MetalSucks recently sat down with OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Akesson before their show at New York City’s Nokia Theater. Åkerfeldt and Akesson talked about their recent tours, how they’ve managed to stay relevant as a band, tempering fans’ reactions to a shift in musical direction, and, naturally, the new METALLICA album. An excerpt follows:

MetalSucks: Do you worry about alienating the old fans because of the change in sound?

Mikael Åkerfeldt: "No, but I think what we're doing is actually the only way to keep all types of fans. To be honest even though people have their favourite records and eras of the band, I think generally somebody might be wishing for another Blackwater Park, but I don't think that would please them. I think we have to basically take our pasts with us but try to develop something new. Once you try to please the fans, you come up with something shitty or gimmicky."

MetalSucks: Speaking of that, do you guys agree or disagree as it applies to Metallica? Have you guys heard the new album?

Åkerfeldt: "I heard one song.

MetalSucks: One song? What did you think?

Åkerfeldt: "It started like Load or something, but then it picked up and became really fast. I thought it was cool and definitely a step in the right direction. I think it's a bit like a desperate move in a way for them. People want the old stuff, so it didn't sound like a step forward more like a step backward. I still think, from what I heard, people are saying that it's the best one since the Black Album which I don't think is far from the truth. I didn't like the Load or Reload albums. I didn't like St. Anger either."

MetalSucks: I don't think anybody did.

Åkerfeldt: "This one, I could definitely see myself buying the album. I haven't yet, but I could. I am a big fan of Metallica, but I haven't heard a good album from them since 1991."

Fredrik Akesson: "Have you heard the entire thing?"

MetalSucks: Yeah.

Åkerfeldt: "What do you think?

MetalSucks: My kind of view is basically like his. It's definitely a step forward rather than trying to recreate something. At the same time, some of it does seem a little desperate, but it's definitely the best since the Black Album."

Akesson: "More thrash metal now?"

MetalSucks: There are some thrash elements on there. There is some Load kind of stuff on there.

Åkerfeldt: "The stuff I like most with Metallica is the progressive stuff. Like And Justice for All, I love that album and more of their orchestrated stuff like 'To Live Is To Die' and stuff like 'Orion'. I love that stuff, and I think in a way they haven't done anything like that since the Black Album. Like the first time I heard 'The Unforgiven' and 'Nothing Else Matters' I thought it was beautiful. That is something I think they missed I guess."

MetalSucks: So to bring this back to you guys, how do you try to stay relevant without trying to recreate the past or seem desperate? How do you balance that?

Åkerfeldt: "I don't know. I think a lot of people think we're desperate and that we're clutching at straws or something like that. There are more people who think we have developed and are turning into a better band with each release. It's all different from person to person. So far I never felt while writing music for an album that I was struggling. The song-writing for this last album was all there. A lot of people probably hate it, but a lot of people love it. You can't please anyone but yourself, and that's what we try to do. I think you can tell with our music that we're not trying to kiss up to fans of a certain record or era. We're just trying to please ourselves. I hope it shows."

To read the full interview, visit this location.