I'm 99% certain there will be no controversies whatsoever here...
3. Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Bloodbath)
Cleared the fog that was veiled around me
And blurred my sights
Suddenly I'm no longer aching
To honor my plights.
Rising moon and my skin is peeling
Past undone
Suddenly I can't justify
What I had become.Quite interestingly, I've known him the longest on the list after only James Hetfield, Bruce Dickinson and Bono. Opeth was a band I really liked, mainly for its first two albums, nine years ago (yes, I'm serious), and what makes it really special is that back then I couldn't stand growling or in fact anything that isn't more or less clean singing. Opeth was the only exception, and the first one. Over time my attitude has changed a lot, but they, or in fact, him, were the first to pave the path.
After having returned to listening to the band after 8 years (no idea why I didn't continue with my interest in it back then), I see much more than back then, obviously. And well, without doubt, Mikael and his vocals is one of the most amazing points of their music. First, like already mentioned, his growling really stands out, and I think even the most kvlt death metal fans who consider Opeth to be its own level of death metal blasphemy, appreciate it. It sounds absolutely POWERFUL, can sound simply dark, can sound really evil, or can sound simply death metal, without the need to look deeper. And on the other hand... he has without doubt one of the most beautiful male voices I have ever heard. I don't think anyone who has heard To Bid You Farewell, Windowpane or, obviously, Atonement can disagree even a bit. I don't know how he can combine the two so well, but he can. There are songs which are absolutely top notch in both styles, like The Baying of The Hounds (which has the best growling vocals I have
ever heard, plus the "drown in the deep mire..." part which is probably the most beautifully sad moment on the album), or my favourite The Grand Conjuration, where even the really calm, quiet vocals are capable of scaring the hell out of anyone if listened to at night. I know I still have much to discover, though...
And if I made a separate list for "favourite band frontmen", he would definitely compete for place one. I think no one can disagree.
We are Opeth.
We are from Stockholm.
Which is in Sweden.Personal highlights:Black Rose Immortal (
Morningrise)
I thought of separate songs but couldn't decide... the entire
Ghost Reveries album, with The Baying of The Hounds an inch above the others.