Opeth

Opeth

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1990 in Stockholm, Sweden
Founder	David Isberg
Headquarters	Stockholm , Sweden
Products	Progressive metal music, albums, live DVDs, boxsets

Opeth is a progressive metal group originating from Stockholm, Sweden, established in 1990. Their music integrates elements of folk, blues, classical, and jazz with pronounced death metal roots, particularly evident in their early material. Their tracks frequently incorporate acoustic guitars, Mellotrons, harsh death growl vocals, and notable dynamic contrasts.

Throughout their career, the lineup has changed several times, with lead vocalist, guitarist, and chief songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt emerging as the key member after founder David Isberg left in 1992. Initially performing live sparingly, Opeth significantly increased their touring schedule following the release of the 2001 album Blackwater Park.

Opeth’s discography includes fourteen studio albums, four live DVDs, four live albums (three accompanied by DVDs), and two boxsets. Their first album, Orchid, was released in 1995. The band’s eighth studio effort, Ghost Reveries (2005), achieved chart placements in various countries, including a Top Ten ranking in Sweden. The 2008 album Watershed reached number one on Finland’s charts and peaked at 23 on the US Billboard 200. By 2009, Opeth had sold over 1.5 million albums and DVDs globally, with US SoundScan reporting 300,000 sales for Blackwater Park, Damnation, and Deliverance combined. Their fourteenth studio release, The Last Will and Testament (2024), earned the Swedish Grammis award for Best Hard Rock/Metal.

Formation (1990–1993)

In April 1990, David Isberg founded Opeth in Stockholm as a death metal band, taking on lead vocal duties. The band's name is inspired by the fictional city Opet from Wilbur Smith's novel The Sunbird. Isberg invited guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt to join as bassist; however, this caused friction since other members were not informed of Åkerfeldt’s addition. Consequently, all members except Isberg and Åkerfeldt departed to form a new band. At this point, Opeth proclaimed themselves as the "most evil band in the world."

Isberg and Åkerfeldt then brought in drummer Anders Nordin, bassist Nick Döring, and guitarist Andreas Dimeo. Unsatisfied with their progress, Döring and Dimeo left after only one show and were replaced by guitarist Kim Pettersson and bassist Johan De Farfalla. De Farfalla soon left to join his girlfriend in Germany; Mattias Ander briefly filled the bassist role before Åkerfeldt’s friend Peter Lindgren took over bass duties. After Pettersson's exit, Lindgren moved to guitar while Stefan Guteklint joined on bass. In 1992, Isberg departed due to creative disagreements.

Following Isberg's exit, Åkerfeldt assumed lead vocals. Alongside Lindgren and Nordin, he gradually evolved Opeth’s musical direction during the subsequent year—shifting away from standard death metal blast beats toward incorporating acoustic guitars and melodic harmonies—establishing the foundation of the band's signature style. After signing with Candlelight Records in 1994, bassist Guteklint was dismissed. Former member De Farfalla returned as a session bassist for demo recordings and rejoined full-time after the release of Opeth’s debut album Orchid in 1995.

Orchid, Morningrise, and My Arms, Your Hearse (1994–1998)

In April 1994, Opeth entered the studio with producer Dan Swanö to record their first album, Orchid. Due to complications with Candlelight Records' distribution, its release was limited to Europe on 15 May 1995. This debut challenged traditional death metal by integrating acoustic guitar passages, piano elements, and clean vocal sections.

Following a series of performances in the UK, Opeth reunited with Swanö in March 1996 to produce their sophomore effort, Morningrise, which arrived in Europe on 24 June 1996. Although the album consists of only five tracks, it spans over 66 minutes and features "Black Rose Immortal," their lengthiest composition at 20 minutes. The band supported acts such as Cradle of Filth during tours across the UK and Scandinavia. Subsequently, Century Media Records secured a deal with Opeth and issued their first two albums in the United States in 1997.

In 1997, after completing another tour cycle, Åkerfeldt and Lindgren dismissed De Farfalla without Nordin’s agreement, prompting Nordin’s permanent departure from the group. To fill the vacancies, former Eternal members drummer Martin Lopez (previously with Amon Amarth) and bassist Martín Méndez joined after responding to an advertisement placed by Åkerfeldt. Despite initial reservations due to their past association, both musicians were ultimately recruited. Lopez made his first appearance with Opeth by recording a cover of Iron Maiden's "Remember Tomorrow" for the tribute compilation A Call to Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden.

