Seven Facts About the Making of Opeth's New Album "Sorceress"
Opeth singer-guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt can hardly be described as flamboyant. Intelligent, well-spoken and polite, with a droll sense of humor, the Swedish band's frontman possesses a laid-back demeanor that gives the impression that his feathers aren't easily ruffled. That doesn't mean he's above occasionally flaunting his plumage, though. The cover of Opeth's latest album, Sorceress (due Sept. 30), contains the vibrant image of a peacock roosting atop a pile of human flesh. It's a symbol that Akerfeldt deliberately choose to advertise the band's might.
"It’s probably something narcissistic, to be honest," he admits with a laugh. "Maybe not for me personally, but for us as a band, like a collective narcissism that we’re this beautiful peacock and we’re laying everything to waste."
By this juncture in its career, it's understandable that Opeth is feeling a bit, well, cocky. Earlier in 2016 it celebrated the band's 25th anniversary by reissuing its seminal companion albums, 2002's Deliverance and 2003's Damnation. For the first time, the band is releasing a project through its own label, Moderbolaget, and a licensing deal with Nuclear Blast ("We are working almost identically to how we worked with the record labels before when we were under a record contract," observes Akerfeldt) and it begins touring North America on Sept. 24, launching at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest in California and including a prestige play at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Oct. 1. A European tour follows in November. (Go here for more touring information.) And despite some dissension among fans, Sorceress, Opeth's 12th studio effort, continues the path the act has followed on its last few albums that leaves overt death metal trappings behind in favor of music that is "more like the origins of metal, like Deep Purple or maybe Black Sabbath or Rainbow," says Akerfeldt.
"I made a point with this record to make the songs as diverse as possible," he says in comparing Sorceress with 2014's Pale Communion. "I think this is a bit more coherent within the songs, but I made sure that there’s a diversity between the tracks on the record so that no two tracks would kind of blend together and that you would know which one is which, so to speak. I think it’s a bit more catchy. More singalong-y."
We also learned these tidbits about Sorceress:
Sorceress' Cover Is Both 'Beautiful And Disgusting'
The sleeve is one of Opeth's most colorful pieces of album art -- and its most gruesome. While Akerfeldt is a fan of Scottish band Nazareth's 1973 record Loud and Proud, whose cover also features a peacock, he's not sure why a picture of the bird sitting on a mound of carnage popped into his head long before he started writing Sorceress. Artist Travis Smith, who has designed multiple Opeth covers, also handled this one. Akerfeldt calls the juxtaposition of the peacock's plumage and the rotting flesh "beautiful and disgusting at the same time, which is basically what we wanted … I love weird covers if they’re smart. I wouldn’t say the Sorceress cover is the smartest cover I’ve seen in my life, but it’s lovely. The smartest disgusting cover I’ve seen is by the band Cattle Decapitation [2004's Humanure] of a cow that’s shitting out humans."
The Album's Vinyl Is Just As Flamboyant
In July, Opeth announced it was pressing a charity vinyl edition of Sorceress in pink. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Gilda's Club NY, which was founded in memory of Grammy Award-winning comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. It's also available as a picture disc and in an array of colors that include mint pearl, blue, rosewood and orange. "They do so many different kinds of formats, I can't keep track, really," says Akerfeldt. As a record collector, he only cares that his copy is black. "I make sure to talk to the record label and the management and say, 'As long as we have black vinyl, you can do as many colors as you want.' "
Drummer Martin Axenrot Was A Songwriting Inspiration
Akerfeldt explains that once Opeth gets settled into a tour, Axenrot enjoys experimenting with drum beats during sound check. "I was thinking, 'I want him to play like that, like having fun.' The reason why I kind of put a little bit more focus on him as opposed to the other guys is because once you have that foundation of the song, once you have the drums down, if the drums are good, you have a better chance the rest is going to be great, too."
Akerfeldt's Now More Into Singing Than Screaming
The singer wanted to keep exploring his singing capabilities on Sorceress, which is the third consecutive album (after 2011's Heritage and Pale Communion) where he employs a traditional style instead of death metal growls. Akerfeldt prefers to do what's best for the song instead of screaming simply because he did so on previous albums. After consuming death metal for 20-plus years, he doesn't draw much inspiration from the genre anymore. With clean singing, he can "expand more and learn more, and there’s more to learn with that type of singing. You’re never fully taught, so to speak, as a singer," he observes. "But when it comes to the screams, I think there was a time where I was as good as I could get and felt like I was kind of going downhill and getting worse at it because my heart really wasn’t in it."
