Improved akerfeldts writing too. In terms of writing material that really builds up and frames the solos well. Songs now have spots where a solo was thought of for a given spot. Sometimes in the older songs it felt like they were fitting solos in. Now it feels like mikael writes parts where he knows Frederick or himself can throw great solos in. Haxprocess, burden, heir apparent, and something like lovelorn crime come to mind.

@@tylerjacobson8012 This is slightly off topic, but I believe as a whole Mikael has worked to make every element of every song more interesting overall. In this interview he talks about how some parts are more boring compared to other parts and he's excited about the solo sections. If you listen to the entire Opeth discography the music gets leaner and leaner on the functionality of each part, and each instrumentation of each part. The most recent release "In Cauda Venenum" is so dense with interesting bits everywhere at every level you can tell they've raised each other to new standards and abilities.

Unreal to this day

Yes ❤

I know this was my favorite time with Peter and Martin Lopez in the band. So good 🔥

I discovered them in 2000 and the first songs I heard were Benighted and To Bid You Farewell. I was 16 at the time too. Morningrise is still my favorite album but I love them all from Orchid to Watershed. The stuff since the change; not so much heh.

This aged funnily

Ofcourse it was. It could ONLY be a huge blow. Imagine Mendez deciding to leave now.

Same with martin Lopez!!!

I like Peter and I prefer the Ghost Reveries lineup rather than the current one. But how was Peter's departure a '' HUGE '' blow to Opeth? First of all, Fredrik is one of the best swedish guitarists out there ( definitely better from Peter, probably better from Mikael too). Also, Peter had nothing to do with writing the songs, it was all Mikael. Now, Fredrik on the other hand, has contributed to all of the 3 albums he was in with Opeth (also wrote the song Pyre, of Heritage). He also does backing vocals. Apart from the feelings and the relationship between them, I don't see any blow at all, and definitely not huge.

HarryKnight There's no need to play Peter down as a member of Opeth just to try and demonstrate that they are fine and dandy and better off. Ofcourse it was a huge blow to Opeth and a huge blow to Mikael personally. All of them, Peter, Martin Lopez and even Per. It always is in these things, unless you make absolutely no bonds in a band. But specially Peter because he had been there almost forever. He was very much Mikael's close companion and very much a leader himself and a guide not only to career decisions but to creative paths. This Mikael has said. And Peter was involved in making and editing the songs just as much as the Martins. He was just never the creative or writing source for them, hardly anyone else has ever been but for Mikael. No one is pejoratively comparing Peter to his successor or saying that Opeth is worse now without him or worse BECAUSE he left. So maybe your reply was a tad unrealistic and unfair.

Definitely not. And if you watch Mikael's interview about Peter's departure again, he just says that he is '' a leader type of guy'', that's why he wanted to write songs, not that he DID actually write, because they weren't good enough for Mikael. Again, get your facts straight, Peter leaving may have been a blow to the band members, bond and all , but nevertheless they are still AS GOOD if not better (as I explained in my last reply). Also, they seem to have bonded with Martin as much. As I said before, I prefer the Ghost Reveries lineup, but your opinion doesnt make sense to me.

Must be some good weed huh?

fady michel These guys don't rock, they oxidise

@Zedrik Allen pete ofc lol

@Cheximus Search "Nardwuar vs. Opeth" on KZfaq. The infamous interview is so bizarre that it touches Akerfeldt's dry humor. I hadn't known that he had teeth till then.

Well he's not russian

+Josh Boyle Not about Fredrik at all. Mikael is for all intents and purposes Opeth, he changes Opeth changes.

Still Peter was the metalhead of the two. When he left Mike had free road to turn Opeth into a prog rock band as always he wanted to, but the other guys had a bit of opinion and liked the style they were doing.

Travis, how did you not enjoy Watershed? I think that's a masterpiece. But I agree with you, Heritage was a disaster and Sorceress sucked because of the production/mixing. Pale Communion was a good album but it's still not "Opeth". I wish they would go back to the Ghost Reveries days, with clean production, heavy riffs with growling and clean vocals. Hell, I would even be glad if they made a Watershed v2. Oh and by the way, it seems that Mikaels vocals have recovered quite well if you watch them playing at Monsters of Rock in Helsinki 2016.

+Travis Friedel Each to their own I guess, I think all songs on Watershed are great.

Travis Friedel you're gonna argue hex Omega wasn't heavy? what's wrong with your ears man

slantyrock Mikael definitely has always had a tasteful style

damn dude like twins

Hi. I don't know if you still would like your question answered after seven years, but here goes: The song is called Wreath. It's the first song on the Deliverance album. I agree with you. The solo is truly amazing :). Here's a link to the solo part of the song: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iZN-htmf1NK6gaM.html

7 years later and nobody can answer :(

It's Mikael's old primary custom 24 in the "royal blue" finish. It's a little special in that it's from the 80s era of PRS and has a rare color, but other than that it's just a regular custom 24. His particular one was loaded with Duncan Full Shreds I think. He hasn't really played it live in over a decade though.