Opeth Latest News

Two Slipknot Contests, Trivium Updates, Free Shit

All this week on RoadrunnerRecords.com.

Slipknot play the Cypress Hill Smoke Out and you could win. OR win a trip to see Slipknot play Trinity of Terror in Las Vegas on Halloween.

Be a part of Tommy Lee's new Methods of Mayhem album.

If you're in London, a special offer on Trivium shows.

More signmeto.roadrunnerrecords.com updates are in the works.

Win signed Megadeth posters and more in Free Shit and see some winners of our Dream Theater and Opeth poster design contest.

Brand new Black Stone Cherry music posted. Listen to "Soulcreek" now.

Mutiny Within are giving you updates every day on their goings on.

Dream Theater/Opeth Poster Design Winners

For the last couple of months TunelabMusic.com and Roadrunner Records ran a contest to design the ultimate Progressive Masters tour poster featuring Opeth and Dream Theater. We received numerous amazing entries, but have chosen the following 15 as winners in the order I saw them.

Alan Francis
Veselina Simeonova
Ellison Fernandes
Rob McCarthy
Alexander Cortés
Maria Suciu (my personal favourite)
Ioan Dragan
Tiia Ruotsalainen
Bill Riggio
Alann Sapone
Daniel Peters
Rolf Haug Færøy
Aubtin Heydrie
Lewis Allan
Ryan Beasley

You can see their entries and everyone else's entries in the comments on the contest page. Each winner receives a signed booklet from each bands' latest release.

WHAT'S THE FREE SHIT TODAY?

We're giving away DevilDriver, Dream Theater, and Killswitch Engage music.

There are also some great new contests for visitors to RR.com: win Call of Duty: World at War, an autographed Stone Sour photo, signed CD booklets from Dream Theater and Opeth, or a DragonForce patch.

In tickets we've got two biggies: a flyaway to party with Nickelback in Vegas (sponsored by AOL Radio) and a chance to win tickets to a Collective Soul show in your hood.

Finally, from our partners: the Killswitch Engage fan club is offering a backstage tour with the band, Madina Lake are giving away a signed guitar, win a copy of Guitar Hero: Smash Hits featuring DragonForce from AltSounds.com, and enter Megadeth's Endgame lyrics contest.

MUST OWN 5.1 SURROUND SOUND ALBUMS

Thanks to Metal Insider for adding Porcupine Tree and Opeth to your list!

OPETH'S MIKAEL AND FREDRIK GUEST DJ ON SIRIUS

Liquid Metal (Sirius 27 / XM 42)

Tuesday, July 7^th @ 6pm ET

Repeat Broadcasts:

Thursday, July 9^th @ 12pm ET

Saturday, July 11^th @ 2pm ET

Sunday, July 12^th @ 9pm ET

Mikael Akerfeldt and Fredrik Akesson, members of one of Sweden’s greatest musical exports OPETH, will be hosting a guest DJ special on Liquid Metal (Sirius 27 / XM 42) that runs the gamut of the rock spectrum! Each dude was given the task of picking five songs that represent who they are as musicians and fans. You’ll be surprised at their selections. Without giving out exactly what they’ll be playing (we want you to tune in, duh!), let’s just say it’ll be one of the most diverse playlists ever programmed in the history of the channel. From 1972 to 2002, let Mikael and Fredrik take you on a journey through the tracks that inspired them to become one of the most respected metal bands in the world today.

A REVEALING INTERVIEW WITH OPETH

GO HERE to check out a very candid interview with Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt courtesy of Expressnightout.com.

Once you read the interview, have a look at some great photos up on Skope.com by going HERE.

OPETH INTERVIEWED AT MYYEARBOOK.COM

Kate Heath of MyYearbook.com interviewed Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth recently. In it the two discuss Watershed, the current tour, Enslaved, and a little more of the band's history.

OPETH ON TOUR - FIRST REVIEW IN + PHOTOS

Opeth are currently touring the U.S. Visit our tour page to find a date near you. To whet your appetite, read the About.com Opeth review from the Starland Ballroom show and see some live shots of the band.

Give a Man a Fish

Where I learn about Russian brides, musical gifts, and dispense a little knowledge. Don't forget to email me at webmaster@roadrunnerrecords.com with your questions.

Hello. My name is Oksana. I understand that you don't know me, and I don't know you, but in the future all can change probably. I ask that you have given me some minutes on perusals of my letter. I hope that it will not make difficulty to you. Agency Acquaintances in Cheboksary gave me your e-mail address. To me explained that you very good person and you very much approach to me. I have come to Agency to find the future husband from other country. Why from another country? Because I have been very much disappointed with Men from my country and now I search my life in abroad. I has tired to be lonely and to carry spend all days equally. I want to love and to be happy! I asked myself a question why I can not it. And I come in this agency with such the request that they have helped me to find the person for that I will happy. Yes certainly I have paid some money that has found the person for me. But what is it the money in comparison with love? Nothing. It is simply emptiness. Love is the most important feeling in a life, without which our lives grey and empty. I shall not speak how many I have paid. I hope that you will understand me. I very much hope that you will be interested in me and we can continue our dialogue after that letters. And I very much hope that I shall leave in yours opinion good Impression about me. I want to tell some words about me. As I already spoke my name is Oksana. I'm 28 years. I live in Cheboksary.

