Artist of the Week 8/15/11 - Opeth

[Bill in CT]

Since their formation in 1990, Swedish band Opeth has drawn on their influences (Scandinavian death metal, progressive rock, folk, jazz, and classic hard rock/heavy metal) to create an ever-changing catalog of music. While the band has had a number of personnel changes over the years, singer/guitarist/writer Mikael Akerfeldt (typically referred to as “Mike” by fans) has been the one constant on all their releases.
After a few years of woodshedding, Candlelight Records signed the band based on a rehearsal tape. They recorded their debut Orchid in 1994, with it being released in Europe the following year.




Next up was the Morningrise album, released in Europe in 1996 and the USA in 1997. Like the debut, it featured the extensive use of guitar counterpoint, an approach Mike discarded after this record because he said too many other bands were copying the style.





Opeth’s third album, My Arms, Your Hearse, was their first album with drummer Martin Lopez and also their first concept album.
From Wikipedia: “The album concerns a character who dies and becomes a ghost. The narrative on the ghost's existence revolves around the woman he loved. Frustration and suspicion make the character restless as he watches his loved one after his death, his soul in constant turmoil as he does not believe that she genuinely grieved his passing. Though his ghost's actual presence remains undetected, she feels a great sadness, and remains unwilling to accept his death.
The progression of the album can also be seen as linked to the progression of the seasons, the final song ending with winter, and leading back into the first song with the beginnings of spring.”
Martin Mendez joined as the new bass player ( a position he still holds) around this time as well but didn’t have time to learn the bass parts for the recording sessions, so Mike played all bass parts on the record.






Opeth’s fourth album, Still Life, released in 1999, was their second consecutive concept album and the first to feature Martin Mendez on bass. Mike briefly summarized the concept thusly: “The main character is kind of banished from his hometown because he hasn’t got the same faith as the rest of the inhabitants there. The album pretty much starts off when he is returning after several years to hook up with his old ‘babe.’ The big bosses of the town know that he’s back…A lot of bad things start happening.”






Blackwater Park was released in 2001. It was the first Opeth album to be released at the same time in Europe and North America. It was also their first album to be produced by Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson, who also performs on the album. It became their most popular album up to that time.











The two most prevalent styles of Opeth’s career thus far have been heavy music with death metal growls and softer music with a progressive bent and clean vocals. They often combine the two styles within the same song. For their next two albums, Deliverance and Damnation, they chose to split these approaches, making the former a heavy record and the latter a mellow one. They recorded both albums at once, which was a very hectic process for the band. Both records were dedicated to Mike’s grandmother, who died in a car accident during the recording process.

















Opeth’s eighth studio album, Ghost Reveries, was released in 2005. It was the first album to include keyboardist Per Wiberg.





Released in May 2008, Watershed was Opeth’s ninth studio album and the first to include drummer Martin Axenrot and guitarist Fredrik Akesson. It is also the first Opeth album to not feature guitarist Peter Lindgren, who left the band amicably in 2007.




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Opeth’s upcoming tenth studio album Heritage will be released in September 2011. It will feature no death metal growls. It will be the last album to feature Per Wiberg as he left Opeth in April 2011. Percussionist Alex Acuna (Weather Report, Elvis Presley) is a guest musician on the record. The only track to be made available thus far is “The Devil’s Orchard” which is linked below.
[youtube]G1pi7Dn87mY&ob=av2e[/youtube]
In an interview conducted in 1998, Mike was asked what Opeth hoped to achieve with their then-current record. His answer still seems to apply to Opeth:
“The only thing that makes us satisfied after recording a new album is to feel that it's better or at least equal to the last. There's not much to achieve in the world of death metal apart from more recognition and more fans. I don't know, we don't kiss anybody's butt, and we play mainly for ourselves. We are fortunate that some people are on the same wavelength as we are.”

[Zip City]

Opeth is a band I've never given full attention to. Musically, I think they're on par with the best metal out there, but the "cookie monster vocals" is something I haven't been able to get past. It's a musical prejudice I have that is hard for me to accept, but I'll certainly take some time to go through your videos here.

[RevMatt]

Bill turned me on to Opeth and they are my favorite current heavy metal band. I am looking forward to seeing them next month.

['Scratch]

Just wanted to raise my hand and say I'm really digging these guys. I'd only give then a cursory listen before, but I'm kind of burnt on a lot of the stuff I've been listening too and when I heard Reverie/Harlequin Forest come up on Pandora a new switch was thrown.

Looking forward to working my way through the vids in this thread. Thanks for the hard work Bill.

[RevMatt]

My son and I caught Opeth a couple weeks ago with Bill in Ct. It was a great show. They are much more "prog" than death metal on this tour -- no cookie monster growling. The set focused on their newest album which I like a whole lot. It reminds me of early King Crimson and Deep Purple with some Jethro Tull thrown in for good measure. If you are a fan of seventies prog, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, eighties bands like Metalicca, and death metal bands like Celtic Frost then Opeth is the band for you.

