In a new interview with Blabbermouth, Mikael Åkerfeldt, the legendary vocalist and guitarist reflected on his creative plans and the future of OPETH. While he confirmed that the band is not disbanding, he admitted to feeling burned out and in need of a personal creative outlet.
“I cannot say much, but I have a project that I’m doing,” Åkerfeldt explained. “Hopefully, it will materialize… That’s going to be fun. Then, I might have some project as well, like, for me, not for the band. I’m a bit burned out, as you can probably tell. I would really need a break from the band and be regular Mikael, not band Mikael.”
Despite the need for a pause, he reassured fans that OPETH’s future is not in jeopardy—though it may look different. “OPETH is not going to split up. If we do, we’re going to disappear. It’s not going to be a big hurrah, ‘final tour.’ That’s not going to happen. We’re going to disappear. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever stop playing. We love each other, and we love playing together.”
Though details remain scarce, fans have speculated that the mysterious project could be connected to STORM CORROSION, the experimental collaboration between Steven Wilson and Åkerfeldt. In a previous interview with India’s Sinusoidal Music, Åkerfeldt acknowledged the possibility of a second album from the partnership, noting that while both musicians remain proud of their self-titled release, a direct sequel may not ultimately happen.
“No, it’s not really going anywhere,” he said of the collaboration. “Other than when we talk—or text rather. Usually when we’re texting, [Steven] usually sends me funny clips or something. So we’re not necessarily talking about any collaborations or music or anything in terms of us doing something. But we have talked a lot over the years about doing another STORM CORROSION, especially, because we’re both very happy with that record.”
However, Åkerfeldt emphasized that neither artist wants to repeat themselves creatively. “None of us, we don’t really know what to do, because we are not the type of people who would want to repeat ourselves. Even if I think that album is great, and there’s more to do with that sound, I think we wanna probably do something different. And I’m thinking maybe something that’s even more hard, more special, eclectic. I think it’s probably gonna happen at some point.”
The original Storm Corrosion album, released in 2012, marked a unique fusion of progressive rock and experimental textures from two of the genre’s most respected figures. It debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., selling 9,400 copies in its first week, and reached No. 45 on the official U.K. chart.
For now, fans will have to wait to learn more about Åkerfeldt’s upcoming project—but if his track record is any indication, it could be something uniquely compelling.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.