a band, you'd understand his arguments.
vikingshred 1 year ago
@dnb47
Ofcourse you think he's an asshole, you obviously don't know nothing about Opeth and you obviously didn't watch the whole interview
heavymetalpower1 1 year ago 2
Wow. This guy is an asshole
dnb47 1 year ago
I feel bad for Peter while I'm imagining him watching this interview. But Mikael is right, he shouldn't use Peter's riffs just to be nice. It needs to fit the band or it's not good enough. I think Peter should start his own band/project and let his creativity out on this. I'm pretty sure he made riff that he thought Mikael would like, but he surely sacrificed his own taste on them.
CarcPazu 1 year ago
He obviously respects Peter, but hes being honest. I don't mind the past few albums with the new band members but ever since Martin Lopez left I feel the drums have been lacking, he was an amazing percussionist.
Darkaero199 1 year ago
This is a REALLY interesting interview. I always wondered what other members of the band feel creatively considering that Mikael Akerfeldt is such a dominating and talented personality.
In all fairness, he is such a great musician and such a great guitar player that as humble and unegotistical as he is trying to come off, he really is that good. I mean hes written some of the best shit metal has ever seen I trust his judgement and I'm sure it was better than Lindgrens stuff.
koolmaaan 1 year ago
Holy shit he's wearing a comus t-shirt, Brilliant band that no ones heard of :P
barret707 1 year ago
@barret707 Well he's certainly cool, isn't he.
harmonicminorshred 1 year ago
@harmonicminorshred Could not agree more.
barret707 1 year ago
I have to say I respect the honesty and straightforwardness of Mikael and this interview and the way he presents the entire situation of why Peter left the band. He openly talks about stuff most other egotistical frontrunners of other bands would blatantly deny just in the hopes that they save face and he does it for the sake of honesty and for that, I give him made props. Here's to another 20+ years Mikael.
tfagan03 1 year ago
I love his short arms
Hellcoam 1 year ago
i think that tattoo on his armn is swedish writing, does anybody know what it means in english?
hespelerdude17 1 year ago
@hespelerdude17 I'm pretty sure its for his youngest daught, as I saw in another interview
not sure tho
HarvestHollow 1 year ago
@hespelerdude17 daughter* sorry
HarvestHollow 1 year ago
@hespelerdude17 Well he did a prog project a while back called Sörskogen (I think that's what the tattoo says) that supposedly recorded several songs, the only one I've heard being "Mordet I Grottan." Definitely worth a listen. But I don't know what the word means or the significance of 1974 other than it was the year he was born *shrugs*
blackeyesfading 1 year ago
@hespelerdude17 "..-skogen" means "the forest" in Swedish. Sörskogen would be a place/small forest around Stockholm I think, but I live in southern Sweden so I'm not sure.
MYM0NK3YD13D 1 year ago
peter was good guy. he threw me a pick when they were on the sounds of the underground in Denver. it was my first time seeing them it was sick as fuck!
Roodski 1 year ago
@Roodski Well Fredrik Akesson threw me a pick when I saw them in 08.So there, Iwin.
harmonicminorshred 1 year ago
@harmonicminorshred Fredrik didn't play on Ghost Reveries (the best Opeth album ever) i.e. its worthless :P
Roodski 1 year ago
@Roodski :( Ok you win this time troll. But you also are obviously a newish fan. Ghost Reveries pfft.
harmonicminorshred 1 year ago
Peter was a REALLY good guitar player too, but even as good as he was, he had to step down =(
Lifewontwait29 1 year ago
Every band has the "creative" leader.
melowar78 1 year ago
Well, if Mikael says it isn't good enough, then it isn't good enough. Period. Sorry Peter. We miss you, but the Aker has spoken.
jonesy97 1 year ago
yea i get see exactly what he means. you can have all the ideas under the sun, but you still need to be selective in your approach, instead of having any old stuff. and even the riffs that you happen to come off with off the top of your head, you need to keep working on it to make it good or make it fit etc.