Sorceress Isn't About Woman-Bashing
Despite the implications that the title may carry, the album isn't intent on catering to the stereotype of females using their sexuality to wreak havoc. While the downsides of relationships did play a role in its creation -- "I have had a rough couple years when I’ve been thinking a lot about these things and therapy and that kind of stuff" -- Akerfeldt "didn't want to go all bitter" with the lyrics. "It’s an easy target to go for the evil woman, you know, and I tried to avoid that as much as I could. But there’s a little bit of that in there because it made a good lyric," he concedes with a chuckle.
But Yes, Sometimes, Love Stinks
"A positive emotion does come with a lot of negative side effects -- at least, it has for me," muses Akerfeldt about relationships. "Even if something I really need in my life is love, and loving, it has found me many times when I wonder if it’s doing more damage than good." However, he also realizes, "I don’t really feel good without love in my life, and I need that. [When I was writing], I was drawing inspirations from those kind of mental breakdowns that you have in the middle of something that’s ultimately a beautiful thing."
Opeth's Branded Beer Crowned The Studio Rider
Opeth introduced its XXV Anniversary Imperial Stout in 2015 and its Communion Pale Ale in April. Akerfeldt calls the ale "the best IPA [India pale ale] I have ever had in my life, and that's not because it says 'Opeth.' " When it was time to record Sorceress, the band made sure it had ample provisions in the studio. "Even before we started thinking about what guitars we were going to bring, we made calls to make sure there’s going to be beer for us," he says with a laugh. "I think we went through six boxes of the ale. We didn’t have any stout. That stout is really strong. It’s like 9-point something. Like if you have one of them, you don't really need to eat for a week and you also get very drunk.”
Manowar's "Magic - A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio": Complete Details Revealed
Manowar and Magic Circle Entertainment have decided to honor one of metal's greatest legends with "Magic - A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio", a new CD featuring Magic Circle Music artists and friends performing some of Dio's most inspired work.
"Magic - A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio" is especially poignant because Dio hails from the same fertile upstate New York soil as Manowar.
"Heavy metal has lost a great artist and a true gentleman," says Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio. "I had the privilege of being his friend and, along with other friends and admirers, we wish to honor him."
In tribute to Dio's legacy, famous fantasy painter and illustrator Ken Kelly, the man behind many of heavy metal's most classic album covers (including some by MANOWAR) has reworked his iconic Rainbow "Rising" artwork for "Magic".
"Magic - A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio" is from the hearts of these musicians. It is not only their privilege, but also their duty, to honor Ronnie by singing his praises while singing his songs.
"Magic - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" will be released on Magic Circle Music's online store Kingdom of Steel on June 18, in Germany on July 16, in the U.S. and Canada on July 20 and further international territories in the forthcoming weeks. The album will also be available at the merchandise booth of all upcoming MANOWAR live appearances, starting at the Sonisphere festival in Sofia, Bulgaria on June 23.
"Magic - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio" track listing:
01. Manowar - Heaven And Hell
02. HolyHell - Holy Diver (Live In Norway)
03. MetalForce - The Last In Line
04. Magic Circle All Stars Band - Long Live Rock'n Roll
05. Awaken - I Speed At Night
06. Crosswind - A Light In The Black
07. Dean Cascione - Never More
08. Feinstein - Far Beyond
09. Harlet - Straight Through The Heart
10. Jack Starr's Burning Starr - Catch The Rainbow Source: DarkSide.ru
2010-05-27
Dave Mustaine Remembers Ronnie James Dio
During an appearance on this past Monday's (May 24) edition of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn, Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine spoke about the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath, Rainbow), who passed away on May 16 after a six-month battle with cancer.
"Everybody that's ever met Ronnie, they've got different types of stories," Mustaine said. "We've heard types of stories about his voice and how great he was as a man. And we've heard stories about his different lineups that he's been with.