With a more substantial budget from Century Media, Opeth recorded their third studio album at Studio Fredman in August 1997 under the guidance of producer Fredrik Nordström. Although Méndez was part of the lineup at that time, Åkerfeldt handled bass duties on the record because of scheduling conflicts. Released on 18 August 1998, My Arms, Your Hearse received widespread critical praise.

Still Life and Blackwater Park (1999–2001)

In 1999, following a change in ownership at Candlelight Records, Opeth secured a contract with the UK-based Peaceville Records for European distribution, partnering with Music For Nations. The recording sessions for Still Life at Studio Fredman faced delays due to the studio’s relocation, resulting in only two rehearsals prior to entering the studio. Postponements in the album’s artwork pushed its release date to 18 October 1999, with the United States launch delayed until February 2001 because of distribution complications. Still Life introduced Martín Méndez as a new member and marked the first time the band incorporated a caption alongside their logo on the album cover. AllMusic highlighted the album as an impressive fusion of aggressive, jagged guitar riffs combined with elegant melodic lines. The concept centers on a protagonist exiled from his hometown who returns to confront his past.

After completing European tour dates, Opeth returned to Studio Fredman to record their subsequent album, this time collaborating with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree as producer. Once again, the band entered the studio with minimal rehearsal and no pre-written lyrics, embracing Wilson’s encouragement to broaden their sonic palette through experimental guitar and vocal techniques.

Released on 21 February 2001, Blackwater Park garnered critical acclaim for surpassing typical death and black metal conventions while pushing songwriting boundaries. To support the album, Opeth embarked on their inaugural world tour, headlined European shows for the first time, and performed at the 2001 Wacken Open Air festival before an audience of approximately 60,000.

Deliverance and Damnation (2002–2004)

Following the Blackwater Park tour, Opeth returned to Sweden to compose new material. Åkerfeldt initially found it difficult to merge heavier compositions with softer passages until Jonas Renkse from Katatonia proposed splitting the work into two separate albums—one focused on heavier music and the other on mellower arrangements.

Åkerfeldt adopted this concept without consulting either his bandmates or their label. Although the other members were supportive, Åkerfeldt had to persuade the label by minimizing projected expenses. With most songs ready, the group held only one rehearsal before commencing recording at Nacksving Studios in 2002, then proceeded to collaborate again with Steven Wilson at Studio Fredman. Recording both albums simultaneously presented a significant challenge; Åkerfeldt described it as "the toughest test of our history." Basic tracks were laid down before mixing Deliverance in England with Andy Sneap, who was credited as a "saviour" for salvaging disorganized recordings.

Released on 4 November 2002, Deliverance debuted at number 19 on the US Top Independent Albums chart, marking Opeth's first appearance on American charts. Critics lauded its nuanced dynamics and subtlety rather than sheer technical complexity.

After a concert in Stockholm, Opeth completed vocal recordings for Damnation at Steven Wilson's No Man's Land Studios. Despite initial doubts about completing both projects simultaneously, they finished within seven weeks—the same duration spent recording Blackwater Park alone. Released on 14 April 2003, Damnation reached number 192 on the US Billboard 200 and earned a Swedish Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

On 1 January 2016, both albums were reissued together featuring new mixes on CD and DVD formats.

The band undertook their largest tour yet, playing nearly 200 shows throughout 2003 and 2004. They performed three European concerts featuring separate acoustic and heavy sets that were recorded for their first DVD release, Lamentations (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003). This DVD includes a full rendition of Damnation, selected tracks from Deliverance and Blackwater Park, along with a documentary detailing the recording process of both albums. Lamentations achieved Gold certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association.

A scheduled performance in Jordan was canceled after drummer Martin Lopez experienced an anxiety attack shortly before departure despite having distributed 6,000 tickets. In early 2004, Lopez suffered additional anxiety attacks during the Canadian leg of the tour and was sent home. The band continued with his drum technician temporarily filling in before enlisting Gene Hoglan of Strapping Young Lad for two shows. Lopez returned for the final concert in Seattle to close out the tour.

Ghost Reveries (2005–2007)

In 2004, Opeth commenced the composition of their eighth studio album, finalizing it by the end of that year. After the European label Music For Nations ceased operations in 2005, the band secured a contract with Roadrunner Records to benefit from its extensive distribution network and access to larger retail outlets. Although some fans criticized the move as a commercial compromise, Åkerfeldt reaffirmed their established artistic integrity and intricate songwriting. Prior to recording, the group conducted rehearsals for three weeks—their first since 1998—and officially integrated keyboardist Per Wiberg as a permanent member.

