Mikael Akerfeldt is a huge ABBA fan

My first reaction was, "Who isn't?"

I'm a huge Akerfeldt fan. His rants between songs are so funny on the live concert dvds and I'm sure at any live gig. 

I loved ABBA as a kid.

There are still some songs, I'll happily listen to: SOS, Mama Mia, Take a chance on me, Dancing Queen, Knowing me knowing you..

Those guys could 'compose' very good pop music. They knew how to write very strong melodies, with well placed key changes, and those girls used to harmonise very well indeed. There's no shame in admitting some time for ABBA..

ABBA was absolutely brilliant!
They got a lot of flack in their heydays but I think time has proven what a quality act they were.
The arrangements, production, the lovely and varied melodies and, as someone has already mentioned, the fantastic harmony singing. They also had great guitar playing from Janne Schaffer and Lasse Wellander.
It's no wonder that they inspired the younger generation of Swedish musicians such as Åkerfeldt. I can also hear a bit of ABBA in Pain of Salvation's music.

As a side note;  Steve Howe is an ABBA fan. Yep!

aginor wrote: if just Åkerfeld can say he is also influenced by Vresviijk then i would be pleased, (i like Abba though) but i would be suprised if Cornelis or Taube have ment anything for Opeths music

Vreeswijk was influenced by Taube, who in his turn got his inspiration from Bellman.
I think Heritage reveals traces of all three of them, mixed with traditional Swedish folk and the music from jazz pianist Jan Johansson, to whom I think it's a hommage.  I don't hear any ABBA though.