Opeth

[Adi Granov]

Don't know if many of you enjoy that type of music, but the new Opeth album, Ghost Reveries, is absolutely incredible.

[John Drake]

When did it come out? Haven't heard about it. I dug Orchid a LOT! the last few have been hit or miss.

[chrismarker]

It all makes sense! The greatest Iron Man artist in history is a death metal head! It's just too IRONIC!

[Adi Granov]

John, I think it came out in the last couple of weeks, but I just got it a few days ago. I am actually a big fan of Blackwater Park and later so I am really into the whole prog thing they have going. Ghost Reveries is very much in that realm, very 70's prog crossed with somekinda death metal thing. It's hard to pinpoint it for me, it's just really good.

Chris, nah, I only listen to a few metal bands, I don't follow the scene at all. I don't even know what genre exactly Opeth is, I just know I like it.

[chrismarker]

My wife and I actually listened to some Opeth on-line last night. (we'd never heard of them before). She hates all metal -- always screams when i watch headbangers ball on MTV: I don't care for it either -- except for that band CRASS (god were they brilliant!) and Dead Kennedys(do they count as metal?) -- but I'm inexcplicably fascinated by the metal culture.

Anyway, she didn't really dig Opeth -- thought it was like a metal version of old Yes songs -- but I thought it was interesting and distinct and, yeah, could not be pigeon-holed to a set genre (which is rare these days!). Do you dig Brian Eno's stuff?

Anyway, rememeber how I was asking you what emotions/feelings informed your art? It was like, when I listened some of the harder metal cuts of Opeth, I thought -- that's it! There's like this incredible suppressed anger going on in your art (well, not with Mallen!). But, yeah, like all this anger going on underneath the surface and that precision and realism of your Iron Man was keeping all that inside! That the only thng that could conatin that anger was a razor sharp and hyper-precise suit of Armor that betrayed no sign of emotion whatsoever: that was sheer perfection.

(I bet I'm probably wrong, but it's what struck me anyway).

[John Drake]

Is it similar to Dream Theater now? Cuz god in heaven, I love Dream Theater.

[Adi Granov]

Chris, it's interesting, Crass seems to be universally loved by a lot of non-metal fans. My wife, who is not into metal at all, also likes them.

I think your analysis of my art is probably closer to the truth than I have ever gotten. I really do like, in both music and art, the not-so-obvious anger and controlled aggression. To use music as an example, I much preffer building up tension and anger through composition and mood as opposed to "in your face" noise and distortion. I think it requires more skill and thought than the obvious (meaning, anyone can turn the distortion and the volume up and make your nose bleed, but not everyone can crush your chest by actually holding back for the same of the composition). Not that I consider myself to be at that level artistically, but I do strive.

You should check out Isis, especially their last album, Panopticon. (it does require careful listening to get the most out of it)

John, I am not sure, it's been many years since I've heard anything by Dream Theater, and even that was not much.

[chrismarker]

wow, I can't believe I actually might have got something right! I'm going to frame your quote and point to it whenever my friends come over and the usual intellectual bullshitting ensues. (all in good fun)!

hey, do you mind answering a few more questions? What's the affect of using just black and white, like a charcoal, for Mallen's childhood scene's in #3? Also, your vision of the Silver Surfer, who has always been on of my favorites. Do you think you've nailed him down as a visual figure? Like you have so impressively done with Iron Man?

Thanks!

We shall check out Isis!

[Adi Granov]

Chris, the flashback scene needed to be different visually just to make a stark contrast to the present, so that just set me off on wanting to try something I wouldn't usually do. The whole scene is really gritty and harsh so I tried to match that mood with the style. Monochromatic and harsh but with lots of texture.

Technically, it's not that much different from my usual style, just the same elements done to different degrees (as in: more ink, less pencil; more texture less color...).

No, I don't think I got Silver Surfer down. I had only done two covers with him and had tried to capture what I though he should be like, but I think I've not pushed it far enough and I played it too safe. The first cover of him flying towards us is a bit closer to the idea I had of very fluid motion, gliding through the clouds. But I made him too bulky which made him too angular and stiff. I think he needs to look strong but also very fluid, more like a long distance runner and less a sprinter.

