Some quotes about Opeth's upcoming 2014 LP from MA

3/28/14 9:51PM
Early Review many details, but no specific track title info, not even "Goblin." The no growling or death metal vocals continues in the way Mikael has been heading from album to album.

Not necessarily the track order in terms of song to song.

1. 6:46
2. 5:36
3. 10:53
4. 4:36
5. 4:32
6. 7:31
7. 7:47
8. 8:02



3/21/14 6:27PM
2 new interviews:
http://www.prog-sphere.com/news/opeth-plan-release-new-album-june/
http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/interview-opeth-talk-new-album/10902424

the 2nd link ix with guitarist Fredrik Akesson who talks about a strong late 70's/early 80's Hard Rock element to this album. Dio, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd among others in the influences.

And it's expected to come out in June via RoadRunner Records.

1/5/14 8:40PM
The Goblin track naturally has me and many curious. Also some of the quotes talking about an actual string section and recording at the studio Queen recorded "Bohemian Rhapsody," and how much money they will be spending to make this record.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/opeths-mikael-akerfeldt-on-next-album-its-time-to-go-all-in-with-string-instrumentation/

From 1/4/14
Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH spoke to Decibel magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2011's "Heritage".

"I have about six songs done and another two or three just started," he said, "plus a million ideas that I haven't processed yet. Some songs are simple and stripped-down, while others are epic in the true sense of the word. Business as usual, hopefully with unusual music."

Åkerfeldt also revealed that he plans to enrich at least a few of the new OPETH tracks with strings.

"Some of these things could easily be done with synthetic sounds or effects," he said, "but recording the STORM CORROSION LP with Steven Wilson made me realize what a massive difference it can mean to incorporate the real shit. I'm semi-pretentious in my songwriting and sometimes I go all in. I think it's time for 'all in' with strings and the full monty. Hopefully it won't be a mess."

One of the songs that will appear on OPETH's forthcoming album was previously described by Åkerfeldt as a "crazy rip-off" of Italian prog outfit GOBLIN, which formed in 1972 and ran for ten years before splitting (the band has since reformed).

"It's a jam I came up with during the MASTODON/GHOST tour," he told Decibel, "that we ended up soundchecking. After a few days, you'd hear people in the corridors humming it. It's a fucking hit! But basically it's a not-so-subtle headbanging-type nod in GOBLIN's direction. And to avoid confusion, the song is even called 'Goblin'. My rip-off deteriorates mid-song and becomes fusion-esque darkened prog rock like MAHAVISHNU or ELP (yikes!). But it swings! It really does."

Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Expressen in September, Åkerfeldt stated about OPETH's plans for the upcoming CD: "We've been looking at [tracking the next album at] Rockfield Studios in Wales where QUEEN recorded 'Bohemian Rhapsody', but we haven't made a decision yet. But it will be an expensive album. There's a lot going on, lots of string arrangements that we haven't had in the past."

Asked if the forthcoming effort will be heavier or softer than 2011's "Heritage", Mikael said: "Maybe a little bit heavier. Not death metal heavy, but hard rock/heavy metal heavy. There's also lots of progressive elements and acoustic guitars, but also more sinister-sounding riffs."

Åkerfeldt also revealed that he was going to produce the new OPETH album himself, explaining: "I love the way DIO's 'Holy Diver' sounds, this early-'80s sound where you can still hear the '70s, but the production is heavier. Right now I'm into having a similar production that isn't retro but it still sounds like real instruments and it's heavier than 'Heritage'."

"Heritage" sold 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2008's "Watershed", opened with more than 19,000 units to land at No. 23.

from 12/4/12

http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183164

Asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for OPETH's follow-up to 2011's "Heritage" album, Mikael said (see video below): "I have one new song, which I really like, a new song. It's the most miserable song I ever wrote, and it's beautiful, I think. And then I have a song that we jammed, actually, on tour. I came up with a little lick and became a bit of a director and just told everyone to play this and that, and we started jamming on something. And it sounded, immediately from the beginning, which was also my idea, it sounded like the band GOBLIN, if you heard them, the Italian [progressive rock] band. So it's a crazy riff, a GOBLIN rip-off, and the song is called 'Goblin', which is a good title, I think. And we're gonna record it. I'm not sure if that will be too much of a fucked up song to be on the record, because there will definitely only be one song ever we do that is gonna sound like that. So maybe it'll just be some extra thing that we have. But it's really good; I love it. But then again, it's just because of the closeness to GOBLIN."

