BLABBERMOUTH.NET - OPETH Frontman Reveals How He Got Into Heavy Metal

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Last Updated: November 12, 2009 2:18 PM

OPETH Frontman Reveals How He Got Into Heavy Metal - July 1, 2009

Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH recently spoke to Finland's Domination TV about how he first got into heavy metal. Watch the six-minute chat below.

OPETH will take part in the European installment of DREAM THEATER's Progressive Nation tour, set to take place throughout September, October and November 2009. Also appearing on the bill are UNEXPECT and BIGELF.

OPETH recently completed an eight-show tour of Norway which included stops in major cities Oslo and Bergen as well as dates smaller towns like Volda and Sogndal. The trek was arranged by Rikskonsertene, a Norwegian state-sponsored organization that normally handles events featuring jazz, classical and folk artists.

The OPETH three-CD box set called "The Candlelight Years", featuring the the band's first three albums, will be released in Europe on July 13 via Candlelight Records.

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	COMMENT \| posted by : blackwaterparkisamasterpiece 7/1/2009 9:20:35 AM

	Mikael Åkerfeldt. As always, great interview. Spot on about "contemporary" metal. Chicken shit!

	COMMENT \| posted by : Pakistani_Metalhead 7/1/2009 10:48:04 AM

	Its a Finnish TV channel and the use "AN" before the word 'teenager?' Lol, I haven't even seen a Pakistani channel committing such a basic error.

	COMMENT \| posted by : Pakistani_Metalhead 7/1/2009 10:54:25 AM

	Hahaha Kiss garage playback concert lol

	COMMENT \| posted by : BrainRotMenacer 7/1/2009 12:41:27 PM

	Which contemporary metal bands is he talking about? That seems to be a broad paint brush he's using when saying it's "bloodless" and "chickenshit".

	COMMENT \| David Bowie?? posted by : cozy powell 7/1/2009 2:14:03 PM

	That was hilarious!!

	COMMENT \| posted by : flyingv1043 7/1/2009 2:43:03 PM

	"But it was a David Bowie patch" Lmfao

	COMMENT \| Hey Mikael, posted by : Chainedown 7/1/2009 10:33:48 PM

	Some people consider your band as part of "chickenshit" contemporary metal you speak of.

	COMMENT \| @ Chainedown posted by : norse72 7/2/2009 2:18:30 AM

	"Some people consider your band as part of "chickenshit" contemporary metal you speak of." 'Some people' may not understand that Mikael has remained true to himself and the music of Opeth for almost 20 years now. If memory serves, I seem to recall hearing Mikael tell of how he had to sell some gear around the time of their third album (or shortly thereafter) just to pay rent! That is neither bloodless or chickenshit. It takes guts to go through the heartbreak of selling your gear just to live and face the ill-informed judgment of others who are too ignorant and sheltered to understand that it's nearly impossible to make music that will have any widespread impact if you can't eat. To sell your gear and then still keep your band together, somehow get more gear, gig, and then write and successfully promote more awesome albums (without major label support, even) is more metal than any contemporary metal band could ever dream to be. With their cozy little record contracts and hollow albums full of hollow, boring songs that only record execs and marketing managers want to hear, I think those bands know who they are. The scary part is when the fans can't figure this out just by listening to the music. Some bands get success bloodlessly and without any courageous decisions requiring sacrifice. Opeth is not one of those bands.

	COMMENT \| good ol' fanboys posted by : escapegoat6 7/3/2009 4:35:06 AM

	always good for a laugh!

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