Hardly a Metalhead has never encountered OPETH let alone has never heard the name before. They have iron one more iron in the fire with Watershed, which heralds another chapter in the track record of the friendly Swedes.
To promote the album, the band has been sent on tour, strengthened by the Noise rockers The Ocean and the progressive Jazz Rockers Cynic, at which afforded us the opportunity to natters as an exception not with band figurehead Mikael ?kerfeldt, but with the keyboard player Per Wiberg. One hour admittance, the charming Roadrunner staff member Theresa leads me into one of the backstage rooms and a relaxing and funny half an hour afterwards, the interview is already over...

Haris: First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on your not that fresh new CD Watershed. Well then, let’s start immediately.
To me, there is an obvious line that divides the mellow and the heavy side in the sound of Watershed while you mixed both styles more on Ghost Reveries, it sounds more homogenous to me – which is not meant negative.
Per: Well, a lot say this is true, actually. I think, the transitions between the two parts, like the heavy and mellow stuff were maybe a little bit more easy, if that’s the right word, I don’t know, while on this album [Author’s note: Watershed] it’s almost like you get thrown into each part (laughs).

Haris: Something, which is evident to me, is the role of the keyboards on Watershed. There is more room for them, e.g. you have solo parts like in Hex Omega. Was this tendency of having the keys become an equal and not just a background instrument planned before you started songwriting?
Per: I don’t know, but I would say that it’s a production thing as well, as well as a mixing thing. To be honest, I played less on this album compared to what I did on Ghost Reveries but I think it’s maybe a little bit more evident in the final mix

Haris: It’s generally known that OPETH is Mikael’s baby and that he is the main songwriter. But considering the fact that two members joined the band after Ghost Reveries, did this affect the songwriting somehow or is the rest of the band not really involved into the writing process?
Per: I wouldn’t say it affected the songwriting as much but I would say, like, the songwriting itself, it shows definitely how the songs are performed. And I think, “Axe” is a very fast learner and he’s a very dedicated drummer. It has never happened that the drums have been recorded as fast as this time in OPETH’s history. He just backs it up and he’s very consistent and accurate as a player. And the same goes for Fredrik, I would say, although, since he’s a fantastic lead guitar player, the leads, they are his obviously. So, in that sense I guess it affected the song writing a little bit.

Haris: I guess also, for Fredrik has a totally different style compared to Mikael’s kind of playing leads. So this is something that makes him even more important for OPETH. Peter was also a great guitar player but to me, he was very close to Mikael’s style, so Fredrik definitely is a bonus for OPETH.
Per: Yeah, that’s true!

Haris: I have to admit that I was curious how OPETH would sound like with “Axe” on drums because, to me, Martin Lopez has always been one of the best drummers ever in this genre and his influence on the OPETH records was, to me, immense and very important. But, I would have never expected that “Axe” could replace him in such a brilliant way.
Per: Well, he’s a better drummer than Lopez was (laughs). So, it’s easy… Well, it’s different. We get such questions a lot like “What about this new sound?” or whatever. But, everyone’s different people, you know, everyone plays differently, so… I mean, I don’t think it’s about replacing as much, you know, it’s just about welcoming in new elements.

Haris: … while the basics stay the same…
Per: … yeah!

Haris: How did the split affect the band atmosphere since both Martins were very close friends?
Per: I think, to have Fredrik and “Axe” in the band affected the band in such way that everyone enjoys being on the road. Even though Lopez and Peter are nice guys, you know. But it’s so, when you know that someone doesn’t wanna be there, it sort of drags you down. So, now, we have five guys that want to be here and play all the time even though Lopez and Peter enjoyed the music as much as anyone else. They were really into it, too.

Haris: Then maybe I can ask this question now which was planned for the end of the interview… Do you still have contact with Martin and Peter?
Per: Personally I don’t… (laughs) because I’m a bad person… No… (laughs) But I know what they are doing. I think it’s, among all of us, Mikael who’s got the most of the contact with those guys actually, especially with Peter. I just hope that they are enjoying what they are doing now, you know. I wish them all the luck.

Haris: Now, a question about the general recording process with OPETH because, as far as I remember, you have never invited any orchestra musicians or something like that. Is this maybe something you planned for the nearer future?
Per: Well, you know, Mikael was interested in using proper instruments for certain parts instead of playing them with the keys. So, this time, there was a violinist, a flutist, we used an English Horn and a little bit of this and that. And, I think, it sounds cool because proper, real instruments always sound better than samples. It doesn’t matter which one. I think, it always sounds better. So it was for the better.

Haris: Something, which I really enjoyed a lot, was your small joke at the end of Burden. I have this picture in front of my eyes when listening to the track that Mikael plays the acoustic guitar and someone sits beside him and starts to detune one string after the other. Was it this way?
Per: Yes, Fredrik did that!

