Opeth
2nd February 2017
Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Review by Sarah Kidd, Photography by Mark Derricutt.
Twilight is falling and pilgrims are gathering from near and far to witness what will surely be an almost spiritual experience. The first New Zealand show from Swedish prog artists Opeth in nearly 11 years sold out weeks ago; the venue almost at capacity shortly after the doors have opened. The merchandise line is wrapping around and down past the bar like a snake, and there are fevered conversations being held throughout the crowd between complete strangers of what pure delights the set list could possibly offer on this exquisite night.
And this is something that is common at Opeth shows. Looking around the crowd tonight, it is easy to see the influence that the band have had over the last 27 years. There is a wonderful mix of ages and nationalities throughout the audience, and the atmosphere is one of yes, anticipation, but there is also a real sense of affinity with fellow fans.
But before being blessed by the legends themselves, the audience is treated to a set by Brisbane based progressive rock band Caligula’s Horse. The five-piece wasted absolutely no time in showing the crowd exactly what they were capable of. Lead singer Jim Grey’s impressive vocal range with its beautiful subtleties immediately captured the room’s attention especially through the opening verses of their track ‘Bloom’. Despite if being their first time playing in New Zealand, Caligula’s Horse had solid stage presence and they were certainly a fine choice to open for a band of Opeth’s calibre. Finishing with the track ‘Rust’ off their latest album, the band received well deserved applause from the full house.
Soon enough the house lights are extinguished; faint smoked filled spots shine down upon the stage as one by one the members of Opeth take their positions. Last to arrive, the fans can no longer contain their excitement as they herald the arrival of Mikael Akerfeldt himself. The stage remains bathed in low lighting as the opening notes to the title track of Opeth’s latest offering ‘Sorceress’ echoes out across The Powerstation. And just as those wonderfully heavy driving notes came in, the stage was flooded with blood red lighting, the crowd erupting with the pure aural and visual pleasure of it all and so began what was to be a journey through a set of some of Opeth’s greatest musical offerings.
Formed in the tiny suburb of Bandhagen, Stockholm in 1990, this legendary Swedish band is no stranger to the touring circuit, having played at some of the biggest metal festivals around as well as headlining several world tours. One of the most endearing aspects of the band is that of lead vocalist Akerfeldt; with a speaking voice that could easily rival Attenborough himself, Akerfeldt is at ease with the audience, interacting with them on a regular basis, especially to thank them for their time and appreciation. “We arrived yesterday morning, Akerfeldt began with a smile, “we haven’t really done much, except Axe [Axenrot] and I got drunk and went record shopping. The rest of the guys went to Hobbit Village, is that what it’s called? Hobbit Village?”
Akerfeldt recently stated in an interview that this current line-up is “the best band situation I’ve ever had” and that can certainly be seen with how well the band played tonight. They are effortlessly tight and yet their demeanour is one of peace. This demeanour also translated through the audience; the room had the feel of old friends sharing in an experience. Masterpieces such as ‘Face of Melinda’ from the album ‘Still Life’ and ‘Cusp of Eternity’ from ‘Pale Communion’ took the audience on a journey through Opeth’s wonderfully varied soundscapes, while the heartbreaking “In My Time of Need” prompted a tender sing along. The diversity of Opeth’s music is truly mind bending; charming folk style music is interjected with deathly growls and heavy bass lines, while the lyrics transport the listener to alternate realms.
All too soon Opeth were nearing the end of their set. Akerfeldt took the opportunity before the final song of the night to introduce the fans to “musical legend”, bass player Martin Mendez. After introducing the rest of the band, Akerfeldt gave a lengthy introduction to drummer Martin ‘Axe’ Axenrot by first describing every single part of the drum kit that he played, much to the amusement of all who were there. Wrapping the set with the lengthy ‘The Drapery Falls’ the band bid the crowd farewell, however it was pretty obvious they would not be allowed to get away that easily. Opeth returned for the obligatory encore with Akerfeldt advising the audience that what they were about to play was the one track that none of them had wanted to rehearse before coming on tour and with that the audience were treated to the very popular choice of the extraordinary track ‘Deliverance’. Let’s hope it’s not another 10 years before we see these masterful musicians on our shores again!
Were you there at Powerstation to witness this intense show? Or have you seen Opeth somewhere else before? Tell me about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Sorceress
- Ghost of Perdition
- Demon of Fall
- Wild Flowers
- Face of Melinda
- In My Time of Need
- Devil’s Orchard
- Cusp of Eternity
- Heir Apparent
- Drapery Falls
- Deliverance [Encore]
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