[chrismarker]

Thanks for answering! I'm really facsinated on how style can inscribe certain moods/emotions and, yeah, those scenes of Mallen really do feel gritty, but also like a photo negative, so there's this strange and unsettling realism going on.

I looked at some of your mentors on your web site to see how they might of influenced your work, but I can't honestly say I see how, except in some of the Huppen stuff and your medievel (?) figures. It makes me wonder what was the watershed moment of your style?

Wow, thanks for the insight on the actual process of conceving and fleshing out the Silver Surfer. It's cool when an accomplished artist reveals their own struggles with a particular work.

Think your idea about the Silver Surfer as a really fluid figure is great. At first I thought you had made him too slieght, but now I think your concept is perfect for the character. But I don't know what the Surfer's central emotion is, or rather, shoul be now, to incarnate a definitive artistic vision.

[Hot Pink]

Don't know if many of you enjoy that type of music, but the new Opeth album, Ghost Reveries, is absolutely incredible.

I STILL CANNOT GET OVER HOW GOOD BLACKWATER PARK IS!

OPETH is amazing. i saw them do their first performance in teh states and it was the best thing ever.

seriously, they are the best band that is currently making music. consistent amazingness, and innovativeness!

[Hot Pink]

Is it similar to Dream Theater now? Cuz god in heaven, I love Dream Theater.

passive listeners could say they are like dream theater.
but i have found opeth to be more complex.

dream theater's drummer is amazing.

[Adi Granov]

Opeth is playing here pretty soon, I really should go. I've just gotten so damn lazy with going to shows, and that used to be one of my favorite things to do. Hmm, better go look into those tickets...

[J. Wilson]

Opeth will appear on this Saturday's (November 5th, 2005) edition of MTV2's Headbanger's Ball beginning at 10 PM EST.

[Adi Granov]

Too bad Headbanger's Ball is just an American thing. We don't get it in the UK.

[J. Wilson]

Too bad Headbanger's Ball is just an American thing. We don't get it in the UK.

That makes us better I guess!

LOL!

[Hot Pink]

well i had the opportunity to see opeth and nevermore on halloween, but unfortunatly i got pretty sick. god damnit!

[J. Wilson]

Opeth will be featured on Norwegian radio on Tuesday November 15th.

Details here! (http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=44060)

[J. Wilson]

Opeth's bus driver is in serious ca-ca!

Read the story here! (http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=44236)

[dookula]

i like opeth but i'm not the biggest fan...my favorite metal band is lamb of god, if you like good old school thrash with a modern feel this is it.

opeth is a little too theatricky and prog for me, but they have good songs though

[Adi Granov]

I've seen Lamb of God live. I really liked their first album but lost interest later on. I really like prog type of stuff so maybe that's it.

[Hot Pink]

I've seen Lamb of God live. I really liked their first album but lost interest later on. I really like prog type of stuff so maybe that's it. lamb of god's first album relied on LOTS OF COWBELL..

seriously, listen to it.
there is a consistent TINGTING TINGTING TINGTING in almost all breakdowns.

they seem to be heavily influenced by meshuggah too....

[Wayne Nichols]

Don't know if many of you enjoy that type of music, but the new Opeth album, Ghost Reveries, is absolutely incredible.

Opeth are very good. Their mellowed 'Damnation' was a nice slice of prog rock but their blend of prog death metal and acoustic is still what makes them outstanding for me.

I grew up on bands like Deicide, Morbid Angel, Carcass while at the same time loving Public Enemy and NWA while at the same time loving total 80s pop like
Erasure and Spandau Ballet as well as electronic stuff like Jean Michel Jarre and the burgeoning trance and Jungle scenes. An eclectic mix to be sure :)

- havent heard their new alb yet but I'll get to it eventually.

[J. Wilson]

Here's some more news on the band.

Story Link (http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=48772)