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Mikael Åkerfeldt, the frontman of Opeth, has disclosed the reasons behind Steven Wilson’s departure from producing their albums.
In an exclusive interview with the latest issue of Metal Hammer, Åkerfeldt, who has been the band’s de facto leader and principal songwriter since the early 90s, reflects on Opeth’s 2005 album Ghost Reveries.
This was the first album by Opeth since 1999 that did not include Wilson. The Porcupine Tree vocalist co-produced their influential 2001 album Blackwater Park and its subsequent double album Deliverance (2002) and Damnation (2003), but this time, Jens Bogren took the reins as producer.
While Åkerfeldt acknowledges that Opeth “likely asked Steven” to participate in Ghost Reveries, he confesses that by then, he had familiarized himself with Wilson’s approach so thoroughly that it wasn’t entirely necessary.
“I’d picked up many of his techniques along the way,” Åkerfeldt remarks. “I could envision certain ideas in my mind that I liked to think he would have suggested. I was increasingly becoming a producer myself, and by the time we worked on Ghost Reveries, I could instinctively say, ‘Yes, I want this to occur, I want this effect or whatever.’”
At that time, Bogren was relatively inexperienced, but Åkerfeldt claims they both effectively guided the Ghost Reveries sessions, largely due to tensions with band members Martin Lopez (drums) and Peter Lindgren (guitars).
“It was pure chaos,” Mikael describes the recording of Ghost Reveries. “I felt utterly alone and bore the weight of, ‘If I don’t make this work, it’s all going to unravel, and nothing will be released.’ Jens recognized the difficult dynamics within the band and aligned himself with me.”
Even though Wilson hasn’t produced any Opeth tracks since 2003, Åkerfeldt still regards him as a “friend” and “mentor,” with whom he has collaborated on other projects. The two musicians worked together on the project Storm Corrosion in 2012, and Wilson mixed Opeth’s 2014 album, Pale Communion.
Opeth’s most recent album, The Last Will And Testament, received critical acclaim upon its release in November. Similarly, Wilson’s latest solo album, The Overview, has also been well-received.
The current issue of Hammer not only features Åkerfeldt’s interview but also prominently showcases Babymetal on the cover and delves into their new album, Metal Forth. Additionally, it includes interviews with Volbeat, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, and The Yagas (featuring The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga). Order your copy now and have it conveniently delivered to your door.
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