On the train ride home I sat with a few other people who were at the show. My comment was that if a band that great played NYC in the 1970's the show would have been at Madison Square Garden instead of Webster Hall. Great bands like Opeth and DBT have a hard time finding a large audience these days. Opeth's following is about the size of DBT's and their fans are just as enthusiastic as we are. They only tour the U.S. about once every two years, so catch them now. This is a great band. I learned about them here at 3DD. They are in my top five favorite metal bands of all time, along with Metalicca, Black Sabbath and Motorhead.

['Scratch]

Wow, that must have been a killer show.

Right now I have Ghost Reveries, Damnation and Blackwater Park. I'll add the newest one to the list. I've never been a fan of "cookie monster" vocals, but the way these guys do it, it's just part of the tapestry. When it comes on you're like "F YEAH", but then a few minutes later there's beautiful 12 string acoustic and soul stirring vocals. There's an almost Wagnerian quality to their albums. And the musicianship is brilliant.

Me likey.

[RevMatt]

Wow, that must have been a killer show.

Right now I have Ghost Reveries, Damnation and Blackwater Park. I'll add the newest one to the list. I've never been a fan of "cookie monster" vocals, but the way these guys do it, it's just part of the tapestry. When it comes on you're like "F YEAH", but then a few minutes later there's beautiful 12 string acoustic and soul stirring vocals. There's an almost Wagnerian quality to their albums. And the musicianship is brilliant.

Me likey.

Exactly. They are the only cookie monster vocals I can handle.

The opening song on the new album has a chorus that goes, "God is dead." Most death metal bands could never get away with that. It would be either blatant pandering to the lowest common denominator of the death metal fanbase or completely ironic. But with Opeth it totally works. More like they are conjuring up Nitzsche with a Ouiji board in the recording studio.

[Beebs]

Bill, Sorry I missed this AOTW the first time around. Having trouble keeping up these days. Nice job.

First saw these guys when my brother's band opened for them back on the Blackwater Park US tour (2001/2002?) and I've been among the devoted ever since. Had the privilege of seeing them live 5 times I think, but it's been at least 5 years since my last show. They've grown significantly and only hit NYC/Boston type venues for their last few US tours, the shit hole metal club in my area they used to play on every tour burned down and I'm not expecting to be abel to see them again. Glad to have been able to see the "original" line up at small venues.

Personally, not at all a fan of the new album. But there are hours and hours of great music from these guys. For anyone looking for a good survey of some ass kicking metal their Live at Royal Albert Hall is fantastic.

[Bill in CT]

Opeth will return to the USA and Canada this spring.
The new tourdates are below.

4/18 The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY

4/20 New England Metal & Hardcore Festival Worcester, MA

4/21 Capitole, Quebec City, QC

4/23 Halifax Forum, Halifax, NS

4/24 Casino New Brunswick, Moncton, NB

4/26 Guelph Concert Theatre, Guelph, ON

4/27 Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA

4/28 Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY

4/29 Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

4/30 NorVa Theater, Norfolk, VA

5/2 Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

5/3 State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL

5/4 Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA

5/5 Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC

5/6 The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

5/8 Buster’s Billiards & Backroom, Lexington, KY

5/9 The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN

5/10 The Machine Shop, Flint, MI

5/11 Mojoe’s, Joliet, IL

5/12 House of Blues, Cleveland, OH

5/14 The Venue, Fargo, ND

5/15 Wooly’s, Des Moines, IA

5/16 Pop’s, Sauget, IL

5/17 Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, NE

5/18 Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK

5/20 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO

5/21 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO

5/23 Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ

5/24 The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA

5/25 The Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA

5/26 The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA

[LuthierJustin]

Georgia Theater I'm there,tickets on sale at 11 tomorrow

[Tyler]

Just bought my ticket for the Lincoln Theater show.

Katatonia is opening for the entire tour, barring the festival dates.

[Bill in CT]

Katatonia is opening for the entire tour, barring the festival dates.

Steven Wilson will also be part of the show in Clifton Park, NY. I'm definitely hoping to make that one.

[Tyler]

I do hope the harden up a bit this tour.

On the Mastadon tour last year they went a bit heavy into the new album for my tastes.

[LuthierJustin]

Ticket ordered

[Bill in CT]

I got tickets for Clifton Park and Brooklyn.

[Beebs]

Steven Wilson will also be part of the show in Clifton Park, NY. I'm definitely hoping to make that one.

I got tickets for Clifton Park and Brooklyn.

Thanks for the heads up Bill. I'm about 20 minutes from this venue and had no idea.

I'd offer you a place to crash but I'm not even sure I'll be able to make this show. Got some big stuff going on right around that date.

What is Steven Wilson doing on the road with them? Is he paying with Opeth or doing his solo stuff? I can rarely keep track of what project he's into and when.