What springs to mind when i type this is, that famous moment in Metallica: making the black album, where kirk and Bob rock are having a heated discussion about the solo on unforgiven.
replica07 1 year ago
I like the honesty of this interview. It's nothing against Peter, I loved Peter in Opeth just as much as the next guy, but the reality of bands is that one guy writes the vast majority of the music (like 90% at least), and the others just add on it here and there (changing drum parts, solos, etc.). Mikael says it perfectly - Everybody needs an outlet for their own creativity. Opeth is Mikael's, and if Peter wants one then maybe Mikael could've helped out with his as Peter has done for Mikael.
fraserpaterson 1 year ago 2
You gotta do what you gotta do Mike.
TheAby800 1 year ago
Very honest interview by Mikael. He is Opeth's natural leader, and being a leader means taking hard decisions many times.
andrelias 1 year ago
I love mikaels voice.
OnePassionateGirl 1 year ago 3
haha stoned artists > everything
mariusel666 1 year ago 3
His voice man^^
Petruccinho 1 year ago 2
You could miss Peter for his person, but for his guitarplaying? Nah.. He replicated Mike's sound, and as Mikael states hmm.. 10 times during this interview - he plays mostly what Mike tells him to. I like Peter alot, and yes - i do miss him. But i have no problem at all stating that Fredrik Åkesson is a WAY better and more independent guitar player.
gazuul 1 year ago 3
@gazuul Indpendent yeah, not my style though. Fredrik sounds like he'd fit better in a Necrophagist uber techy band...
EarlMcCrackin 1 year ago
@EarlMcCrackin Mike plays with way to much soul and heart to play in necrophagist, necrophagist is fast and technical, something mike does not care about
inlacrima2013 1 year ago
@inlacrima2013 Yes I agree but I'm talking about Fredrik, not Mikael
EarlMcCrackin 1 year ago
@EarlMcCrackin sorry, i must have read your comment wrong lol, cheers.
inlacrima2013 1 year ago
@gazuul I liked his solos way more than fredrik´s though.
Benteiron 1 year ago
@Benteiron That is a matter of independet taste :) Complex and feeling are two different things.
gazuul 1 year ago
@gazuul Yep, cant argue about that.
Benteiron 1 year ago
I don't see why people use Ghost Reveries as the Opeth standard of a good album. Ghost Reveries wasn't a very good record in my opinion. The keyboards felt out of place and the songs were often repetitive (Grand Conjuration at a gig is a great song to go and get a beer *yawn*). Watershed was polished and the keyboards felt like they were part of the music and making it stronger. If you're going to compare, Blackwater Park should be your standard. That was a perfectly produced album.
culokristof 1 year ago 7
Comment removed
culokristof 1 year ago
@culokristof for me its still life,
dushiemcbag 1 year ago
now this sounds like an opeth fan.
thelema3131 1 year ago
@culokristof Agree completely Black water park was and maybe is the best of their career in that time in my opinion.
EUSL84 1 year ago 2
@culokristof i think ghost reveries is a solid album, you're right about the grand conjuration but harlequin forest is fantastic!
personally i think Morningrise is the bands finest hour but thats just me!
Dneverend 1 year ago
@Dneverend I must give it to you, Harlequin Forest has grown on me over the years and so has Baying of the Hounds. But that's kind of it for the harder songs on that record.
culokristof 1 year ago
@culokristof Amen nigga. Still Life, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, and Damnation are all I need when it comes to Blopeth-Schmopeth.
harmonicminorshred 1 year ago
Imagine all those pages or recordings in his home in a box that says " not good enough"
I want that box !! , good vid, is this a series or ?
Samael1349 1 year ago
i know have even MORE respect for mikael
80smetalchild 1 year ago 2
Well you can't have total honesty without arrogance, not when you are the god that Mikael is of course.
DavetzWin 1 year ago
I sort of really want to see that tape. Haha
Smc316 1 year ago 3
That'd be some treasure man! xD
railpressureflip 1 year ago
That's sort of deep... =S
pandemichalo92 1 year ago
mikeal mite make a valid point on everything, but ive noticed opeth got a little bit worse since akesson entered the picture, srry watershed wasnt ghost reveries or nething like that
rrwwe 1 year ago
i used to think the same on watershed. i thought it was one of there weaker albums. it has grown on me now and it is probably now im my top 3 opeth albums
heyguyshey 1 year ago
@heyguyshey water shed wasnt bad at all dude i just think it could have been better i have to admit tho lotus eater is fuckin awesome
rrwwe 1 year ago
Watershed is INCREDIBLE
xwolbx 1 year ago 5
not it wasn't, but the Lotus Eater is one of the best Opeth songs and Heir Apparent is amazing as well.
