Does Opeth need a flutist?

Does Opeth need a flutist?

  • Yes, flutes are awesome!

    Votes: 18 32.7%
  • No way, Opeth would stop being Opeth!

    Votes: 9 16.4%
  • Only if one of the members of the band would play it. I don't want a sixth member!

    Votes: 22 40.0%
  • No, I would rather have Opeth play other, obscure, instruments, such as... [add]

    Votes: 6 10.9%

  • Total voters
    55

Frostangelstorm

Mighty Ravendark
Sep 6, 2005
230
0
16
Blashyrkh
I think having a flutist to play at clean sections and also as a rhythm instrument during heavy parts would be amazing. It would be silly for other metal bands, but Opeth are a prog band and it would suit them well.

What do you say?
 
I wouldn't be opposed to using flutes in their music. The Provenance is a good example of a vaguely similar band that has incorporated flutes into their music quite well.

But not as a sixth band member no.
 
interesting question. i think flutes and other instruments could add something interesting, but i wouldn't want it to take away from the soundscape that's already there.
 
uh flutes would be stupid as fuck during the heavy parts, and they are just not needed during the light parts. i mean, i guess it would be cool for a song or two, but thats it, and they dont need to re-create that live.
 
I saw Dungen awhile ago, their singer/rhythm guitarist brought out the flute quite a few times and it was awesome. So yeah...if anything, I'm down for one person in the band to do that.
 
their are a lot of metalbands who use flutes in their music! ... mostly folkmetalbands (and I don't think that opeth will go that way, I hope not!) ... and also some doom metalbands.

But the thing that amazed me with opeth was how they can create so much atmosphere without addition of other instruments ... they started using keys more and more, now Per joining, so this has changed now, but still ...
I don't think they need a flutist or any other instrument, for more than one time in one song or so ... or something like they did with silhouette on orchid ... otherwise, no thanks, there have been enough experimentations with all sort of instruments if you ask me, rarely for the better.
 
Wasn't Blackheim's Diabolical Masquerade using one in 'Cloaked by the Moonshine Mist'?

Opeth could use a flute tone if they feel it's needed. But I wouldn't get another bandmember for that. Moreover: I think Per is technically capable of creating flute-sounds with his gear, no?
 
If they wanted flutes, surely they could just use pers vast amount of synth sounds on his keyboard and recreate that sound. when they play live, the sound of a flute through the wall of heavy metal is not going to have the sort of warmth of flute itself anyway. so digital effects may aswell be used.
 
Occasional use of the flute could be cool, as well as just about every other available instrument. Taking Nightwish's 'Ghost Love Score' as an example, I would love to see Opeth utilize symphony for a piece or two. It would also be neat to see Opeth experimenting with their guitars more, such as using a e-bow, or even a slide sometimes. It would be cool on one track to have one guitar with a slide and the other one doing the sliding octave and full barre thing.

However, my biggest problem with adding flute is that they would probably get a flutist, and then employ him full time. I like Per and his keys, although there are a few select times on GR when it is like, "Ok, well Per is playing so he has something to do here". The only thing I don't like about Per's addition is there are parts that you can hear if they were used in the BWP and Still-Life days there would layers of lead guitars playing those sounds, and you miss that wall of sound effect. If there was flute player full-time I cannot help but think he would be intrusive.