In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, Mikael Åkerfeldt, frontman of Progressive Metal band Opeth, revealed his admiration for Morbid Angel, one of the pioneers of Death Metal. According to him, the band, and more specifically their frontman David Vincent, embodies the pinnacle of the genre.
“Morbid Angel is, without a doubt, the best death metal band of all time. Alters Of Madness had everything I was looking for: an incredible level of musicianship, but also a rare intensity… and exceptional death metal vocals. David Vincent is better than Chuck Schuldiner [fondateur de Death]and Chuck is amazing! David Vincent is the king of death metal, and I shaped my own voices in his image”confié Mikael Åkerfeldt.
Morbid Angel et l’influence durable du death metal
Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson are unanimous about Morbid Angel’s major influence on the history of death metal. The album Alters Of Madness had a major impact on Mikael, especially thanks to David Vincent’s powerful vocal performances. Fredrik agrees, adding that the album Domination also marked an important period for them.
“We toured with Morbid Angel during the Domination era, and we thought we would surpass them with our more folk and rock album, Morningrise. Needless to say, that didn’t happen.”Mikael joked.
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Respect for other pioneers of the genre
Besides Morbid Angel, Åkerfeldt mentioned other bands that have left an indelible mark on the world of extreme metal. He cites Entombed, but also bands associated with black metal like Bathory, as well as proto-death bands like Celtic Frost and Hellhammer.
Mikael shared a funny anecdote about his first purchase of a Hellhammer record in a department store in Stockholm. Not having enough money to afford the album, he changed the price on the label to fit his limited means.
The Last Will And Testament : Un retour attendu
With The Last Will And Testament set to release on October 11th via Reigning Phoenix Music, Opeth are set to offer their fans a (partial) return to death metal sounds. After 16 years of exploring new musical paths, this album marks a significant step in the band’s evolution, while also paying homage to their heavier roots.
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