009Tomo009 1 year ago
I thought watershed was awesome... totally different feel from Ghost Reveries and totally different from Deliverance ... thats what i love about Opeth, is that every album has a different feel
masteropuppetz66 1 year ago
dude your fucking right, ive noticed that too, i dont like that fat fuck akesson
11EasyT 1 year ago
@11EasyT i mean dont get me wrong hes a gud guitarist but not for opeth..he should just do something else.
rrwwe 1 year ago
@rrwwe Yea dude, i feel the exact same bro.... Hes taking control, and I miss peter to death
11EasyT 1 year ago
@11EasyT Whats there not to like about him? Appearancewise, he doesnt fit in but whats that matter? He's only been w/ the band for one album. Hes a phenomenal guitarist and he plays tastefuly. I dont find his playing overbearing, so what's there not to like? Give him a chance. I can't say the same 4 Axe though. I REALLY like his drumming, especially after listening to his work of "The Fathomless Mastery" but that one part in Porcelain Heart I think is way overdone. He's good overall though.
lurxtlifeson 1 year ago
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Mikael knows what he's talking about, no arrogance its just professional and honest. The truth can come across as arrogance when somebody is self assured. I think this guy has all the credits to be self assured.
FourteenTwentysix 1 year ago 5
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KalydoGames 1 year ago
Comus shirt awesome.
focus727 2 years ago
I agree with mikael, yea he can come across as arrogant but what is the point in putting material into your music that every single member is not 100% with? it would be pointless and cause the dissolve of the band.
All we can hope for is that opeth continue to make their fantastic and inspirational music.
You have to admire his honesty.
abadonae 2 years ago
"I write shit loads of stuff" can I have the stuff you don't use?!
rt36crazyfists 2 years ago 93
I got the same shirt!
lalalalakkekkshsgjh 2 years ago 3
This is a really good interview. Respect to Mikael for being so honest about such a sensitive subject.
ForViewingOnly 2 years ago 82
Comes off a bit arrogant at times in my opinion.
stdelcambre 2 years ago 5
@ForViewingOnly
The quality of his honesty is something I really admire.
Maglorel 1 year ago
I was in gigantour in california for megadeth,first time I saw Opeth without any preconceived ideas ..
scare the fuck out me..
and one of the best trip I've ever had
it stays in my consciousness ever since..
opeth is drug...
howlingsin 2 years ago
@holwingsin
at the oakland colisium????? if so lamb of god stole that show, opeth isnt great at large venues...but they are amazing at smaller clubs like in SF or LA
filthianity1985 2 years ago
yeah, in oakland,, the only time I saw them alive...
howlingsin 2 years ago
live
howlingsin 2 years ago
I think Opeth is one of the most diverse bands ever! Their sound is unique and original... And I think they keep progressing and changing and keep things fresh I heard some material from the new record and it's awesome. Opeth old and new is amazing to me. They keep expanding and doing new things. I do miss Peter Lindgren but in no way can I say that the new line up is bad they are actually really good musicians. No doubt Peter and Martin Lopez would be missed. Hail OPETH!
immortalsoloist 2 years ago 5
Watershed was their worst album yet. It would be great if tey could get te Mikael, Peter, Martin, and Martin lineup back together but it will probably never happen.
I really hate the new guitarist.. Shred has its place but it isnt in Opeth
bblaine1699 2 years ago 4
I agree. Axenrot does not fit in Opeth and losing Lopez was a shame. Further, Lindgren if for no other reason had a great style of soloing that contrasted with Mikael's and yet fit with the band.
LikeAGlassAsterisk 2 years ago
@LikeAGlassAsterisk Losing Lopez was hard on Opeth, but Ax is definately a perfect replacement! Totally different drummer, but an outstanding one.
drumsab 2 years ago 3
I am starting to come around on Axe. Lopez has just been favourite metal drummer for the past 5 years or so, so it took some time.