"One of the things that I remember him most for was "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" and "Man On The Silver Mountain", which was the first record that I'd ever gotten from him with Rainbow guitarist - Ritchie Blackmore.
"We had gone out on tour with him when Megadeth's "So Far, So Good, So What" came out and it was really, really making a statement, because we had broken the Top 200 with thrash metal, and nobody really knew what thrash metal was at the time.
"I remember talking to Ronnie - we were in catering - and I go, "Hey, Ronnie, I just wanna thank you for taking us out on tour." He goes, "Yeah, man. Thanks to you for coming, too." And I said, "No. I mean, really. Thanks. It's really cool." And he goes, "Look, we could both sit here and give each other handjobs or we could smoke this joint. What do you think?" And I was like, "Well..." So, needless to say, we smoked a joint and I passed on the handjob." Source: DarkSide.ru
2010-05-25
Rocker Dio dies
Heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio has lost his battle with stomach cancer. He was 67.
The Heaven & Hell star passed away at a hospital in Houston, Texas on Sunday.
His wife Wendy initially denied internet reports the rocker had died earlier in the day, but revealed he was "not doing good" - and now his partner admits she is heartbroken over the loss of her beloved husband.
In a statement to Blabbermouth.net, she says, "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. (on Sunday) 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.
"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
Born Ronald James Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to an Italian family in 1942, he changed his name to Dio after mafia member Johnny Dio.
He found fame in 1957 with The Vegas Kings; the group changed their name several times before disbanding in 1967. He then went on to front Elf with guitarist pal Nick Pantas before forming another band, Rainbow.
In 1979, Dio joined Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne, but after just three years he quit to form the band Dio, with drummer Vinny Appice. They went on to enjoy great success, releasing ten studio albums.
In recent years, Dio and Appice rejoined Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler to tour under the moniker Heaven & Hell, and he was also inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood in 2007.
Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year and his health had worsened over the last few months, with Heaven & Hell announcing just weeks ago that they were cancelling all summer dates as a result of his deteriorating health.
Dio is survived by his wife Wendy, his adopted son Dan, and two grandchildren. Source: Ananova
2009-09-01
Heaven & Hell Is Not Breaking Up: Says DIO's Management
The management for legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, DIO) has released the following statement to blabbermouth.net:
"[We] just want to quash any rumors that Heaven & Hell have broken up. [Heaven & Hell guitarist] Tony Iommi has to have surgery on his hand and [needs] some down time for recovery. Therefore DIO will be performing some dates in the U.K. and Europe in November/December during this time off. Heaven & Hell are already making plans for dates next year."
In a recent interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Iommi stated about his upcoming surgery, "I've got to have an operation on my hand, and that's sort of a major thing I need to get done and I've been putting it off now. So we're going to have some time off while I get that done. That'll be a bit of a break, I think. Not for everybody, but it'll be some time off from touring for me for sure."
When asked what happened to his hand, Iommi replied, "The cartilage is gone from the thumb in my fingering hand. It's been like that now, to be honest, for a year and I've been taking anti-inflammatories and all sorts of stuff to try and calm it down, but it's inevitable I've got to have the operation because the bone is rubbing on the bone. Funny enough, I talked to Eddie Van Halen this morning, because he's had the same sort of problem, so I'm seeing him to have a chat about what happened to him. He thinks it's very successful, so we'll see." Source: DarkSide.ru
2009-05-20
Dream Theater: Details of Bonus-CD to New Album
Dream Theater's version of Rainbow's "Stargazer" is one of six cover songs that are included on the special-edition version of Dream Theater's new album - "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".
The Dream Theater's cover of "Stargazer" is now available at iTunes. The original can be found on Rainbow's 1976 album "Rainbow Rising".
Video footage of Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy talking about the band's decision to record a cover of "Stargazer" can be viewed below.
The six cover songs that are included on the special-edition version of "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" are as follows:
01. Stargazer - Rainbow
02. Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley - Queen
03. Odyssey - Dixie Dregs
04. Take Your Fingers From My Hair - Zebra
05. Larks' Tongues In Aspic (Part II) - King Crimson
06. To Tame A Land - Iron Maiden Source: DarkSide.ru
During an appearance on this past Monday's (May 24) edition of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn, 
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