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Last Updated: May 23, 2013 2:08 PM

OPETH Frontman: 'New Extreme Metal, I Think It's Dull, I Think It's S**t' - Mar. 7, 2013

A new audio interview with guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH conducted by Andrew Haug, the former host of Triple J Australia's "The Racket" radio show (originally "Full Metal Racket"; 2001-2011), will air on Australia's recently launched first-ever dedicated 24/7 rock and metal online radio station, AndrewHaug.com, today (Thursday, March 7) at the following times:

* USA/Canada (PST) 7:00 p.m.
* USA/Canada (EST) 10:00 p.m.
* U.K. 9:00 p.m.
* EUROPE (CET) 10:00 p.m.

During the chat, Åkerfeldt offers his controversial opinion on the state of the new extreme-metal scene: "New extreme metal, I think it's dull, I think it's shit."

OPETH will return to North America in support of their most recent studio album, "Heritage". Released September 20, 2011, it garnered rave reviews from everyone from Rolling Stone, who called the album "a career record that reimagines prog as actual rock 'n' roll," to Pitchfork saying "a pretty, well-thought-out collection" to NPR who called it "equally vast, thoughtful and heavy." The tour will kick off on April 18 in Buffalo and will take the band throughout North America on a 30-plus-city tour. KATATONIA has been confirmed as direct support for the tour.

There will be several dates of note during OPETH's North American run. On April 20, OPETH will be making a stop to headline alongside ANTHRAX, HATEBREED and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival. The April 28 show in Clifton Park, New York will see OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt's STORM CORROSION collaborator and friend Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE join OPETH for a special evening that is not to be missed. There will also be two rare and intimate evenings with OPETH planned for Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on April 29 and The Roxy in West Hollywood on May 24. These shows will allow fans the unique opportunity to experience OPETH like never before.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : HQNC
3/7/2013 5:47:05 AM
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Some of it is, some of it isn't. Way to fucking generalize. Someone probably said the same about Opeth back in the day. Where's the open minded Mikael? Bitch, please.

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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : i_love_RiotAct666
3/7/2013 6:11:15 AM
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The man is 100% correct........NOISE and FALSE AGRESSION coming from newer band is POSEUR SHIT !!.....its not from the ehart at all.....it's fake agression from kids that just needed to be properly raised by their parents............next please....

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COMMENT | 'RE: ''RE: #'''
posted by : bloodonmetal
3/7/2013 7:43:59 AM
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He's certainly not being diplomatic in his choice of words...to call a band shit is rather hard, just say you don't like it. At the same time, to be fair, I don't think he mentioned any examples at all, which I find to be a class act. He's not taking a dump on any band, just putting forward his opinion.

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COMMENT | Ok I'm an idiot..............
posted by : JJJB
3/7/2013 5:48:49 AM
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What the fuck is "New Extreme Metal"?? Give me band names.

I'll wait....................................

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COMMENT | Mikael,
posted by : taoboxer9
3/7/2013 5:52:16 AM
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The same can be said about the latest Opeth album.

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COMMENT | ...
posted by : UlverShuggah
3/7/2013 5:53:00 AM
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he's right in so far as, there's very few people doing anything original in extreme metal. It's largely run out of ideas or painted itself into a corner.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : funbastard
3/7/2013 5:58:11 AM
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he's probably referring to bands like suicide silence, iwrestledabearonce, and so on......

in which case he's 100% correct

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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : i_love_RiotAct666
3/7/2013 6:11:49 AM
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exactly !!!

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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : juanneman
3/7/2013 11:50:47 AM
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Job for a cowboy, Cattle decapitation, Cerebral bore...

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COMMENT | #
posted by : TheGreyArea
3/7/2013 6:05:13 AM
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each to their own Mike, and I do actually still quite dig even the most recent album, AND the storm corrosion project. HOWEVER. generalizing a scene for it's "popular" example is a foolish move. put your head back to where it was ten years ago for just a moment, and give bands like Origin and All Pigs Must Die a quick spin.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Horror vacui
3/7/2013 6:12:22 AM
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Totally agree with Åkerfeldt. 98% of the new extreme metal is just cookiemonster crap and they can't handle their instruments.
They don't have talent and taste thats why most of it is pure shit

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COMMENT | I...
posted by : jph
3/7/2013 6:26:27 AM
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hate close-minded people. Now Bloodbath me. Also, I happen to like SFU, Krisiun, Vader, Aeon and C.C. Other than that, most of it's pure crap. Oh, and Marduk rules, too!

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COMMENT | I used to love this guy
posted by : viking666
3/7/2013 6:42:10 AM
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but now he comes off as a pretentious asshole. I probably don't like the bands he is referring to either, but his band is Poopeth too.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : YodaAct666
3/7/2013 6:47:01 AM
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Yeah, but a bad Opeth album is still better than a lot of things out there.