LikeAGlassAsterisk 2 years ago
I know, I had the same adjustment problem... ;-)
drumsab 2 years ago
@bblaine1699
thats not for you to decide is it. moreover opeth nor anyone else give 2 shits about what you think. so shut up.
outremer79 1 year ago
@bblaine1699 I really don't think anyone on here really gives a shit about your opinion. Keep it to yourself, asswipe.
lute69 1 year ago
i think opeth are brilliant! there's no doubt that mikael is the leader/inspiration in the band, but that doesn't diminish the contributions of the others. listen to the iterations of band members with and without peter and martin -- very different than the brilliance with them. ghost reveries, blackwater park, damnation/deliverance are simply fantastic. i really miss the fills and inventions from both of them
abefrohman69 2 years ago
Peter was the perfect guitarist for Opeth. Mike says his riffs and stuff werent good enough but hey he never had a problem playing any of the songs. And hell one of the best Opeth solo's are played by Peter in the song Deliverence! Its ashame he lost interest but people move on. If i was Peter i would of left after Ghost Reveries too because they were going for a more progressive sound there. Opeth is awsome and in these days everybody tunes down. They still play in E most songs! HAIL OPETH!
volknorv 2 years ago
Textbook ego problem. I'll bet Roger Waters would have both thumbs up watching this video.
donangry 2 years ago
No its a textbook talent problem (on peter's part) I'm not saying peter is bad, but mike simply writes better.
cricketdeville 2 years ago
maybe so, but most of the songs Roger Waters wrote by himself were fucking horrible opera ballads, he did write some good stuff, but without Waters and Gilmour his music is very limited
SpectreMadrigal 2 years ago
im curious to hear Peter's 1-2 minute riff tape.. and see what Lopez, Mikael think are shit haha.. cuase its prolly fukin badass.. i hope Peter finds his own way to his own group.. cause he is just as great.. maybe not writing wise.. but he played in opeth.. thats all i have to say.... Could be the next best band in the world. Hail Opeth. Mikael !!!
Demon! Demon of the Fall !!
o yea and My Arms, Your hearse is the best album
then Watershed, then Damnnation, and Deliverance :D
MetalOfAllOwns 2 years ago
opeth was an amazing band from their first album to about the deliverance and damnation albums, i started losing interest after that, the newer group of albums is nowhere near as good as the first 4
aezeon 2 years ago
To each his own I guess. I dig their entire discography but Black Water Park and Ghost Reveries are my favorites.
BringerofDeath3 2 years ago
Nice! Black Water Park is my favorite album too :D
The song "The Funeral Portrait" is just so epic!
danpluso 2 years ago
Can't blame Peter. . . Opeth is an amazing band and it's really hard to live up to that, let alone, come up with amazing ideas for every song. For some people, writing riffs that are GOLD, is very difficult and takes years just to perfect one single song. People who think Watershed was shit are dumb, though. The record label makes them release new albums by a certain deadline. When you put a time limit to make music wonderful, you're taking away the potential for it to be wonderful. I love Opeth
yourgay110 2 years ago 6
"He didn't bring anything to the table good enough to eat... to be used"
Absolute fucking gold.
YtseJam16 2 years ago
Very candid conversation. I'm surprised Mikael was willing to say that much. But he is the heart and brain of the band, as someone else said, and if he feels like Peter's material isn't good enough, well then thats it.
Peter said he left because he wasn't interested anymore basically, and I think he's telling the truth. If he was still interested, he would of stuck at it and kept coming up with material until he made an impact.
pineapplepeanuts 2 years ago
Contrary to most I think Watershed is their best album yet!
Halfdeadbassist 2 years ago
I Think Their First Record ''Orchid'' Sounded A Little bit Like Black Metal On The Vocals. Maybe It's Just Me But It's A Great Fucking Record!!
tyerr9 2 years ago
Youre right, its one of their best.
