Deliverance (Opeth album)
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 12 November 2002 |
| Founder | Opeth |
| Products | Progressive metal album |
Deliverance stands as the sixth full-length album by the Swedish progressive metal ensemble Opeth, officially released on 12 November 2002. The recording sessions took place from 22 July to 4 September 2002, concurrently with the production of Damnation, which followed five months later. These two records were intentionally crafted to contrast stylistically, each emphasizing a distinct facet of the band's musical identity. Known as their most intense and heavy release, Deliverance draws heavily from brutal death metal influences, whereas Damnation embodies their softer side with a progressive rock approach.
Background
Originally, the band intended to issue Deliverance and Damnation together as a double album; however, the label decided to separate the releases by approximately five months to maximize promotional efforts for each. The writing process overlapped with recording, as no material had been composed prior to entering the studio. Mikael Åkerfeldt developed compositions during nighttime hours and then rehearsed and recorded them with the band during daytime sessions.
The song "Master's Apprentices" pays homage to the Australian hard/progressive rock outfit The Masters Apprentices, while "For Absent Friends" takes its title from a track by progressive rock pioneers Genesis. Additionally, at the conclusion of "By the Pain I See in Others," following a fade-out and silence, two reversed vocal lines from "Master's Apprentices" can be heard.
Production
The creation of both Deliverance and Damnation encountered numerous obstacles. Initial recording at Nacksving Studio was hampered by technical difficulties such as malfunctioning equipment and missing drum microphones, compounded by interpersonal tensions within the group. Consequently, production shifted to Studio Fredman, where producer Steven Wilson joined to assist in finalizing the albums.
Tragically, during this period, Mikael Åkerfeldt’s grandmother passed away in a car accident. As a result, he dedicated both albums in her memory.
Reception
Deliverance became Opeth’s first album to enter music charts, peaking at number 16 on the Top Heatseekers chart and number 19 on the Top Independent Albums chart. The record also garnered Opeth a Grammis Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
The album featured prominently on several year-end best-of lists for 2002, including those published by Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, and Terrorizer. A decade later, in 2012, Loudwire ranked it as the third-best album released in 2002. In March 2023, Rolling Stone honored the title track by placing it at number fifty-two on its compilation of "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time."
Opeth
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
- Peter Lindgren – electric guitars
- Martín Méndez – bass guitar
- Martin Lopez – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Steven Wilson – backing vocals, additional guitars, Mellotron, piano, keyboards, production, engineering
- Opeth – production, engineering
- Fredrik Nordström – engineering
- Fredrik Reinedahl – engineering
- Andy Sneap – mixing
- Travis Smith – artwork
Chart performance
| Chart (2003) | Highest rank |
|---|---|
| Poland (ZPAV Top 100) | 60 |
External links
- Detailed list of Deliverance gear at Opeth.com (archived)