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COMMENT | ..
posted by : station82o
3/7/2013 7:12:12 AM
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maybe he's just mad that the new barren earth album does everything he wished he could have done with heritage.

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COMMENT | HQNQ
posted by : Jaehaus
3/7/2013 7:16:11 AM
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What does being "open minded" have to do with giving shitty music a chance? It's such a cop out to say someone who doesn't like something is being close minded. Maybe what they don't like actually IS shit, and no amount of open-mindedness will make it better.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : hell666
3/7/2013 7:17:55 AM
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I agree with him.

I'm so jacked up from drinking 10 coffees, 5 red bulls and doing a brick of meth last night. I need at least 20+ hours sleep. I think i'll play some new Opeth. That should help.

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COMMENT | Well, it goes both ways then
posted by : tartareandesire
3/7/2013 7:28:08 AM
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I think the new Opeth is dull and shit. They haven't done anything remotely unique in 10+ years. At least new bands still try.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : aztec
3/7/2013 7:33:31 AM
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Thats cuz he's "old school".

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COMMENT | #
posted by : king's fate
3/7/2013 7:44:46 AM
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maybe he's jealous of Alcest, Deathspell Omega, Ulcerate, Portal, Ne Obliviscaris etc ....oh wait who the fuck are these bands

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COMMENT | I-am-a-scary-monster syndrome.
posted by : pigchop
3/7/2013 7:48:09 AM
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Countless times I have started listening to a song only to discover it ruined by all that grr-argh-grr vocal shit. THAT sucks.

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COMMENT | Well
posted by : Battle_Magic
3/7/2013 8:03:26 AM
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How new is new? What is "new extreme metal"? Does he mean all new extreme metal bands?

But if he's talking about these angry angsty shouty "metal" bands that so many blabberfags like, who don't so much growl but shout like angry spoilt teenagers, and put "-core" at the end of whatever genre they say they play and use "breakdowns".

... then yes, he is right. That music truly fucking sucks.

... and yes, that includes Blabbertards' beloved Lamb of God and their singer Randy Blythe, the progenitors of this mass failure.

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COMMENT | To be honest
posted by : Battle_Magic
3/7/2013 8:07:32 AM
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Akerfeldt is just jealous because that's what fans of truly excellent extreme metal bands like THE MIGHTY BAL-SAGOTH - the most creative, original and awesome of extreme metal acts - say about Opeth and its pretentious wankery. Bal-Sagoth never made a shit album, which is more than Mike "One does love the aroma of one's farts" Akerfeldt can say for his mob!!!

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COMMENT | #
posted by : the24thfret
3/7/2013 8:11:24 AM
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The new so called "progressive metal" definitely is bullshit with idiot bands like Periphery or Veil of Maya with their hilarous angry teen vocals, stupidly downtuned guitars and dumb mallcore choruses....

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COMMENT | #
posted by : PeaceLoveandHardLiquor
3/7/2013 8:51:40 AM
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He's right, but the same applies to his band.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : PeaceLoveandHardLiquor
3/7/2013 8:52:26 AM
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I mean you're touring with Hatebreed for chrissakes.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : choochdelanooch
3/7/2013 9:04:50 AM
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Well if anyone knows dull its Opeth. They have got to be the most boring band on the face of the planet. 15 minute songs that make me cry they are so boring. His onstage banter is boring. Stage presence is boring. Everything about this band is dull. They are great musicians and are very creative but I have never been able to listen to an entire Opeth song. BORING.

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COMMENT | Obvious Blabbermouth Troll/Opeth can screw themselves.
posted by : ajudasinwaiting
3/7/2013 9:08:52 AM
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I never really wanted to be critical of this website, since it is just one of several that post snippets of metal news a few times a day, but really...THAT's the only quote from an entire audio interview with one of metal's most famous frontmen?

Someone's desperate for hits and that's serious tabloid shit.

As far as the quote itself, Mike can go eat a dick. Extreme metal lacks originality, but ripping off 70's prog and doing it badly (as Opeth did on "Heritage") is somehow creative and groundbreaking? I used to really like this guy, and if he wants to live out his "Camel/King Crimson" fantasy, power to him. But this ungrateful jerk should remember that it was the extreme metal audience (the one he apparently has a problem with) who were listening to "Orchid" and "Morningrise" and it was extreme metal fans who dragged their friends to the record store so they would buy a copy of "Blackwater Park" the day it came out...it was the extreme metal scene that got Opeth noticed enough that Roadrunner Records eventually signed them. Mike Akerfeldt and Opeth owe their career to the extreme metal scene.