Morningrise is similar to this I think
JFK90 2 years ago
well in case you dont know Mikael is heavily influenced by Bathory the one man band created by Quorthon and also the progenitor of Black Metal.... he also draws inspiration from Emperor one of Norway's biggest Black Metal bands so it shouldnt be surprising
BlackMetalSage 2 years ago
listen at 5:44 XD
"to the table that was good enough to eat (damnit)... to be used. lol
yashatono 2 years ago 7
I only like Watershed, but I LOVED Blackwater Park and Morning Rise and My Arms, Your Hearse.
I want the old Opeth back and I feel Mikael is the brain while the other members are the heart.
PartVIII 2 years ago
I disagree. Mikael is both the brain and the heart. Mikael is Opeth, Opeth is Mikael. Without Mikael Opeth would not exist in a proper way anymore. (Btw you missed Ghost Reveries, that one is great as well :) )
I also love Watershed, though I think the Axenrot needs to look more what Lopez did. Axenrot is more of a deathmetal drummer, and Lopez was more progessive. Though Axenrot is still great. Anyway, Peter was lard I tell ya. The new guitarist is awesome.
Thundermaned 2 years ago 3
Yet, what would Opeth be without the other members?
yuppiroad 2 years ago
Temporarily out of operation. All Mikael has to do is wait for volanteers. There are plenty of people who want to join Opeth.
Thundermaned 2 years ago
then mikael is all that matters, a body can function fine without a heart, even a plastic pump can replace it. the same cant be said for the brain. of course, a plastic pump wont function AS well as heart, so i suppose your analogy is very fitting indeed. lol
Watershed was awesome. i love it, but wouldnt call it my favourite either.
yashatono 2 years ago
this interview alnost made my cry. Peter i wish you and Martin Lopez the VERY best !
Mike your still a very cool guy and respect for this Interview !
DreamSequencer08 2 years ago 3
Peter's departure was a shame. But you know, when there is only one main driving force of creativity in a band, this tends to happen. Ironically, I really did find "Watershed" to be Opeth's weakest effort released by the band so far, and it was also the first to not have Lopez or Lindgren involved in playing.
Timetakesusall 2 years ago
man i miss peter! come back we need you!!!!
fredddyoh 2 years ago 6
As they said before, something to the effect of "We will be here as long as we have new material" and it seems Peter was creatively exhausted at this point. For as long as he had been in Opeth I can't blame him really. Peter can't be in Opeth if he's not up to it.
As for "They don't fuckin pretend" I'm assuming he means the other guys don't pretend that a riff is good if it's not, like Mike was saying about convincing himself to use Peter's stuff even though he thought it was bad.
GRAWpcsucks216 2 years ago
I laughed a little at the end because of how blunt Mike was about what Mendez and Lopez said "that's shit" and "they dont fucking pretend." On a more serious note though, this is incredibly sad how Peter couldn't be creattive like mike and no one liked his ideas.
You always think that its just fabricated B.S. when the reason for breakups is "creative differences" but its all real.
Toshiya1213 2 years ago 3
i read on some website that tracks 5 & 8(i.e dirge 4 november n blackwater park) of blackwater park was written by peter.i m not 100% sure.
stiffaction 2 years ago
if such is the case.. then there are still things to argue there..
I love Blackwater Park, and so Dirge for November, even if I find them less creative than the rest of their good songs... stil... they are great songs
EnriquePage91 2 years ago
Very interesting interview...
This is a complicated issue, I love to write music, and I like to do that in my own way...alone, but if you have a big band like Opeth, with long time mates, seems to be hard to keep the equilibrium between band collaboration and personal composition.
I don't know if Mikael acted well or not capitalizing the songwriting, but I totally understand his doubts and his sadness. He seems a very good person... and he IS a musical genius.
(Sorry for my poor english)
aacPOTING 2 years ago 7
i think that, when you have a band you have to listen to what everyone says to you when it comes to talk about song writing or music composition or making new riffs, but it has to be one member in the who centers all the ideas and focus to get to a same horizon... its difficult to be that guy but someone has to do it...
jeanpaulbazo 2 years ago 3
unfortunately he doesnt realize that a band is a group of people, cant just make music you want to make.
opeth1234 2 years ago
well, he's done it and it has been pretty good XD
idontbelieveok 2 years ago
I understand your point, but gotta admit he's been the creative all along.. which can cause problems if you ask him aftr all that time to accept someone else's ideas
EnriquePage91 2 years ago
his eyes look so sad :-(
Garybassist 2 years ago 16
I really think Åkerfeldt is putting himself on this "I'm a professional rant." It seems like he just doesn't want to write with other people. He expresses this in a very smug way. Therefore, I don't believe this to be the full story.
