Watershed Session diary

As I said I was very happy with the schedules we'd set up as it allowed me to go back home every weekend or so. But while in the studio we usually worked between 8:00 and 19:00. Then we had dinner, and Fredrik, my friends...is a great chef! Wow, he cooked some downright delicious stuff! Last time we had Fredrik who shot the documentaries we've done, who is also a great cook, but now we have a new guitarist who really can play AND make great food! Not bad! Other than that we basically spent our time talking shit and watching movies. We saw "American gangster" which was amazing I think.

We recorded a few covers and finally decided on "Bridge of sighs" by Robin Trower, which is a fantastic dark blues song with great vocals and overall vibe. We also did "Den ständiga resan" by Marie Fredriksson, which obviously is a odd choice in many ways. She's the singer from Roxette but has a done a bunch of solo records. This song is taken from the album with the same name and I've loved it ever since it came out. A very dark record, even though it has some very pop sounding songs, most of them are pretty fucking dark and just...great songs!

It's sung in Swedish and I admit it was a bit uncomfortable listening back to it for the first time, but I think we did a good version. It's basically just me playing guitar and a solo + singing and Fred is doing a solo as well. It just sounds like "Stockholm" this song. Right there!

The last one we did was "Would?" by Alice in chains which is another odd choice, but we all liked them and liked the song. It sounds pretty much like their version but worse I guess. Alright though. Always loved that band and the song is a classic.

We also recorded an extra song which was written by Per and myself called "Derelict herds" and has I think one of my best lyric ever. Really cool, psychedelic song with some fusion unison leads in there. Per's really got some weird stuff cooking...lovely!

Overall I must say it was a very enjoyable experience recording this album. We worked hard and disciplined which is unusual for us but it really worked. Everyone really delivered and the sound is really amazing I think.

We had one night of drinks and that's it! Amazing! We had some wine and did a metal quiz. I was the "host" and Per won easily over the other uneducated bunch.

Now we're back home again. The album's done and I'm expecting a Roadrunner promo copy of it soon. I'm slightly nervous what everyone will think. The label and management loves it but I have to say I kinda expected them too. At the end of the day I know I am happy and that's what matters to me, but obviously it'd be a nice "bonus" if our people all over the world will dig it too. We'll see...

I can't wait to start playing these songs live...we play them well already but it's going to get a lot better. I am however plagued with mixed feelings towards the aspect of touring because of my family. I have a love/hate relationship with it these days. But...it's fun! Most of the time, and I like to have...fun too!

The cover is ready. Travis Smith has done it. And as usual he sent me something just thrown together and...there it is! It looks typical Opeth I guess. I love it and it ties in with the lyrics and music really well. Dark stuff....of course!

I'm writing you now 3 days later. I have the title and it's "Watershed". I like it, I love it actually. My first title was "Repulsion" but when I told Jonas (Katatonia) he started sending my mock covers with the Opeth logo and the green head from the "Horrified" sleeve by the band Repulsion. Yeah, I had it coming...so fucking forgive me for dipping my toes in the water of classic titles. Song titles are done too and I like them.

I can't be bothered reading back for misspellings and such, and I'll leave you for now with a "Hey!"

I also have to say that we've already done some great promotion for the record. We rented a studio in Stockholm and invited journalists from all over the world to come and listen. The reaction so far has been beyond great. I am no psychic but I have enough human knowledge that I can probably sense if people are being genuine with me or not, and well, every one that I talked to during the listening sessions said they're blown away and that this album is a big step forward for us. Yep, a beer is well deserved...or 10?

We're doing more press and press trips very soon which is somewhat of a drag but also fun in some odd way. I suspect we'll be working our asses off from now...so...well, gotta go!