PunkTV.ca: Firstly, can you tell us a little about your recent live release, The Roundhouse Tapes? Specifically, what made you decide it was time in your career to release a live album?
We'd been meaning to do one for a few years since we're restricted as we made the last live thingie -- there were some re-recording restrictions then that we couldn't get around. So this I see as the first proper live album as it shows us on a regular night pretty much.
Easy to play songs, haha! No, we chose a few that we liked to play and that we thought we'd do well and that the crowd would like. Simple!
PunkTV.ca: Although longtime guitarist Peter Lindgren is present on this live album, he has recently left and been replaced by Fredrick Akesson. What changes do you feel this will make for the band musically, if any?
I wrote the bulk of the material when Peter was with us and I wrote the bulk of the stuff for the new one so I guess that actual music won't change that much. Fredrik is more of a accomplished player than both myself and Peter and that will be heard I guess, but overall I don't feel the music has suffered much at all from all the lineup changes.
PunkTV.ca: Recently, you have been begun working on your new album, been confirmed for the “Bloodstock” festival as well as the “Defenders of the Faith” tour with Arch Enemy, Devil Driver, and 3 Inches of Blood and announced a tour with Dream Theater. Additionally, you recently have had your second child (congratulations!). How do you find the time to juggle all this?
It's rough: I feel like I'm a bad dad being away all the time, but in reality I focus my time with them better than many other parents, because I value the time together more. It's rough, but I gotta accept this is my situation and I have no choice other than to deal with it.
No, I can't write on tour. I'm just a completely different person then. I can't think creatively. I'm just a zombie who loves the show but really, I'm just trying to make the time go by as fast as possible.
PunkTV.ca: How much writing has gone into the new album so far? At what stage are you?
The record has been written, recorded and completed. It's being mixed right now.
Per and Fredrik had a few riffs and I welcome them to write and present stuff to me. However, I guess I have to take charge when it comes to what is being used. It's a bit wierd neglecting riffs from somebody else and going for my own idea, but most of the time I have a wider idea about the song, so it can be hard to include isolated riffs. I have neglected loads of great riffs of my own as well so I guess it adds up anyways. We rehearse a few weeks prior to the recording which is great but I have most of the details nailed down as I do (great!) demos back home that don't leave any shit out. It's all there...
PunkTV.ca: Will this new album have a concept-album feel like Ghost Reveries or do you have another direction in mind? If so, what is it?
No, this will be individual stories... I have decided not to talk about the lyrics as I feel kinda uncomfortable.
PunkTV.ca: Are there any other upcoming future plans?
Gigs, press and you know, stuff that goes with being in a band.
PunkTV.ca: Removing the questions from the realm of current events, when Opeth first started did you ever see your current musical direction in your future? There is a definite change into the progressive-metal territory in your catalogue, but was this a change you had planned all along?
I never planned anything, let alone that we'd be around after 17 years, but we are, so I guess I'll continue not to plan ahead. Just make it day by day. It worked well so far.
PunkTV.ca: I know this may be like picking between your babies but what album would you say you are most proud of, or have the fondest memories attached to, and why?
The last one is the first recording I actually enjoyed since...."Still Life" I guess. The first record was great times too, of course....everything in between is just a blur of good and very bad memories.
PunkTV.ca: Have you ever had any musical directions you wanted to explore that did not directly fit into Opeth’s sound (Damnation aside)? If so, do you have any plans to explore these styles?
Not really....I like all sorts of music and I think you can trace most of those styles in Opeth's music.
PunkTV.ca: What is, on the whole, your biggest inspiration?
Heavy metal without a doubt!
PunkTV.ca: And, finally, there are two questions we ask everyone. Firstly, which of the following experiences have you had: have you seen the face of God, have you had an alien encounter, or have you seen a ghost?
I have seen a UFO but everyone laughs as I mention it. I saw a little tin looking, classic looking ufo flying over my car, I thought it was a freesbee at first but there's no kids around...it had to be a UFO, but....fuck me, maybe I'm crazy or something.
PunkTV.ca: Lastly, what would surprise people most to learn about Opeth?
That we actually care about music!
PunkTV.ca: Thank you very much for your time!
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