Haris: Wow, that’s great, because I wasn’t sure you did it that way or maybe the part was recorded as it should be and you put effects on the track afterwards.
Per: No, no. Fredrik did that while Mikael was playing.

Haris: Well, that was a great idea! Now, a short question about the fact, that this is your 2nd album recorded for Roadrunner Records. How is the collaboration with them? Are you pleased with their support?
Per: I would say so! I think this band has never had such an exposure as we’ve had during the time with Roadrunner. So, so far so good! You know, it’s a record label like anyone else. They happened to do a pretty good job for us.

Haris: Okay, now something more personal. I was really into Ad Astra [Author’s note: Spiritual Beggars’ fifth record released 2000 featuring Per on keyboards] when it came out. I haven’t heard anything from the Spiritual Beggars for a while. Sure, Michael [Author’s note: Amott, guitarist and main songwriter of Spiritual Beggars] has toured with Carcass and is busy with Arch Enemy and stuff. So, is there any free space for the Spiritual Beggars?
Per: Um, no… (laughs) No, we haven’t done anything since the last album that was released in 2005 [Author’s note: the album is called Demons]. And that was the last time we played together as well. We did a short tour in Japan and a gig in the UK all about the Demons album. So, it’s really hard to find a window to get together for that.

Haris: I mean, you are also busy as well… Is there any other side project you are involved in or do you plan something like a solo record in the near future?
Per: I always do lots of things.

Haris: More like guest appearances?
Per: You know, I’ve worked as a session musician since ’89. And when we’re off the road with OPETH I play with friends, bands and artists in Sweden usually. I recently did record an album with some friends of mine in the US, from a band called Clutch. They have their alter ego band called Bakerton Group, which is Clutch, but they play instrumental music. And they recorded a new album, so I played keys on that. I’ve done an album with JP who is the drummer in Clutch called King Hobo with two other guys from Sweden. I’ve done a couple of albums with my own thing called Mojobone. But I only play the guitar on that one.

Haris: So, you are an as talented musician as almost every second Swede…
Per: I don’t know if I’m talented. I just like playing music, you know… (laughs)

Haris: Are these projects also worth checking out for Metal fans?
Per: If you like Rock music in general… I mean, it doesn’t sound like Testament or anything. It’s just groovy hard Rock. If you’re into Beggars, it’s worth checking out. If you’re into OPETH… I don’t know. It depends on what you listen to and how open minded you are.

Haris: Well, we already talked slightly about the time schedule with OPETH, especially yours, Mikael’s and “Axe”’s one. Both are in Bloodbath and “Axe” is still a member of Witchery…
Per: Yes, he is.

Haris: This is really an immense number of side projects or other bands and moreover, Bloodbath is really successful worldwide… Are there any conflicts with OPETH or do you plan your schedules accurately?
Per: OPETH has the top priority like for everyone. So everything else has to fit in the gaps between the OPETH activities. Well, with Witchery you have the same problem there since Jensen is in The Haunted and Sharlee is in Arch Enemy, so… (laughs).

Haris: … and the Björler brothers do the At The Gates reunion…
Per: … exactly!

Haris: Don’t know, how far this reunion will go… I hope they’ll do a new record… So, you mentioned already that you did a Japan tour with Spiritual Beggars a couple of years ago. Well, I guess this question is not that relevant, but I’d still like to ask you something about touring in general. I always thought you were more like someone who prefers to be at home and to spend your time recording and producing stuff and not to be on the road all the time. So how do you handle this and did you get used to the tour life which takes a lot of time actually?
Per: I don’t really have any problems with that. I mean, since basically, to me, Rock music is meant to be played live. So, that’s what I like to do and that’s my thing even though I haven’t played with OPETH more than five years now, I’ve pretty much been on tour since the late eighties. That’s what I’ve always done. I started playing in clubs and did Scandinavian tours when I was sixteen.

Haris: To me, it’s something very special with Sweden. This year I was in Gotland first time with a university class and it was impressing – all the country actually. We spent there just one week but it was so amazing. I simply can’t believe that someone who comes from Sweden doesn’t have the longing for coming home as soon as possible.
Per: I think that everyone has the longing for coming back. Everyone wants to be at home. But actually, this is what we are doing and I don’t think about it like that. I’m fine being here (laughs). Sweden will always be there, you know. Gotland is very beautiful though. And I like it there. But I think I enjoy being on the road more than being at home because then I get restless and I wanna go out and play gigs every day (laughs).

Haris: Like, when you decide for a professional musician’s life then you have to calculate with being on the road more than at home.
Per: That’s always the problem for many musicians or generally many people – it doesn’t matter what you work with. If you travel a lot and spend a long time away from home, it’s always gonna be a problem with the family and all that.