Surisis1983 2 years ago
Too bad it ended this way, at least it's not about money, but the thing they like to do.
I hope they're still friends.
assaf001 2 years ago 8
What is it that he says about Lopez and Mendez? "on top of things"...and "they don't fucking pretend". What does that mean?
salamandradehielo 2 years ago
They were straight up with Akerfeldt, and just said - the stuff on the tape, isn't good enough. And it can't go on simply because one of the band members made it. No favours, only the best music.
switchcade 2 years ago 3
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switchcade 2 years ago
Members of the band; he's saying that in addition to not enjoying the riffs himself, he showed them to Lopez and Mendez and they were brutally honest, that's why he says "they don't fucking pretend."
zeppelinman4232 2 years ago 3
Excellent interviewer, he asks the right questions to make mikael say interesting things
THEMJZ 2 years ago
i like how Mikael is so down to earth like for example take dream theatre member, for some reason i percieve them to have a bit more 'frantic' life style as apposed to mikael's calm interlectual manner, which is really refreshing, lol im not really conveying my point very well but hopefully some one gets me. Really good interview though such a sad topic and you can really tell mikael was sad about it. I really enjoy mikaels interviews it really shows he's an interlectual.
Schism54 2 years ago 2
HAHA its funny how you spell "intellectual" wrong :P
somos999 2 years ago
yeah it's heaps funny eh, especially because being an intellectual has nothing to do with spelling, it's the use of intellect for analytical thinking. Good thing i know how to spell pretentious
Schism54 2 years ago
haha you actually think you are an interlectual! THAT is rather funny... My interlectual friend, i was kidding. You did not get it. It's okay!
somos999 2 years ago
lol alright man if thats what you think, im not really interested in a youtube comment arguement
Schism54 2 years ago
i wish this interview had subtitles, it seems very interesting,but i dont understand so much
morten666veland 2 years ago
That looks like the shirt he bought when he was in England, I think. But that guy was following him around with his video camera and he bought a Comus shirt and that looks like the one he picked up.
MztrBlonde2 2 years ago
Poor poor Peter, very sad that he left the band after being a member since the beginning of Opeth.
kukenbajs 2 years ago 3
Mikael is a good guy
impavitus 2 years ago 9
Opeth it's Mikael ... the rest is part of Biography :) He can continue to create great songs and have lots of good musicians to play with Him.
baratap71 2 years ago 5
very interesting.
SteveBrownOfficial 2 years ago 2
Mikael is a true metal genius, right up there with Dave Mustaine, Steve Harris, Lars and James, Jeff Hanneman.
pwned2ice 2 years ago
He is way better....
jerradcwilliams 2 years ago 7
And do not insult him by comparing him to lars.
Raggar86 2 years ago 20
definitely. miles ahead of them. i think him and john petrucci are very equal. mikael is better at writing i think, but john can play just a tad more insanely, though i like mikael better.
earth2computer 2 years ago 2
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Who cares? Peter wasn't good.
matzchase 2 years ago
Agreed.
urbium2 2 years ago
i like hes personality!
MRsounddude 2 years ago
he seems sad... or high
RevengeR123 2 years ago
I'll say he is sad, WE ALL ARE :((
ArmageddonDreamWalk 2 years ago
that was honest. something is missing
decodedmonkey 2 years ago
Absolutely phenomenal artist!
relworp69 2 years ago 7
Nothing lasts forever.
NordicRick 2 years ago 8
True words, NordicRick.
IloveAlexisBledel689 2 years ago
Even cold november rain.
Vortex1Orion 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
All youtubers are gay.
And Mike seems to have a massive ego.
daniel0daniel1234 2 years ago
I think he's just stating the truth. He's writes the overwhelming majority of the music, why should he not be the one to decide. It's not as if he's completely shutting everyone out.
flyingV1043 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i think mike is stoned lolololol
BedBreakfastOwns 3 years ago