Mikael Åkerfeldt


Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive metal band Opeth, and the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath. He was also guitarist for the "one-off" band Steel, and is part of the collaboration Storm Corrosion with Steven Wilson.
Åkerfeldt is known for his progressive rock-influenced songwriting style and his frequent use of both clean baritone and growled vocals. Åkerfeldt was ranked #42 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World, and #11 among "The Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists" on MetalSucks.

Career

A native of Stockholm, Mikael Åkerfeldt was the vocalist for Eruption, a death metal band which he formed in 1988 at 14 years old. After Eruption came to an end in 1990, he joined Opeth, ostensibly as a bassist. When vocalist David Isberg insisted Åkerfeldt join the band, all other members left. Isberg assumed guitar duties, and when he left Opeth two years later, Åkerfeldt replaced him as the vocalist.
Åkerfeldt performed the death vocals on Katatonia's album Brave Murder Day and their EP Sounds of Decay.
Åkerfeldt revealed in September 2009 that he is contemplating recording a singer-songwriter acoustic solo album.
However, in 2014 he expressed the view that he didn't have the need of a special solo project and that he can put pretty much anything into Opeth.
In an interview on STIM magazine, he revealed that one of the highlights of his career was Opeth's performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Influences

Åkerfeldt is a collector of obscure 1970s rock and heavy metal albums. He also tends to show his influence from these obscure bands, making reference to them in Opeth album titles such as Blackwater Park, Still Life and My Arms, Your Hearse, as well as songs such as "Master's Apprentices" and "Goblin". He is also influenced extensively by jazz, the musician Ritchie Blackmore, Magma and its founder Christian Vander, and Hideki Ishima.
When asked what the album was that 'made him a metalhead', Åkerfeldt answered that it was probably The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden, but also mentioned Lick It Up by Kiss. In a different interview he stated that he usually cites Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as the best heavy metal album of all time. He also has considered Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny as his favourite metal album.

Personal life

On 15 August 2003, Mikael Åkerfeldt married his longtime girlfriend, Anna. In 2004 Anna gave birth to their first daughter, Melinda. The couple had their second daughter, Mirjam, in 2007. In 2016, in an interview with The Quietus, Åkerfeldt revealed he had gone through a divorce.
Åkerfeldt is known to be friends with Steven Wilson, the frontman of one of his favorite bands, Porcupine Tree, who also produced the Opeth albums Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Damnation; Mike Portnoy, former drummer of Dream Theater ; and Jonas Renkse of Katatonia. He is also presumed to be the basis for the character Toki Wartooth from the popular cartoon Metalocalypse, as divulged in an interview with Ultimate Guitar. Åkerfeldt doesn't practice any religion and considers himself an atheist.

Equipment

Åkerfeldt has almost exclusively used PRS guitars since the Deliverance/Damnation era and has his own signature model. He also occasionally uses guitars by a variety of other brands as well, including Gibson and Jackson.

Electric guitars

Åkerfeldt uses the following electric guitars, according to the Opeth web site.
  1. PRS SE Mikael Åkerfeldt Signature Guitar
  2. PRS P24
  3. PRS Custom 24
  4. PRS Custom 24
  5. PRS Custom 24
  6. PRS Custom 24
  7. PRS SC 245
  8. PRS 22 fret Modern Eagle
  9. PRS Modern Eagle Single Cut 24 Fret
  10. PRS Custom 22 12-String
  11. PRS Singlecut
  12. PRS Starla
  13. Gibson Flying V
  14. Gibson Les Paul Standard V.O.S.
  15. Gibson SG Standard 1961 Reissue
  16. Fender Stratocaster 1975
  17. Fender Stratocaster 1972 Reissue
  18. Jackson Guitars USA RR USA Model
  19. B.C. Rich Mockingbird

    Acoustic guitars/Steel string

Åkerfeldt uses the following acoustic guitars, according to the Opeth web site.
  1. CF Martin
  2. CF Martin 00016GT
  3. Takamine 12 String
  4. Seagull
  5. CF Martin 000-28

    Acoustic guitars/Classical nylon

  6. Amalio Burguet 3am
  7. Landola CT/2/w

    Amps

Åkerfeldt uses the following amps, according to the Opeth web site.
  1. Marshall Vintage Modern 2466
  2. Laney GH100L with cabinet
  3. Laney VH100R
  4. Laney VC30
  5. Fender 1000 Rocpro
  6. Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra preamp / effects processor
  7. Marshall JCM900

    Discography

with Opeth