OPETH is one of those bands that can't easily being labeled into just one style. Some people say that they play Doom/ Death, others say that Proggressive. And the truth is that it's not as easy. My personal opinion is that they do Proggressive Death Metal with certain Doom parts. They have just released their new album called "Damnation", a very strange and accoustic record full of good harmonies and melodic parts. A record that distances itself from their previous ones, but that shows the quality of a band that released their debut record back in 1995. They came to Spain to give some shows and we had the opportunity of interviewing their drummer Martin Lopez. A very cool guy (as you all may know by now, he and the bass player, Martin Mendez are from South America). Just before the show started, we did this chat with him and here we have what he told us.
Everything is alright. Just a bit tired of so many dates of tour, but OK anyway. Lets see what happen today with the crowd from Madrid.
I'm sure that people will enjoy it a lot.
I really hope so...
First of all, as far as I know, this last album you're about to release was supposed to be released at the same time than "Deliverance", why to delay it some months after all?
Basically it was a decision from the label. We didn't expect to release both records as a double CD or something like this. We had both records recorded and we pretended to release both at the same time, but the label thought that it was going to be better to release "Deliverance" first and then, some months after, to make the release of "Damnation". Of course, this new album is different than the first one and that's another reason to release each record with some space in between.
I still haven't got the opportunity of hearing "Damnation" and, but I know that it certainly is different than your previous records. As far as I know, it is more doomy and quiet. Why to make such a change in the style of the band for "Damnation"?
Well, it's still OPETH. But we wanted to make something really different than just the typical record with fast songs and slow songs mixed. We wanted to make something very soft and smooth. We've always done very aggressive records in the past and we wanted to try something different and I think we've got it. Many people will think that we have changed or something and that's not the case.
And can we say that this new record is the start of a new period for OPETH? I mean, can we expect records such as "Blackwater Park" or "Deliverance" in the future or is this new "soft" style the definitive one for the band?
No, not at all. We don't know what we're doing in the future. Perhaps we'll be doing such aggressive records as "Deliverance" or maybe that we'll be doing softer songs for the following releases. We'll see.
What do you think that your old fans are going to think of this new record? Do you think they're going to enjoy it as much as they did, for example with "Deliverance"?
Why not? I know what you mean with this question, but I don't think that the old fans from the band will be disappointed with "Damnation". As I said before, it's still OPETH after all. It sounds like OPETH, the only difference is that it's a little bit more smooth. People that have heard it so far think that it's one of the best records from the band, although it sounds a bit more different.
Lets talk about the contribution you had from one of the members from the band PORCUPINE TREE, stylewise, a very different band to OPETH, in "Deliverance". Why did you decide to take him to make this contribution?
Steve Wilson from PORCUPINE TREE, produced "Blackwater Park" and since this moment, he became a fan of the music from OPETH. It happens more or less the same between OPETH and PORCUPINE TREE. We really like this band's music, so as soon as we asked him to collaborate, he did agree and so, we did include him in the record doing some stuff.
You're a band that seem to enjoy to play live. Tell us how important is for a band like OPETH to play live.
Live is everything, man. A band show what they are live. You can record the best record in the world, but if then, you go onstage and you are not able of showing your potential, then, you loose credibility in front of your fans. We enjoy so much to play live. It's absolutely important for the band and I think that for the fans too.
Both Martin's (you and the bass player) seem to enjoy very much your incorporation in OPETH, isn't it?
Definately, we're part of the band right now and we love what we do. At first it was strange because you were thinking like: "oh, my God, I'm part of this project..." and I didn't use to believe it, but now, I'm absolutely happy of being part of this band, for sure. I think it happens the same with Martin Mendez.
And what about the language? Two Spanish and two Swedish... Isn't it funny sometimes or you use to speak in Swedish when you're altogether?
There are no problems with the language. I don't use to use Spanish to talk. I'm always talking in Swedish when we're altogether. Anyway, I enjoy it very much when I have the opportunity of speaking with someone in Spanish, like now with you.
Maybe this one's a very typical question for you, but I have to ask it: Some people say that you play Proggressive Death Metal. Others say that you play Doom/ Death. What do you personally think?
We definately are a Death Metal band. I don't have any doubt about that. Maybe we're more melodic than your usual Death Metal band, but for sure, our vocals and the rhythms and the general sound is Death Metal... except for the new record "Damnation" that's very slow and soft. But I repeat that I have no doubt about the style of the band. Then, if someone wants to say that we're Doom or Proggressive, well, of course it's up to them.
At the moment you've experienced some label changes. What are for you the main differences between Candlelight, Peaceville and Music For Nations?
Each label is different to the other and all of them are similar. As you may know, Music For Nations were the owners of Peaceville and then we were obliged to enter the Music For Nations rooster, so everything was very strange at the time. Now everything is clear and we're very proud of being part of Music For Nations. No comments about Candlelight as I was not part of the band those days.
If you were offered by a big multinational to be signed with them, what would you do?
Of course, to study the offer. Then, who knows? But we're happy in Music For Nations as they give us all the support we need and we don't have any intention on leaving them.
How the future looks for OPETH?
Well, of course, we look to the future with hope. We really hope to be a good band that everyone enjoys. Of course, you always have the intention of doing as much records as possible, to play as much as possible and to make the name of the band as known as possible in the world, but apart of that, we pretend to make OPETH a big thing.
Well Martin. Thanx a lot for this interview right before the show. Thanx for the time. Just enjoy your stay in Madrid and if you want to add something, do it now.
Thanx to you for the support. I'm sure that we'll enjoy this gig and the others we're doing over Spain. I hope that everyone enjoy "Damnation" too as it's a record done with the heart.
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