The recording sessions were held at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, between March and June 2005. Released on 30 August 2005, Ghost Reveries received widespread critical acclaim and notable commercial success, debuting at number 64 on the US charts and reaching number nine in Sweden—marking Opeth's highest chart achievement to that point. Critics lauded its seamless fusion of melodic elegance and intense heaviness, with Blabbermouth.net awarding it an exceptionally rare perfect rating.

On 12 May 2006, drummer Martin Lopez left the band due to health complications and was succeeded by Martin Axenrot. That same year, Opeth performed on the main stage of Gigantour alongside Megadeth. A reissue of Ghost Reveries appeared on 31 October 2006, featuring additional material such as a Deep Purple cover and a documentary detailing the album’s creation. Their live show at London's Camden Roundhouse was captured in the double live album The Roundhouse Tapes, which achieved the top position on Finland’s DVD chart.

Guitarist Peter Lindgren announced his departure on 17 May 2007 after sixteen years with the band, citing diminished enthusiasm for the increasing demands of the music industry. He was replaced by Fredrik Åkesson, formerly of Arch Enemy, whom Åkerfeldt praised as one of Sweden’s finest guitarists with the capability to meet Opeth’s rigorous touring schedule.

Watershed and In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall (2008–2010)

In late 2007, Opeth returned to Fascination Street Studios to record their ninth album, Watershed, with Mikael Åkerfeldt in the producer role. Released on 3 June 2008, the record consists of seven tracks and includes three cover songs as bonus material on select editions. Åkerfeldt described this collection as possessing "a bit more energy." Watershed became Opeth’s highest-charting album to date, entering at number 23 on the US Billboard 200, reaching number seven on Australia's ARIA charts, and securing the top spot in Finland.

To promote Watershed, Opeth headlined the UK Defenders of the Faith tour alongside Arch Enemy, appeared at Wacken Open Air festival, and joined Dream Theater on the Progressive Nation tour. Their extensive global touring schedule also included performances at Bloodstock festival with Dimmu Borgir and North American dates supported by High on Fire, Baroness, and Nachtmystium. European shows featured Cynic and The Ocean as supporting acts.

In 2010, Opeth contributed "The Throat of Winter" to the digital EP soundtrack for God of War III; Åkerfeldt described this track as "unusual" and "not particularly metal." Celebrating their twentieth anniversary that year, Opeth embarked on the Evolution XX: An Opeth Anthology tour, delivering full renditions of their seminal album Blackwater Park along with rare selections from their catalog. The April 5 performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall was recorded and later released in September 2010 as In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, a live album and DVD set featuring two distinct sets: one showcasing the entire Blackwater Park album and another presenting one song from each subsequent album in chronological order to illustrate their musical development over twenty years. Additionally, a special edition of Blackwater Park was issued in conjunction with this anniversary tour.

Heritage (2011–2013)

In September 2010, Mikael Åkerfeldt commenced composing Opeth's tenth studio album. Recording sessions began on 31 January 2011 at Stockholm's Atlantis/Metronome studios, with Jens Bogren handling engineering duties and Steven Wilson serving as co-producer. Shortly after the mixing phase concluded in April 2011, keyboardist Per Wiberg departed the band by mutual consent.

Released on 14 September 2011, Heritage received generally positive critical feedback. It sold 19,000 units during its initial week in the U.S., entering the Billboard 200 chart at number 19 and peaking at number four in Sweden. This album represented a stylistic transition toward a more progressive sound, notably eliminating death growls altogether—a direction Åkerfeldt had been gradually exploring.

Initially, Åkerfeldt drafted compositions similar in style to their preceding album Watershed, but bassist Martín Méndez encouraged a fresh creative direction. Consequently, Åkerfeldt reworked the songs adopting a different approach, describing Heritage as the fruition of his artistic evolution since he was 19 years old. Reviewers lauded it as Opeth’s most daring release to date, emphasizing its intricate arrangements and prominent keyboard presence.

To promote Heritage, Opeth undertook an extensive global tour exceeding 200 performances. This marked the first tour featuring new keyboardist Joakim Svalberg, who also contributed to the album's opening track. The band toured alongside acts such as Katatonia, Pain of Salvation, Mastodon, Ghost, and Anathema across regions including the United States, Europe, Turkey, India, Japan, Greece, Israel, Latin America, and Sweden. The tour culminated with their participation in the "Melloboat 2013" festival.