As artists Opeth have the right to pursue any path they wish, and if they want to stop playing any form of "metal", that's their prerogative. They don't owe the extreme metal scene anything...except respect and appreciation. Trashing extreme metal (which to me excludes the angsty -core bands, and refers to the bands signed to labels like Comatose and Profound Lore) is hypocritical and does nothing but invite criticism.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : crossfire09
3/7/2013 9:15:15 AM
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I agree with Mike... bands like motionless in white.....emmure....iwrestledabearonce....devil sold his soul....Whitechapel....asking Alexandria...they all suck

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COMMENT | Obvious Blabbermouth Troll/Opeth can screw themselves.
posted by : ajudasinwaiting
3/7/2013 9:19:43 AM
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I never really wanted to be critical of this website, since it is just one of several that post snippets of metal news a few times a day, but really...THAT's the only quote from an entire audio interview with one of metal's most famous frontmen?

Someone's desperate for hits and that's serious tabloid shit.

As far as the quote itself, Mike can go eat a dick. Extreme metal lacks originality, but ripping off 70's prog and doing it badly (as Opeth did on "Heritage") is somehow creative and groundbreaking? I used to really like this guy, and if he wants to live out his "Camel/King Crimson" fantasy, power to him. But this ungrateful jerk should remember that it was the extreme metal audience (the one he apparently has a problem with) who were listening to "Orchid" and "Morningrise" and it was extreme metal fans who dragged their friends to the record store so they would buy a copy of "Blackwater Park" the day it came out...it was the extreme metal scene that got Opeth noticed enough that Roadrunner Records eventually signed them. Mike Akerfeldt and Opeth owe their career to the extreme metal scene.

As artists Opeth have the right to pursue any path they wish, and if they want to stop playing any form of "metal", that's their prerogative. They don't owe the extreme metal scene anything...except respect and appreciation. Trashing extreme metal (which to me excludes the angsty -core bands, and refers to the bands signed to labels like Comatose and Profound Lore) is hypocritical and does nothing but invite criticism.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Mexican Prickfish
3/7/2013 9:21:42 AM
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I've said the same thing about Opeth for years.. I just usually took out a few words from his statement, it usually says something like "Opeth, I think they are shit.."

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COMMENT | #
posted by : I want Kyuss back
3/7/2013 9:28:25 AM
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Opeth has been "dull" for years so Akerfelt needs to shut the fuck up

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COMMENT | #
posted by : RiotAct666
3/7/2013 9:33:36 AM
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Who?

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Big Ol' Titties
3/7/2013 10:05:39 AM
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Maybe he should go play golf. That's what all the cool "old school" bands are doing these days.

Stfu buddy, your last album was dull as fuck and you palmed it off as "art". It was boring. That's what it was. Unfortunately, there is no "boring" section in whatever pretentious highly educated awesome art place you hang out at, so you just called it art.

And this coming from someone who used to love Opeth.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Blast Beat Butchery
3/7/2013 10:12:38 AM
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Well then, I'll be sure to contact the management of all those bands and inform them that Mr. Åkerfeldt disapproves and that their careers cannot possibly continue.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Thehinderer324
3/7/2013 11:09:42 AM
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Tell me which bands you're talking about then I'll tell you whether I agree or not. Extreme metal is very vague.

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COMMENT | well
posted by : Clayton Gold
3/7/2013 2:05:44 PM
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He's right....

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COMMENT | #
posted by : smokeclouds702
3/7/2013 2:24:41 PM
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He was completely right. Over the last few years there has not been anything remarkable in terms of extreme metal. And extreme metal is known for pushing boundries and for it's limitless creativity but in the last several years it seems like it has just been the same old routine.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Darkrift
3/7/2013 2:44:44 PM
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Opeth is shit.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : wyldeguitarist
3/7/2013 3:05:54 PM
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Then please come back and show us how it's done with your next album Mike! Now that you did one without growls let's hear one with no clean singing!

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Kim Jong Williams III
3/7/2013 3:11:54 PM
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He's right, deathcore doesn't sound like it has a hint of sincerity. If that's what he's talking about.
Melodramatic one-liners and single-note bridge after bridge, maybe a minor 2nd or 5th if you're lucky

He couldn't possibly be talking about bands like Origin, Spawn of Possession, etc

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COMMENT | Michael just discribed his latest disc...
posted by : Synister666
3/7/2013 4:43:41 PM
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"I think it's dull, I think it's shit."

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COMMENT | #
posted by : Rotting Elvis, 7th daugher of a 7th son
3/7/2013 8:10:16 PM
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I can't wait for the new Inquisition album.

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COMMENT | #
posted by : lowend365
3/7/2013 9:12:32 PM
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New Opeth, I think it's dull, I think it's shit.

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