Heavy Metal Tribune: The Opeth Experience: A HMT Exclusive

The Opeth Experience: A HMT Exclusive

Author: CynnedCynner | Filed under: Death Metal, Opeth, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Singapore, Sweden, Views From the Pit

9th February 2012 was by far, the BEST day of Heavy Metal Tribune.

In fact, the whole month was exceptionally awesome!!!

Heavy Metal Tribune (and friends) got to meet

Opeth and the Swedish Ambassador to Singapore!

(From Left: JJ, Ling, Chris, Cyn, Martín Méndez, Clarence, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Fredrik Åkesson)

Photos courtesy of LingNemesis

We celebrated our 2nd Anniversary on the 4th Feb 2012 (actual anniversary date is 2nd Feb), and had a great night at Wala Wala Cafe Pub mainly because Shirlyn and The UnXpected made us feel so special and welcomed.

Right after that auspicious event,

we woke up to a pleasant invitation from the Swedish Embassy of Singapore.

Up Close and Personal with Opeth.

HMT Fan-boys & Girls raving over names near Opeth Members in Ambassador's Guestbook

Knowing that we're gonna have this chance to meet Opeth, we gathered our collections (as well as some privileged friends') for autographs.

It was regrettable that we didn't get the chance for a formal interview, but a one-on-one chit-chat with them was more than we could ever imagine to be.

Opeth was really friendly, nice and no airs at all, despite being severely jet-lagged and tired.

Our Finance Minister and long-time Opeth admirer, JJ, had good long chats with both the bassist, Martin Mendez as well as Opeth's newest member, keyboardist Joakim Svalberg. Martin talked at length about the lack of sleep, no thanks to events that occurred in the Maldives. He also discussed about some techniques he had learnt in order to play the double bass in Opeth's Heritage. Very nice fellow to chat with albeit evidently lacking in sleep.

Joakim also gamely discussed his previous outing here in Singapore, together with Yngwie Malmsteen as part of the backing personnel for Malmsteen and Rising Force back in 2002. No stranger to Singapore's weather, he definitely did look like the more well-acclimatized of the four that were present.

HMT Editors with Swedish Ambassador to Singapore Ingemar Dolfe

Swedish Ambassador to Singapore Ingemar Dolfe,
HMT Editors with Friends Colin and Chris,
and Opeth LIVE in SG Organiser Ravael

Swedish Ambassador to Singapore Ingemar Dolfe and Opeth

All the guests!

Opeth and the Awesome Team at the Embassy!

Time to marvel at the wonderful Swedish Ambassador's Residence!

We have also learnt that the purpose of the first floor of the Swedish Residence is also to reflect Sweden in its best. (Swedish furnishings, design, art, and deco.)

This is the first every Crown Princess of Sweden. It is said that in the past, the line of throne is only passed men-to-men and when there isn't any, they will look from another line. So this is the first time they have a Crown Princess to be next in line. Hurray for women!

Much thanks and appreciation to the Embassy of Sweden for the cordial invitation and warm reception at your residence!

Even more thanks to the immaculate Opeth for providing us a night of sheer unadulterated aural pleasure!