Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has opened up about the pivotal moment when the band moved on from working with producer Steven Wilson, explaining that he had learned so much from the Porcupine Tree leader that he was becoming a producer in his own right.
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Åkerfeldt reflected on the creation of their 2005 album, Ghost Reveries. This was the band’s first record since 1999 not to feature Wilson, who had co-produced their breakthrough albums Blackwater Park (2001), Deliverance (2002), and Damnation (2003).
While Åkerfeldt admits they “probably asked Steven” to be involved, he explained that his own confidence and skills as a producer had grown significantly during their time together.
“I’d learned many of his tricks along the way,” Åkerfeldt said. “I could hear some ideas in my head that I like to think he would have brought up. I was becoming a producer more and more, and by the time we did Ghost Reveries, I could just tell, ‘Yeah, I want this thing to happen, I want this effect or whatever.’”
The recording sessions for Ghost Reveries, which were produced by Jens Bogren, were difficult due to internal band dynamics. Åkerfeldt described the period as “chaotic” and revealed there were tensions with then-members Martin Lopez (drums) and Peter Lindgren (guitars).
“I felt completely alone and I felt weight on my shoulders, like, ‘If I don’t make this happen, it’s just going to fall to pieces and there won’t be anything coming out,’” he recalled. “Jens saw the sh**ty dynamic that the band had in many ways and kind of sided with me.”
Despite the shift in their professional relationship, Åkerfeldt emphasized that his friendship with Wilson remains strong, still considering him a “friend” and “mentor.” The two have collaborated since, most notably on their 2012 project Storm Corrosion, and Wilson also mixed Opeth’s 2014 album, Pale Communion.
Opeth continues to thrive, having released their latest album, The Last Will And Testament, in November 2024. The critically acclaimed record saw Åkerfeldt return to growling vocals for the first time in 16 years. The band recently won a Swedish Grammi award and unveiled a new performance video for the song “§1.” They have also recently commenced their world tour, kicking it off at the legendary Sweden Rock Festival.
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