randall vasquez photo By Steve Newton One run-through of its new album, Sorceress, is evidence enough that Swedish quintet Opeth was heavily influenced by ’70s prog rock. The disc was also recorded at the famed Rockfield Studios in Wales, where bands like Rush, Budgie, Hawkwind, and Queen laid down prog-heavy tracks back in the day. As … Continue reading Opeth founder Mikael Åkerfeldt loves ’70s rock, says he was born in the wrong decade
Tag: Sweden
Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt claims that Sweden discriminates against its metal bands
By Steve Newton I called Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt up in Houston last week, and we had a nice little chat about his band’s new Nuclear Blast album, Sorceress, and how the group has evolved from its death-metal origins to become much more prog-based. At one point I asked Åkerfeldt what the music scene was currently … Continue reading Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt claims that Sweden discriminates against its metal bands
Graveyard has nothing to do with death (metal)
By Steve Newton When your band is called Graveyard, it’s no surprise that you sometimes get pegged as yet another grinding death-metal act. According to Graveyard frontman Joakim Nilsson, it happens quite a bit. “Yeah, we hear that a lot,” says the 37-year-old singer-guitarist, on the line from his home outside Gothenburg, Sweden. “But I … Continue reading Graveyard has nothing to do with death (metal)
Graveyard frontman gives shout out to fellow Swedes the Hellacopters
By Steve Newton I called up Graveyard frontman Yoakim Nilsson at his home in Sweden the other day to do an interview in advance of his band's first ever (and sold out) Vancouver show next Saturday (December 12). Whenever I think about Swedish rock bands I think about the Hellacopters, who I discovered in 2002 … Continue reading Graveyard frontman gives shout out to fellow Swedes the Hellacopters
Mando Diao’s Björn Dixgård doesn’t give a fuck about sound
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 5, 2005 By Steve Newton A couple of years back, when I first heard the Hellacopters' By the Grace of God CD, I figured I'd found the ultimate Swedish guitar-rock band. I played the thing endlessly, totally entranced by the awesome hooks, twin-guitar interplay, and '70s-style melodies. I spent many … Continue reading Mando Diao’s Björn Dixgård doesn’t give a fuck about sound