“Opeth” is “City of the moon”, right? Once you said you’ve stolen it from some kind of science-fiction book and I’d like to know which one exactly… Furthermore, could you please enlighten us in regards to your literary tastes?
M: Yes, we stole and altered it from the book "The Sunbird" by Wilbur Smith. Actually I wasn't involved in the theft itself as it was prior to me joining the band. I've read the book though, it was OK! I read mostly Swedish novels, like realtime shit with loads of drugs, fucking and just messing about. It's gotta be something I can relate to, you know!
Ok, music is what
we should talk about starting the interview, not
literature. Therefore,
I’ll be glad to hear you discoursing the latest piece of work by OPETH.
I know that you’ll probably say “Still Life” is the best effort you have
spawned so far, however let me ask what are the principal differences between
this one and the former efforts of yours, and if there’re none of them
I wonder what’s the sense in releasing albums similar to each other. Furthermore,
you seemed to improve the sound in the whole, in the same time returning
to those good ‘ol times when OPETH’s works featured songs mostly of enormous
length…
M: I think we just made a better record with "Still Life" plain and simple. And the next album will be a further improvement. It's just our way, and with this I mean the WE think it's better. I can't speak for the fans. Luckily though, most of our supporters share our opinions as well. I think we as opposed to basically the entire metal scene have taken bold leaps with each new record we release. You gotta see it for what it is...I mean, we are the only band on this planet that sounds like this. We have earned the right to be what we want, and I think people know by now that we're not trying to impress with how wide our musical range is. This is what we are, we do music this way and that's all I care about.
Why did you move
to Peaceville? Weren’t you satisfied with the way
Candlelight treated
you?
M: We had a few run-ins but it was OK with Candlelight. It's buisness you know. Despite whatever's your profession you will probaly sometime along the way be unhappy with your "boss". It's normal I think, as is changing situations. Peaceville offered us a good deal that we couldn't refuse.
Two
latest works of yours, “My Arms, Your Hearse” and “Still Life”, were executed
at Studio Fredman, right? Don’t know what about you, but my opinion is
that Fredrik’s place is one of the best metal studios in the whole Sweden.
Anyway, that’s not what I wanted to ask you. Formerly you worked with Dan
Swano; and the question is: what are the main differences between Fredman
and Unisound? Which one is better? And, furthermore, what is Dan now up
to?
M: It's hard to say who's the better. I think all our albums were intended to be. I don't see "Morningrise" with a Fredman production. You could say that between the two soundwise, one's weakness is the other ones strength, and vice versa. Dan is more of a musical guy, while Fredrik is just allround. I spoke to Dan the other day, and he's basically given up the production bit totally. He's doing his different projects with his brother...
Back in time, in the second question to be exact, I’ve broached the subject of your songs’ length. Do these “giants” come out naturally or you do everything on purpose? Also, what about your rehearsals? I bet, it’s rather exhausting…
M: It's my / our way of writing music. It's no different than with other bands song writing process if you look at it. As I said before...this is not something we are doing to impress...it's our way. Rehersals? We never rehearse anymore.
Can you define OPETH’s style yourself?
M: Extreme progressive metal.
You vary your voice with each release… In the past, it was “clean” and black metal voice, now it’s mostly growling and, of course, “clean” singing again. Can you explain me why you have quit using those BM-alike vokills?
M: I'm sick and tired of it. I don't like my voice I had on "Morningrise". I've never been into the black metal scene as we know it today. Why I sang that way is because I wanted to try if it was possible. I'm from death metal originally. However, I now use different levels in my screams, though I prefer the deep ones. Basically, I think I had the best screaming voice on "Orchid" although the two last recordings have gone very well!
By the way, I guess it was you who co-produced vocals on “Tonight’s Decision”, the latest CD by KATATONIA… Seems like you’re good friends indeed. Would you like to comment on their way in music… you see, first they were almost black metal band, now it’s some kind of sorrowful “gothic” stuff (extremely depressive, though)…
M: I can't speak for them....they're everchanging. Yes, they're very good friends of mine, but their band situation is chaotic. That's people that shouldn't play together at all, but the opposites attract, you know. That's why they're so good I guess. I produced the vocals for the 2 lst albums, but I won't be involved again.
What is your worst
fear and why? Furthermore, each of us seems to
have at least
one fear inside of him or her, however there should be a way to overcome
it. Do you agree with me? What is your solution to your own fears?
M: I don't like spiders. Big ones! Disease....
Once, a long time ago, Friedrich Nietzsche advanced a theory of human being a “hyperborean”, speaking plainer – a superman (judging by all the qualities he possess). What is your view on this notion? Will we ever have any (even illusory) chance to create a society of strong, strong both mentally and physically, human beings?
M: Personally, I don't see human that way. Maybe it's true, but my perception is that there's more bastards and sick demented people out there than normal. I hate people sometimes. I'm sick and tired of "even Steven". I can't see qualities in a ordinary person...Nietzsche's preception is old bollocks that's totally uninteresting to me despite whether it's true or not. I just think people are plain irritating to me mostly. It's strange though... it's only the last year or so I've started to feel this hatred.
Everyone’s
fond of talking a lot of various kinds of new technologies and stuff nowadays…
However, don’t you think that we have to cognize ourselves before subjugating
the Universe?
M: I'm not into that stuff. What great achievement is there after the stereo? And would I give a fuck about it? No, I'm into music, and that's saying a lot. I think I've learned a lot about myself since I started to write.
Do you know anything regarding Russia? What is your attitude to the country of mine as well as it’s people? Any Russian bands you’ve heard lately?
M: I haven't heard many Russian bands I'm afraid. i remember there use to be a band called KRUIZ or something like that. Russia... well, I don't know too much about it apart from the bad stuff. The corrupt side I mean. The mafia. The huge segregation between the poor and the rich. I would very much like to visit your country though and discover qualities I was unaware of.
Back in 1996 you have contributed to EDGE OF SANITY’s “Crimson” CD; are you still in contact with them? Is this band still alive (“Cryptic” was the last effort I’ve heard from them)? Pity if not…
M: I met the guys two Summer's ago...that's it. I wouldn't say I know them.
As always in the end, you have to share your future plans with us…
M: Nothing really. I'm pretty discouraged right now anyway. Thanks for the interview!
OPETH contact -
Email: mike@opeth.com