In a candid new interview with Blabbermouth, Mikael Åkerfeldt, the legendary vocalist and guitarist of Opeth, shared insights on his current life, creative ambitions, and the band’s future.
When asked about a potential new album cycle, Åkerfeldt said: “I cannot say much, but I have a project that I’m doing in May. Hopefully, it will materialize, but I am doing something in May. That’s going to be fun. Then, I might have some project as well, like, for me, not for the band. I’m a bit burned out, as you can probably tell. I would really need a break from the band and be regular Mikael, not band Mikael.”
Away from the rigors of touring, Åkerfeldt is embracing domestic life: “Yes, and my records. I’m a really good househusband. I wish I could be paid for it. I’ll get up at six in the morning and cook breakfast for everyone. Sometimes my daughters show up, and sometimes they don’t, but I’m up. [Laughs]”
He also reassured fans that Opeth is not planning a “farewell” tour, emphasizing a quieter approach if changes come: “Opeth is not going to split up. If we do, we’re going to disappear. It’s not going to be a big hurrah, ‘final tour.’ That’s not going to happen. We’re going to disappear. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever stop playing. We love each other, and we love playing together.”
Åkerfeldt hinted at a shift in focus for the band, favoring creative output over relentless touring: “There’s probably going to be less touring. If we do less touring, it will mean more music and more frequent releases. That’s what I really want to do. Maybe, if I feel like, ‘Oh, I think we should do a tour,’ and see if there are people out there who like us, we can do that. First and foremost, I want to spend more time with the creative side of things.”
Fans can take comfort knowing that while Opeth may scale back live appearances, the band’s musical evolution and Åkerfeldt’s creative ambitions remain very much alive.
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