Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt says he considered naming the band's new album after a medicine – until he discovered it had some undesirable side effects.
The Swedish band release their 11th album Pale Communion on Monday, August 25. But it was very nearly called Nux Vomica, after a homeopathic remedy used to treat sensitivity to light and sound.
But as he reveals in a video interview for Roadrunner Records alongside guitarist Fredrik Akesson, the singer had a rethink after doing some research.
He says: “At first I wanted to call it Nux Vomica which is a medicine for people who are ill-willed and overly sensitive to light and sound. And irate people who get irritated quickly and are searching for fights.
“It comes from the same tree that produces the poison strychnine. I liked how it looked and everything. But then somebody read about the side effects and it was erection problems and constipation. I figured that’s gonna be the first question in interviews and I thought it was maybe not a good title after all.”
Opeth are on the cover of the current issue of Metal Hammer magazine. Check out our beginner’s guide to the prog metal heroes.
