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OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt Addresses His Lack of Growling

Opeth Mikael Akerfeldt

One of the main critisisms of Opeth's new record, Heritage and their recent string of live performance is the absence of frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt's signature growl. There's none at all! Personally, I do not mind it, because I love Opeth and accept them for who they are and whatever vision they choose to go with. But there has been enough negative feedback that Akerfeldt decided to address the drama when asked if he would ever growl again on an Opeth record:

“I can’t say, really, I’ve never turned my back on anything and I’m not going to start now. It’s not like I don’t like that style of vocal delivery anymore. But I just can’t develop any more as a singer if I keep on screaming. In fact, I think I got worse at that as the years went by. But if the future songs require those vocals, then that’s what I’ll deliver. It seems like a long shot at this stage.”

Look's like he's over it. But he did try to incorporate some growls on Heritage, writing some more metal sounding tunes at the beginning of the writing process, which were eventually scrapped:

They were “not very good songs. So I started again from scratch. I came up with an idea for ‘The Lines Of My Hand’ straight away and that set the tone,” Mike says. “It was 180 degrees from what I was writing before but once I’d written that song, I felt I could do anything and the album was completed in six months.”

If you're bummed, maybe this footage of Mikael with his Bloodbath brethren at the final stop of the tour can cheer you up. [ RushonRock via GunShyAssassin ]

Photo via our exclusive gallery of Opeth's most recent tour

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  • mastodon1314

    ITS HERITAGE ASSHOLE

    • Merginator

      Labonte?

  • Dexter_prog

    At least he's being honest and decided to cut the "you have to learn how to listen to it" bullshit. The record is mediocre and disjoint at best and the lack of growled vocals is but a mere percentage of its failure.

  • Immortallix

    At least he's honest and realized that his growls took a hit.

  • delimiyimben

    This is best for all of us Mike! Bloodbath should recruit Peter Tägtgren again. His growls best for bloodbath.

  • chinosix6six

    Opeth has always been in a class of their own…!

  • NeonCultUvSharkClaspers

    It's his music, not the fans music. I'm glad he didn't pander for other people and went with his vision.

  • Valentina_Valhalla

    Okay, I get it. He wanted to sharpen up his core vocal skills, and that's understandable. I know how that goes, but it kind of leaves the fans that have been following them for years a little disappointed and maybe even a little upset. Personally, as one of those fans, I've gotten to like the new records..It doesn't sound like "Opeth" to me, but it's lovely nonetheless.

    Now, when we went to see them in concert, that was a WHOLE different story. I was so excited to finally get to see them play here in Milwaukee, WI (because the last time they played I had to work), and the set list was just not catered to all the fans. So everyone in the audience would yell out their favorite songs, or better yet Bloodbath songs, and it just became a joke to both the fans and Opeth. But, ya know, the last date gets Bloodbath songs!!! Hahaha…

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