Haris: Now something I always like to read in interviews – this is more like a trivial question, but still worth asking. I mean, OPETH doesn’t build up on modern trends. OPETH has been OPETH since Orchid, but I’d still like to know if there are any records that were just released or any new bands that caught your attention or are you more into the classic stuff?
Per: I’m just a big music nerd and I listen pretty much to everything. I buy records all the time and lots of new stuff. And it’s everything from The Herbaliser [Author’s note: English Funk/Electronica/Hip Hop band] to Deathspell Omega [Author’s note: French Black Metal band] and everything in between. I got the following question earlier where someone told me to mention ten albums from this year that I like. Well, I like that latest Testament a lot. I think that’s good as well as the new album by a Japanese band called Boris [Author’s note: Experimental Rock band who worked together with the Drone Doom band Sunn O)))] and a great Punk Rock band called the BellRays from the US, the latest albums from Earth [Author’s note: Drone Doom godfathers from the US], The Raconteurs with Jack White from The White Stripes, Motorpsycho, a Norwegian band – awesome…

Haris: Do they still exist?
Per: Yes, they do… They’re gonna play the Roadburn Festival in April. They put out a great album this year, Little Lucid Moments. Well, that’s lots of music… Yes, the new album by a female artist called Diamanda Galás… amazing! So, lot’s of stuff!

Haris: I remember Diamanda Galás being mentioned in a story about Atrocity about, like, 14 years ago or so when they released their Blut album. They wanted to work together with her, but she was busy at that time, so they had to record the female parts with the sister of Alex, the vocalist. I think it would fit fine to your style to work together with Diamanda Galás some day…
Per: Oh yeah, for OPETH’s music, that would definitely fit in for some scary parts (laughs). She actually did something on one Cradle Of Filth album [Author’s note: she was planned to do guest vocals on Midian in 2000 – but due to a firm tour schedule she couldn’t work together with the band].

Haris: Well, there’s one question left, Per… On the special edition of Watershed, there is a Marie Fredriksson (former singer of Roxette) cover version of Den Ständiga Resan. Did she get to hear that version?
Per: I don’t know if she has heard it. I know that we talked a little bit about it in the studio – or, not talked about it, but mentioned – “you have to send this to her”. I don’t know if Mikael did that or anything… But I’m pretty sure he would get some feedback from her if she heard it, as it’s not a song that any artist or band would usually cover.

Haris: I showed the track to a friend of mine – first the OPETH and then the original version and I thought she would be more into the female vocals, but she said something like: “The OPETH version is way better!”
Per: (laughs)

Haris: Well, it’s a matter of taste, but for me, I also prefer the cover, as I simply love Mikael’s vocals and the way he plays the lead stuff… I once read that you recorded an Alice In Chains cover version. Is this planned to be released some day?
Per: Yes! Digitally on… what date is it today?

Haris: Today… It’s December, 6.
Per: On December 9… It’s gonna be released as a digital EP through iTunes and it’s gonna feature that version of Porcelain Heart called Mellotron Heart and Would by Alice In Chains and Burden and hopefully it’s gonna be released as a 7” vinyl single.

Haris: So, you’re more a vinyl fan?
Per: Well, not really. I like to have something to hold on to, you know, when you buy something (laughs). No, I’m not a vinyl freak. I’m just a music collector, I guess. More so than a collector of formats, if you know what I mean.

Haris: Well, I know this discussion about vinyl vs. CDs vs. digital music is old. But, since I’m a child of the vinyl generation, I bought CDs and MCs when I got into music. I also was interested in vinyl stuff and bought the one or the other LP, my fave is Cathedral’s Forest Of Equilibrium with the gatefold sleeve. And each time I looked at the sleeve, it’s like… wow!
Per: Yes, it’s definitely a lot more fun to hold and, you know, look at.

Haris: Well, I’m quite chaotic, so among the LPs I bought, like, two already broke, so I guess, CDs are safer for me…
Per: But I think it’s really cool that vinyl is coming back. And it’s really nice to see that even the record labels have understood that, you know. For some reason, OPETH albums have always been released on vinyl as well, which is cool. I see it with lots of new bands as well. I like that, I think it’s a great format and the music sounds good. The reason why I don’t collect vinyl anymore is that I wanna listen to the music I got and that’s really hard to bring on the road (laughs). So, it’s a lot easier…

Haris: You have your iPod with you on tour?
Per: Oh yeah! I wouldn’t survive without it… (laughs)

Haris: Well, I forgot my jacket with my mp3 player in it in the car of the singer of my band last week. And it’s really horrible not to be able to listen to music while walking.
Per: Well, you have to change that…

Haris: Okay Per, that was it! Thank you for the interview! And all the best for the gig tonight and the rest of the tour!
Per: Thank you! Pleased to meet you.