[Bill in CT]

Thanks for the heads up Bill. I'm about 20 minutes from this venue and had no idea.
What is Steven Wilson doing on the road with them? Is he paying with Opeth or doing his solo stuff? I can rarely keep track of what project he's into and when.

No problem on the heads up. I hope you can make the show.
He will have the Steven Wilson Band. Katatonia will open, then the SWB will play, then Opeth will close. I hope he sits in with Opeth so they can do something from Storm Corrosion.

[tinnitus photography]

http://www.roadburn.com/2013/08/opeths- ... -festival/

[Bill in CT]

The February issue of Decibel (Lemmy cover) inducts Blackwater Park into their Hall of Fame. They interview Mike, Peter, and both Martins about the making of the album and how they view it now. It's worth a look if you enjoy the album.

http://www.decibelmagazine.com

[Beebs]

Thanks for the heads up Bill.

[Bill in CT]

The new Opeth album comes out on June 17. I'm really looking forward to hearing it.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/opeth- ... m-in-june/

[Bill in CT]

[Bill in CT]

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have announced their return to North America for a coast-to-coast co-headline run with IN FLAMES. The nationwide trek, which will also feature support from RED FANG, is set to get underway on December 3 at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago, Illinois and traverse North America through the end of the month. Limited presale tickets and VIP packages will be available beginning today, August 13 exclusively through WMG with general public on sale starting Friday, August 15.

"We are delighted to return to North America to tour our latest album, 'Pale Communion'," commented OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt. "This will be the first of two North American tours and the fact that we are teaming up with our old friends IN FLAMES for this co-headline tour means that we can get to play some large venues and present our new stage show. I am also looking forward to drinking expensive whiskey with Anders on his account!"

IN FLAMES frontman Anders Fridén added: "I met Mikael for the first time in 1998 during the recording of OPETH's album 'My Arms, Your Hearse'. I was working in the studio and we've been friends ever since. Now 16 years more beautiful, we release albums in the same cycle and it's with great honor and pleasure that IN FLAMES share stage with our friends and fellow countrymen in OPETH."

The dates are as follows:

Dec. 03 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
Dec. 04 - Minneapolis, MN - Mill City Nights
Dec. 05 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
Dec. 06 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Dec. 08 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
Dec. 09 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
Dec. 10 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
Dec. 12 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Ballroom
Dec. 13 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
Dec. 15 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
Dec. 17 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Dec. 18 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
Dec. 19 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Dec. 20 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Dec. 21 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus

OPETH's highly anticipated eleventh studio album, "Pale Communion", will be released on August 26 via Roadrunner Records. The cover artwork was once again created by Travis Smith — with art direction by Åkerfeldt.

"Pale Communion", which was produced by Åkerfeldt and mixed by longtime collaborator and PORCUPINE TREE frontman/guitarist Steven Wilson, was heralded by the lead single "Cusp Of Eternity". Pre-orders for "Pale Communion" made via the iTunes Store will receive an instant download of "Cusp Of Eternity" as well as a second album track, with multiple configurations also available via both the Roadrunner Records webstore and O Merch.

IN FLAMES' eleventh album, "Siren Charms" is due in the U.S. on September 9 via Sony/RED. The CD was recorded at Hansa Tonstudios (DAVID BOWIE, DEPECHE MODE, U2) in Berlin, Germany. The cover artwork was created by Blake Armstrong of Space Boy Comics.

[Bill in CT]

Opeth's latest album Pale Communion can be listened to via YouTube at the link below.

[Bill in CT]

[Bill in CT]

[Beebs]

Track off the coming album


https://www.facebook.com/Metalismyaddic ... 192840894/



Opeth: BBC Radio 1 Premieres Title Track of Swedish Metal Band's 'Sorceress' Album
"Rock Show" premiered the cut, which remains available for streaming via the BBC. "Sorceress," the band's first record on Nuclear Blast, is due out Sept. 30. A North American tour is also scheduled.

[Bill in CT]

The new album In Cauda Venenum came out on September 27. There is a Swedish version and an English version.

"Rank and Defile: Opeth's albums Ordered from Worst to Best"

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/09 ... t-to-best/

[Bill in CT]

For their only USA show of 2019, Opeth headlined the last day of this year's Psycho Las Vegas on August 18. The set is linked below.

[Bill in CT]

Opeth has announced 2020 tour dates in the USA and Canada. Graveyard will open all these shows except for the ones with a *.

Feb. 13 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora Ballroom
Feb. 14 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
Feb. 15 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
Feb. 17 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
Feb. 18 - Montreal, QC - Mtelus
Feb. 19 - Toronto, ON - Rebel
Feb. 21 - New York, NY - Apollo Theater
Feb. 22 - New York, NY - Apollo Theater
Feb. 23 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
Feb. 25 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Feb. 26 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium*
Feb. 28 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
Feb. 29 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Mar. 01 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland*
Mar. 02 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom
Mar. 04 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium