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Opeth
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Line Up:
Mikael Åkerfeldt - vocals
Peter Lindgren - guitar
Martin Lopez - drums
Martin Mendez - bass
During 1988 a Death Metal band called Eruption was formed by Mikael Åkerfeldt. Other members were Anders Nordin (drums), Nick Döring (guitars) and Jocke Horney (bass). Eruption was laid to rest in 1990.
When Mikael formed Eruption he met David Isberg, a fellow Metalhead who had formed Opeth with some friends from Täby. The band needed a bass player and Mikael was asked for that position. Because of Eruption didn't exist any more, Mikael accepted. There was some trouble within the band and it all ended up with only Mikael and David. Later on they found new members, but David quit in 1991. Now the line-up was: Mikael (vocals, guitars), Peter Lindgren (guitars), Johan DeFarfalla (bass) and Anders Nordin (drums). Opeth recorded a demo which immediately got attention from different labels. In 1994 the band managed to get a record deal at Candlelight Records.
Later the same year, "Orchid" was recorded at Unisound Recordings by the infamous Metal profile Dan Swanö. Some live shows in England were played in 1995. When the band got back home they started to rehearse for a new album.
In March-April of 1996 "Morningrise" was recorded in the same studio by the same producer and the result was just great. In 1996 Opeth also made their first Europe-tour together with Cradle of Filth. The winter was closing in and the band felt that things were not working out with bass player Johan DeFarfalla so he was fired. Anders also left the band, because he was moving to Brazil. The studio was already booked, so this was bad news.
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Under a short period, Opeth ceased to exist. Anyway, a drummer was found called Martin Lopez as well as a bass player by the name Martin Mendez. These two guys were friends and huge Opeth fans. Unfortunately, there was too little time for Mendez to learn all bass lines, so Mikael played the bass on this record. In August-September 1997 "My Arms, Your Hearse" was recorded in a new studio, the famous Studio Fredman in Gothenburg. This album was also the last album on Candlelight Records. Many labels showed interest but the choice was clear; Opeth signed with Peaceville.
In April 1998, the band entered Studio Fredman once again to record "Still Life". The album was released October 18th 1999.
2000 is a strange year in the Opeth history. Not only did we change label (again) record a new album, but we also did a couple of live gigs! Kinda baffled by the fact that we actually had to rehearse somewhat, I almost forgot about the writing for what was going to be "Blackwater park". Anyways...I had some riffs here and there, and I actually worked pretty hard the last couple of months before we were due in the studio. I went to an old friends house to record some demos and just relax and await some inspiration. His house is (used to be) in the countryside just outside Stockholm. Some months earlier I had found myself eating dinner with one of my musical heroes in London. Yes, Steven Wilson is a real person, not just a legend told to easily frightened children by the fire. Seriously though I was kinda awestruck by the fact that we were actually discussing a co-operation. I asked him if he was interested in producing the new Opeth album, which he was.
This put some strain on me and the rest of the guys to come up with material that was good....real good. After listening to the demos I’d sent him he accepted the offer to come over to Sweden and Fredman studios for the sessions. Yes, that studio is rubbing off on us, and we have an urge to go back there.
The newly required table tennis table (!) didn’t make it worse either. We got down there on the 10th of August knowing that Gothenbourg would be our home for the coming 7 weeks or so. The time was dearly needed as we only had rehearsed 3 times before this recording. All the lyrics and some of the music had yet to be written. That is the way we work nowadays. And everybody knows rehearsing is boring!!
Hotel Stanne proved to be open this season, and Mikael (yes, the Dark Tranquility bum) was kind enough to leave his flat in our care. We had actually been living in the studio for about two weeks, and I can tell you...4 guys in a small bedroom that hasn’t taken a shower in 10 days is not a pretty sight. The smell in there was overpowering to say the least! Then again...for us it’s a natural way of recording....you gotta be filthy and disgusting to be able to release the "pain"!
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This time is was tough. I feel pleasantly blown away by the immense result though. It was indeed worth the effort. Steven worked with us for 12 days and he did a splendid job. Kinda guiding us into the realms of "strange" noises for guitars and voice. We even got him to sing a few lines as well as playing both piano and guitar. Our cunning plan did work!
Back home there was no rest of course. MFN on the phone, Peaceville on the mail and everybody on your back. Happily though, we’re pleased, the label is too and I guess the listener first and foremost!
"Blackwater park" is an experience indeed. Both for the band as well as for the fans, or anyone interested in music. That’s what we feel anyways.
- March 24, 2001
Blackwinged
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