You can look my external qualities in my photo which I have attached in the letter. I live with my mum together and I work as doctor. I have gone studies on this profession, in order to help people. I look like on my father because he gave your life to rescue the little girl, and he has rescued her only he lost. I shall tell you about it later.

I love my professional though In Russia it is not as well appreciated as in other foreign countries. I love an active way of life but time not suffices. In my life I dream to find the person with which I can to lead all life and I shall be happy. I dream about big and cheerful, friendly family. I don't search ideal man. The main thing that in him there were high qualities as skill to love, to respect, to appreciate relations, to love children and is skilful to love and make the happy partner. For me the age does not matter because the love has not limit. I very much hope that you will write to me and will tell about yourself. I am already lonely very long time. I had earlier shot relations but it was failed. I very much hope that you become my unique person in my life. So let's not lose time. I ask you that you have answered my letter and then we can learn each other better. I hope that I have liked to you. If serious relations aren't interesting to you or I am not pleasant to you, say me it please. Is it well?

I very much ask that you have answered to me ONLY to my personal e-mail: oksanasor@gmail.com

I shall wait from you the letter with the big impatience!

Bye bye!

Tired from loneliness Oksana.

Nice fish. I also want to love and be happy. Your picture reminded me that fish make me happy, especially in sandwiches, which I love. Time for me to get relations with a fish sandwich then. See ya!

Kyle Oconnor writes:Hi guys just a quick question that me and my brother have been discussing for a long time now. I am a slipknot fan while my lil brother is a killswitch engage fan we were wondering who has sold the most records out of the two bands. obiiously we both back our own band but if you could answer this question it would be great.

thanks alot

p.s. keep up the great work i love the music that comes from this label you guys rock!!!

Kyle, you win. Time to beat the crap out of your little brother (but take it easy, he'll save your ass in a bar fight in fifteen years). Slipknot have sold more records than Killswitch Engage, for sure, though Killswitch is also one of our most popular bands. Thanks for the compliments!

And don't forget, fifteen years from now.

www.myspace.com/twelveafterband check this shit out, were sick of being used by our fake manager, we got talent stage presents and fuckin awsome music, hit me back

I'm going to assume Zach from Twelve After wrote this as the guy who lists his name first on the MySpace page tends to be the dude running the show. So, Zach, I didn't actually listen to your band (I'm currently enjoying Opeth's My Arms, Your Hearse), but your email did intrigue me.

What kind of presents do you give out at your show? Is it like a pinata with delightful candy and toys for all the little children? Or maybe those Kinder eggs with the gadgets inside of them? Presents get me excited. Are your shows like Channukah every day of the year? Please don't give me socks, though. I have plenty enough of those as it is.

Also, did you buy the Hasbro V3 Music Manager? I hear that one has some defects. For instance it still believes music is released on wax cylinders and that the most popular musical instrument of modern times is the ukelele.

MIKE GITTER A&R OPETH WATERSHED REVIEW!

Mike Akerfeldt has a cooler Ipod than you’ve ever imagined – and he wants to DJ your next party, metal gig and family get-together. That’s Opeth in a nutshell. What can you say? Aky’s an overachiever, trying to cram for his “History of Rock” master-thesis into seven songs whilst rockin' you like a worldwide deluge and armageddonin’ it like nobody's business.

“Watershed” is the kinda record that makes you feel like one of them “damned dirty apes” tossing their poop at Kubrick’s monolith. It’s dense. Not so much the Jeff Buckley via Morbid Angel via Captain Beyond megatronic shuffle of everything since Opeth's entre platter: “Orchid” Nope, “Watershed” is kinda like that other bit in “2001” where the spaceman is hurtling down the cosmic poop shoot to have dinner, get social security, go to Florida and get reborn as the “Star Child”.

Check out the whole review HERE!

OPETH ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR!

Opeth Announce US Headline Tour

Swedish metal titans, Opeth, announce US headline tour to begin in May. The tour will be sponsored by Decibel Magazine and Enslaved are confirmed to support.

Tour routing is as follows:

01 May New Jersey @ Starland Ballroom
02 May Boston MA @ House of Blues
03 May Montreal @ Medley
04 May Toronto ON @ Sound Academy
05 May Pittsburgh PA @ Mr. Smalls
06 May Chicago IL @ House of Blues
08 May Omaha NE @ Sokol Auditorium
09 May Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
11 May Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
12 May Portland OR @ Roseland Theater
13 May Chico, CA @ Senator Theater
14 May San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom
15 May Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
16 May Los Angeles CA @ Avalon or Henry Fonda Theater
17 May Tucson AZ @ Rialto Theater
19 May San Antonio, TX @ Scout Bar
20 May Oklahoma City OK @ Diamond Ballroom
21 May Memphis TN @ New Daisy Theater
22 May Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theater
23 May Columbus OH @ Newport Music Hall
24 May Detroit, MI @ Emerald Theater or Clutch Cargos
26 May New York, NY @ Grand Ballroom @ the Manhatten Center
27 May Washington DC @ 930 Club

MIKAEL AKERFELDT TO ATTEND NAMM SHOW!

