...This isn't about selling-out, because it never happened. It's about playing music you fucking enjoy playing and not giving a damn what anyone else thinks. I've been a fan of yours since Morningrise was released, and have followed the band with a cultist obsession ever since. I'm sure that you're aware of metal's state, because it's crowded with close-minded assholes and nerds who use terms like "mallcore" or "gay metal" because they think that the world is in their hands, when they're really sitting behind the glow of a computer screen in their parent's basement, doomed to fail at life forever. Opeth has their share of "fanboys", sure, but what band doesn't? Roadrunner comes up to me and askes if I'd like to sign a contract with 'em? Hell yes I'm going to! Being a progressive band, I'm sure that you know bands can progress both in songs and in style as well. Some may never understand that. If so, how many times have The Who sold-out? Jethro Tull? King Crimson? It's experimentation, and until the ass-licking white trash remnants of the so-called "metal scene" of today can prevent from going through one ear and out the other, you'll just have a jinx on your hands.
Anyway, the primary reason I wrote this was just to thank you for the music you've put out. I could've e-mailed you guys, but at least I know for a fact that you yourself browse the boards from time to time. I can't recall a time when one of your albums wasn't in my car's album rotation. And you still stand the test of time. This is coming from someone who listens to a lot of fucking styles of music and artists that fit under each genre. You're still my favorite. I remember seeing you guys way back before you really hit it big. There were only a couple-hundred people attending, and the concert floor smelled like armpits and cigarettes really badly, but it's the best show I've seen since. So I thank you again. I thank you for staying true to your roots, telling off that elitist moron who posted the "Hey Mikael" thread, and continuing to inspire me through both music and lyrics. It might sound cheesy, but your band has changed my life. There is the metal sub-culture and there is the Opeth sub-culture. If you prefer the former, congradulations and shut the fuck up. But you, Mikael? Keep doing what you do best, playing shows and writing near-flawless music. Fuck the haters and fuck the press.
~Jake
Anyway, the primary reason I wrote this was just to thank you for the music you've put out. I could've e-mailed you guys, but at least I know for a fact that you yourself browse the boards from time to time. I can't recall a time when one of your albums wasn't in my car's album rotation. And you still stand the test of time. This is coming from someone who listens to a lot of fucking styles of music and artists that fit under each genre. You're still my favorite. I remember seeing you guys way back before you really hit it big. There were only a couple-hundred people attending, and the concert floor smelled like armpits and cigarettes really badly, but it's the best show I've seen since. So I thank you again. I thank you for staying true to your roots, telling off that elitist moron who posted the "Hey Mikael" thread, and continuing to inspire me through both music and lyrics. It might sound cheesy, but your band has changed my life. There is the metal sub-culture and there is the Opeth sub-culture. If you prefer the former, congradulations and shut the fuck up. But you, Mikael? Keep doing what you do best, playing shows and writing near-flawless music. Fuck the haters and fuck the press.
~Jake
That would be cool, but I just wanted to let him know how much his band kicks ass. Not that he's oblivious to it or anything.
