Akesson as lead guitar

[Black Session]

I was just wondering. Akesson seems to be an amazing guitar player and can come up with great solos. So how will this develop in Opeth? Will Mikael become "relegated" to rythm guitar and perhaps some minor solo's, while Akesson steals the show with virtuosity?
He certainly is able of adding another dimension to Opeth's music, and I think someone of his style and calibre wants and needs to play like that. I can't see him holding back all the time for the next years ... so he will definitely get room to develop himself as well?

Just some thoughts, if anyone wants to: discuss.

 

[Black Session]

I'm not worried at all I'm looking forward to it, but I'm just wondering if he will become now the main leading guitar player. in the past we had 2 equal guitar players with Mikael and Peter, but now it seems to be a different situation. No worries though just wondering.

 

[Sinten]

it'll probably be the same deal as it was with peter, both of them will have certain solos that fit with the song. akesson's might require more speed than mikael's but mikael definitely has some chops on the guitar. supposedly he's been progressing more in his skills on the fretboard so we'll just have to wait and see

 

[v2kv]

in the past we had 2 equal guitar players with Mikael and Peter

Well Akesson isn't necessarily better than Akerfeldt, he just has better leads, whereas Akerfeldt is better at fingerpicking and rhythm guitar.

 

[Sky Coyote]

Where can one hear some of Akesson's guitar work?

 

[Det Som Engang Var]

Hopefully there wont be any wank fest's

 

[Alteredmindeath]

Im sure Mike has been training him well in the ways of the Opethianotes. I am sure Akesson training will pay off well when the time is right... the time to show the skills of a trained Opethian knight.

 

[IamReptar]

If this turns into some shredfest = fail.

 

[chrisdoig24k]

Solo in plural is 'solos' not 'solo's'.

 

[Weakness]

I'm predicting a dark and sinister guitar riffathon. After all the turmoil the band has gone though in the last few years, I think will be noticeable on the next album and with Akesson's influence, it should be most triumphant.

 

[opetcityofthemoon]

I was wondering this myself actually, -whether or not the new members will affect some of the writing and the way songs are generally composed. Fredrik is a "shredder" and axe is far more fare at "metal drumming" (ie. blastbeats) than martin was. so will there be some songs that are fast shredding blast beat death metal or what? I think i speak for everyone when i say that the nicely balanced intelligent opeth sound is what got me into the band in the first place.

 

[xDetonatorx]

I highly doubt Opeth will turn into Dragonturds with the addition of Akesson. There'll be a few shreddy bits for sure, but I trust in Mike to not let the widley bits overtake the music. I'm resigned to the fact that no matter what, there'll be people knocking the album right out of the gate for the pure fact that it's not Tr00 Opeth. Fuck'em.

 

[Tubbs]

If this turns into some shredfest = fail.

Super fail. Ultra fail, even. That would be horrible.

 

[Black Session]

obviously both Axe as Akesson will be incoporated in the Opeth song structures and style, that's not an issue and of course they know that. but to say that akesson will now simply do what Peter has done before him all the time is bullshit.
so in the same way as Per has added a lot with keyboards, Akesson will add a lot with his guitar playing ... it will be strange at first I think for people who are so used to Opeth of the past years, but it will be great most likely. perhaps people then will not be saying that Opeth hasn't developed anymore as some seem to claim.

and no one has said anything about what I said in the title ... Opeth never had a lead guitar! Peter and Mikael both fulfilled the same guitar duties, each playing what they preferred of course, but no hierarchical difference. But I think now, there will be a bigger difference between the two guitar players.
(to be safe: I am NOT complaining, I am NOT worried, and I am NOT saying that Akesson will be to dominant or something like that!!! I am only wondering how this will be incorporated in the band Opeth and in the music of Opeth, wondering as a positive thing, looking forward to it ... it's terrible how you have to be so careful of your words on this forum and how you have to justify yourselves, and even then get stupid answers of people who obviously did not read what you said)

 

[beast from the east]

I don't think it will change at all as far as the alternating of leads. Maybe Akesson is an amazing lead player, but so is Mike, and I can't see Mike ever relegating himself to "rhythm guitarist" exclusively.

And no, I can't imagine there will be any "shredfest"

 

[Ermz]

I can't see the music changing to accommodate one of the band members' virtuosity. Mike is quite capable of writing fantastic, melodic solos, and IMO it would be hard for any guitarist to outdo him at what he does in Opeth. The last thing Opeth needs is 3 minute solo breaks which are harmonically irrelevant to the rest of the song.

 

[Iki-ilkkuja]

I doubt. Though Akesson is better from a technical standpoint, Åkerfeldt knows what he's doing.

 

[BurningSky]

I was gonna reply to this thread, but i knew if i waited long enough moonlapse would say what needed to be said.

Akesson is good but Mike is certainly no slouch as he's proven over the years. Don't expect some sudden change in solo times and occurance. And from Mike's blog, its clear that Fredrik has learned a thing or two from mike.

 

[Amonoperth]

t's terrible how you have to be so careful of your words on this forum and how you have to justify yourselves, and even then get stupid answers of people who obviously did not read what you said)

I hear that man......

as for the topic.......Mikey is a killer soloist himself....very melodic...Im sure there will be some nice solo touch from Akersson.....but Mike is still the songwriter and he wont change his songs just to accommodate a guitarist's solo......PEAC EOUT

 

[Black Session]

yeah, he won't change his song writing according to Akesson, but perhaps he will just give some room to him to do his thing ... and perhaps this gives Akerfeldt another tool in his song writing, like Per's keys.