Opeth

Released on September 30, 2016, Opeth's 12th album found Mikael Åkerfeldt taking new risks: "The idea of stagnating, of writing a record simply to feed a career, that’s scary"

In 2011 the Swedes, bored with the scene they were part of, took a new direction with their 10th album

She discusses the Opeth album that gives her goosebumps, the one she falls asleep to, and how their work helped her create gloomy, dark paintings

Discover his thoughts on three-fingered guitar playing, a rock icon asking for his autograph, hot chillis, abandoned rabbit suits, never learning to drive, retirement, the 70s codpiece – and why he took up flute in the first place

They may have bewildered some listeners in the 70s, but several leading lights of other genres happily confirm they were a massive influence

When the Porcupine Tree and Opeth leaders got together in 2012, they were prepared to defy fans. And Åkerfleldt only wanted one thing out of the collaboration: a copy of their record

Beset by overwork, listless colleagues and a family tragedy, Mikael Åkerfeldt felt like splitting the Swedish group apart as they worked through 2002’s Deliverance to get to 2003’s Damnation

It's a long way to the top, if you play rock'n'roll

Making up for childhood poverty, the Opeth mastermind championed classic bands of the 70s when no one else cared – which made him a strange figure on the 90s Swedish metal scene