For years, Steven Wilson and Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt shared a close creative bond. Wilson had notably produced three of Opeth’s most celebrated records: Blackwater Park (2001), Deliverance (2002), and Damnation (2003). His influence during this period was undeniable, helping shape the sound that elevated the band’s profile in the metal and progressive music scenes.
But by the time work began on 2005’s Ghost Reveries, the dynamic had shifted. Speaking with Metal Hammer, Åkerfeldt reflected on this turning point, revealing that while he had considered involving Wilson again, it ultimately didn’t seem necessary:
“I’d learned many of his tricks along the way. I could hear some ideas in my head that I like to think he would have brought up. I was becoming a producer more and more, and by the time we did ‘Ghost Reveries,’ I could just tell, ‘Yeah, I want this thing to happen, I want this effect or whatever.'”
Instead, Åkerfeldt chose to collaborate with a lesser-known figure at the time: producer Jens Bogren. In the years since, Bogren has built a strong reputation, known for his work with bands like Paradise Lost and Sepultura. But back then, he and Åkerfeldt were navigating more than just technical challenges in the studio.
The recording of Ghost Reveries unfolded under difficult circumstances. Band tensions, particularly involving guitarist Peter Lindgren and drummer Martin Lopez, placed enormous strain on the process.
According to Åkerfeldt: “It was just chaotic. I felt completely alone and I felt weight on my shoulders, like, ‘If I don’t make this happen, it’s just going to fall to pieces and there won’t be anything coming out.’ Jens saw the shitty dynamic that the band had in many ways and kind of sided with me.”
In hindsight, Ghost Reveries stands as a landmark in Opeth’s discography — not just for its music, but for the resilience required to bring it to life. And while Steven Wilson’s direct role had diminished, his earlier influence remained an integral part of the band’s evolving sound.
