Progressing Past the Metalocalypse: Opeth

AFTER BEING AROUND for nearly 20 years, Opeth can still claim to have never heard a statement like this:

"Uh, guys, mmmmmm yeaaaah, I don't know if that funky chromatic keyboard solo in the middle of the otherwise death-a-licious 'Lotus Eater' tune really fits."

"Never said anything like that," laughed Mikael Akerfeldt, the main man behind the Opeth mind meld of prog-rock, folk music and Swedish death metal. "We never even had a record label executive tell us, 'Guys, we don't hear a single.' ... I think record label people, as personal lovers of music, they're as jaded with the metal scene as many other fans are. They're likely to get excited by a funky part in the middle of 10-minute death-metal song. ... When Roadrunner heard ['The Lotus Eater'] they said, "That's really cool." But the label never advised us. ... Besides, we've been around for almost 20 years now, so why should we take advice now?"

Opeth shouldn't, which is why they're able to create labyrinthine songs such as "The Lotus Eater" from 2008's all-over-the-map headtrip "Watershed." It's a stunningly diverse album, almost to the point of distraction, but give it enough spins and the CD's intense and immense artistry becomes the focus of your ears' attention, not its restless changes.

Akerfeldt spoke to Express about the influence of Dream Theater on Opeth, concept records, whether a "Metalocalypse" character is based on him and the suicide of an ex-girlfriend who inspired three of the bleaker tracks on "Watershed."

GO HERE to check out a very candid interview with Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt courtesy of Expressnightout.com.