Via Blabbermouth.net:

Mikael Åkerfeldt (guitar, vocals) and Fredrik Akesson (guitar) of the Swedish progressive metal band OPETH will attend this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, which is being held January 15-18 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

Read the whole post HERE!

ROADRUNNER VOTED #1 IN GAUNTLET READER POLL

The Gauntlet 2008 Readers' Poll results are in and Roadrunner Records took the top honors in the label category! Thank you to all of our supportive fans. We promise you won't be disappointed in 2009 either. All of you believe that as well since no Roadrunner bands appeared in the "Bands you hope not to hear from in 2009" category.

Slipknot took the #2 spot for biggest release of 2008 and best album. Opeth pulled in #3 in the former category. See who else placed in multiple categories at the above link.

OPETH BURDEN CONTEST WINNERS!

So we've selected the winners of the Opeth Burden comment contest!

The following two reviews are the winners, let us know what you think of them!

missmaniac

HAIL OPETH!
My husband and I got together in 95. We found out about Opeth at around the same exact time. Opeth has been "our" band ever since. We eagerly anticipate each album, each dvd, each song and each video. We savor every little second of each offering - given of their own free will. Opeth doesn't have to share their Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical art form with us, but they do! And once again, we aren't disappointed! They NEVER cease to amaze us!

Have only seen them 3 times here in New Orleans, but each time was an experience of a lifetime!! One of the rare bands that sound exactly the same as their cd when they play live!! Please, without mercy - MIGHTY OPETH - we beg you - keep kicking our asses!

With infernal love & hugs,
Fiendance and MissManiac

Hellequin

This is a video to contemplate... it becomes difficult to speak words capable of reaching the sublime state that the junction between the song and the video achieves.
In my opinion, it creates a certain introspection in it's viewer, as a piece of art should do. As such, it actually completes the song (Burden, of course), as the song completes the video. Both create a single piece of art, culminating in what, for me, it's Opeth: a feeling that I cannot describe, that feeling that us all Opeth listeners and fans know pretty darn well x), a musical orgasm as I like to call it. At the same time it awakens other feelings.

I cannot speak of this video (being the album, Watershed, and it's first video for Porcelain Heart not forgotten, and included) as the highest point of Opeth - as artists-, but as a maturation of their art, as well as of their creativity and sense of experimentation.

The video maintains the song's mellow mood, giving it a beautiful strength and an image; it gives the song a face.

It is definatelly something to keep engraved in the memory of those who watch/listen to it.

:)

OPETH NOMINATED FOR SWEEDISH GRAMMY! VOTE NOW!

Opeth has been nominated for a 2008 Sweedish Grammy and need the help of thier fans to make it happen. We just voted and let me tell you, guessing what to do in Sweedish is difficult! So read the directions Opeth posted for you below:

Via Opeth's MySpace:

We've been nominated for a Swedish Grammy and we need your help!

Go to:
http://vote.grammis.se/kategorier/arets-hardrock.aspx

To vote for album of the year, you click 1, 2, or 3, and then "Rosta".

Right now there are 10 nominees, and it's going to be narrowed down to 5, so we need your votes to help us out, so that we don't get eliminated!

Thanks for the votes!
Opeth

HEADBANGERS BALL SATURDAY NIGHT VIDEO LISTING!

Headbangers Ball / 11.29.08 (Technically 11.30.08)

http://headbangersblog.com

2AM-3AM on MTV2

Headbangers Ball will not air due to

holiday programming on 12.27.08

SATURDAY'S VIDEOS

BLIND MYSELF - LOST IN TIME

SIX FEET UNDER - SEED OF FILTH

NORMA JEAN - ROBOTS 3 HUMANS (Headbangers Ball debut)

MOTORHEAD - ROCK OUT

OPETH - BURDEN (Headbangers Ball debut)

*GUNS N' ROSES - PARADISE CITY

DIR EN GREY - DOZING GREEN

WHITECHAPEL - POSSESSION

PELICAN - LOST IN THE HEADLIGHTS

*DEMON HUNTER - UNDYING

TODAY IS THE DAY - I.E.D.

OPETH WILL APPEAR ON BRUCE DICKINSONS RADIO SHOW!

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH will be IRON MAIDEN front man Bruce Dickinson's guests on December 5 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". Listen to the broadcast live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time at BBC.co.uk

-Blabbermouth

WORLD PREMIERE OPETH VIDEO ONLINE NOW!

That's right Opeth fans, Burden is live NOW! Check it out the VIDEO section!

FREE SHIT: We're going to select some of the best comments on the video page and send you some signed Watershed album booklets, so make em good!

METAL INJECTION INTERVIEWS OPETH

Metal Injection has just posted a new video interview with Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson before the show. The band discuss the mellow direction of the new album, the female vocalist cameo, their music appearing in Guitar Hero, how they pick their set list, David Coverdale, how they plan on spending the rest of 2008, touring plans for 2009 and much more.

Click here to watch the interview.