Goblin @ The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis 11/30/13

Here's my post from Facebook last night when I got home:

I just got back from seeing Goblin w/ Zombi . Good show, and I can call myself a Goblin fan now. The crowd however, I'd say at least 2/3 of, did not come across as a group that would enjoy 1970's Italian progressive rock at all. And I would guess more than HALF of Goblin's set was NOT FROM SOUNDTRACKS, i.e. the 70's progressive rock influenced by bands like King Crimson and Genesis (or PFM and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso). The majority of the crowd were mostly Horror movie fans, and Gothic Rock/Gothic Metal fans. But, the music Goblin were playing, was more or less not what I would suspect, be the kind those people lean towards. 

In other words, I wouldn't be surprised the majority of the crowd had no idea what they were listening to, lol. Which I find both funny and yet shocking at the same time. I mean if these folks really dig Goblin, than I would think they would also include the likes of Genesis, PFM, Il Balletto Di Bronzo, and the like.

Here's a setlist from Englewood, CO that I am just going to assume is close-to the same if not identical.

Magic Thriller
Mad Puppet
Dr. Frankenstein
Roller
E Suono Rock
Aquaman
Non Ho Sanno / Death Farm
Goblin
L'alba dei Morti Viventi / Zombi
Suspiria
Tenebre
Phenomena
Mad Puppet's Laugh / School At Night / Profondo Rosso

Encore:

Zaratozom

But to add to my Facebook post from last night.

-the pieces presumably from the Soundtracks like Suspiria, Dawn of the Dead and a few others, had Video Clips on a screen behind the band shown while the band played. At points the music they were playing fit those clips (many of which seemed to be on repeat, and were pretty much a MONTAGE of scenes from those films, although almost entirely focused on the dramatic and GOREY scenes from those movies).

I guess this is the 1st tour Goblin has done in the States in 38 years (and/or their 1st tour ever of North America). And it very well may be their only tour.

I may be forgetting, but I thought I read this tour was like some of the Trans Siberian Orchestra tours, where in order to as many cities as they could, they split the band up into 2 groups. I.e., we saw only 1 of the lineups for Goblin last night.

The people at this show, did not at all appear to be progressive rock fans. I would guess at least 2/3 or more of them only came to see the band play along to clips of Dawn of the Dead. Which is fine I guess, but not my motivation at all. I enjoy horror movies, but Zombies? typically no. And when gore seems to be the focus (especially the clips they showed/repeated/isolated).

tbc..

Opeth News : GOBLIN (new song title)

http://www.progrockmag.com/news/opeth-channel-goblin-on-new-track/

Opeth mainman Mikael Akerfeldt says the band have worked up two tracks for their next album – and one of them is a “crazy rip-off” that might just be too weird to appear on the follow-up to 2011′s Heritage.

The band started jamming with an idea while on tour, and the results are so similar to Italian prog outfit Goblin that Akerfeldt decided to name the track after the band.

He tells Uppsala Student Radio 98.9: “I came up with a little lick, and became a bit of a director. I just told everyone to play this and that and we started jamming.

“Immediately from the beginning, it sounded like the band Goblin. It’s a crazy riff. I’m not sure if it will be too much of a fucked-up song to be on the record. There will definitely only be one song that’s going to sound like that.

“The song is called Goblin, which is a good title. It’s really good – I love it because of the closeness to Goblin.”

The Italian band formed in 1972 and ran for ten years before splitting. They reformed briefly in 2000 then got back together in 2005, and continue working today. In the late 1970s they worked on a series of notably dark movie soundtracks.

Akerfeldt reveals less about the other Opeth piece he’s created, except to say: “I have a song I really like. It’s the most miserable song I ever wrote, and it’s beautiful, I think.” He says he has some other ideas for the record, which the band will start working on seriously next year.

Opeth guitarist Fredrik Akesson recently discussed fans’ reactions to their change of direction on Heritage, saying that one angry follower had challenged Akerfeldt to a duel during a concert.

I'm kind of impartial, as Heritage was very 70's prog like, but perhaps this next record of Opeth's will just be a little in a different 70's prog vein. Tull and Crimson with Heritage, and the next record Goblin and PFM?