Pale Communion (2014–2015)

Opeth unveiled their eleventh studio effort, Pale Communion, on 26 August 2014. Åkerfeldt had begun developing material for this album as early as August 2012. By January 2014, he announced plans to record at Rockfield Studios in Wales, highlighting the album’s complexity through elaborate string arrangements and increased production expenses. Despite concerns about potentially alienating some fans due to the band's evolving sound, Åkerfeldt described Pale Communion as somewhat heavier than Heritage, blending elements of hard rock and heavy metal with progressive influences and acoustic guitar textures. He also took on production responsibilities himself, integrating string sections inspired by his work on Storm Corrosion. This creative process further solidified the band's internal dynamics.

The Guardian acclaimed Pale Communion as "strange, intricate prog-metal genius," while noting that Åkerfeldt’s vocal delivery could occasionally feel self-indulgent. The album achieved Opeth’s highest chart rankings up to that point: number 19 in the U.S., number three in Sweden, and number 14 in the UK, selling 13,000 copies during its first week in America.

In support of Pale Communion, Opeth embarked on an extensive touring schedule throughout 2015 that included special concerts commemorating their 25th anniversary. These milestone shows featured two separate sets—one performing the entirety of their 2005 album Ghost Reveries, followed by a set spanning their career highlights. Åkerfeldt expressed great enthusiasm for these celebratory events.

Sorceress, Garden of the Titans and In Cauda Venenum (2016–2020)

On 15 June 2016, Nuclear Blast Entertainment revealed that Opeth had joined their roster. Shortly afterward, on 18 June, the band unveiled a brief 30-second preview for their upcoming album, Sorceress. A month later, on 18 July, they announced the official release date as 30 September and shared both the album’s artwork and tracklisting. Mikael Åkerfeldt characterized the record as "a fine little record" that merges both new and classic influences. Sorceress marked the inaugural release under Moderbolaget Records, a collaborative label formed by Opeth and Nuclear Blast; the name Moderbolaget translates to "the parent company" in Swedish.

On 25 July 2016, Opeth uploaded the first installment of the Sorceress: Studio Report on YouTube, confirming their return to Rockfield Studios, where they had previously recorded Pale Communion. This video featured a 20-second snippet of a song distinguished by heavily down-tuned guitar riffs. Lyric videos for "Sorceress" and "Will O the Wisp" were subsequently released on 1 August and 5 September 2016 via YouTube and the band's official website. The music video for "Era" earned a nomination for "Video of the Year" at the 2017 Progressive Music Awards, where Opeth also secured the title of "International Band of the Year."

On 2 October 2017, Åkerfeldt hinted at plans for an album with a "twisted" and distinct character, aiming for a mid-to-late 2019 release. Guitarist Fredrik Åkesson mentioned in November 2017 that the group would take a break from touring until summer festivals in 2018 to concentrate on composing new material. By July 2018, Åkesson revealed that Åkerfeldt was close to completing twelve tracks intended for the forthcoming album. On 22 May 2019, Opeth announced their thirteenth studio album, In Cauda Venenum, scheduled for release on 27 September 2019. The initial single, "Heart in Hand," debuted on 12 July 2019 in both English and Swedish versions.

Lineup changes and The Last Will and Testament (2021–present)

On 16 November 2021, longtime drummer Martin Axenrot departed from Opeth due to conflicting interests and his refusal to receive vaccination against COVID-19, with Sami Karppinen stepping in as his replacement for the North American tour. On 9 September 2022, Waltteri Väyrynen—previously associated with Paradise Lost and Bodom After Midnight—was introduced as the new permanent drummer.

Opeth announced their fourteenth studio album, The Last Will and Testament, on 1 August 2024. Originally slated for an 11 October release, it was delayed until 22 November due to production setbacks. This album marks a return to growled vocals after a sixteen-year hiatus since Watershed, receiving favorable critiques from both fans and reviewers alike. Additionally, it stands as their first fully conceptual work since Still Life in 1999.

Musical style and influences

Mikael Åkerfeldt, Opeth’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and main composer, draws inspiration from progressive rock bands of the 1970s such as King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, and Camel. His influences also include heavy metal pioneers like Iron Maiden, Slayer, Death, with particular admiration for Judas Priest. Åkerfeldt regards Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) as the ultimate metal album. The band's sound is deeply shaped by progressive rock and folk traditions, as well as jazz fusion artists including Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, and Herbie Hancock.

Opeth’s distinctive musical identity fuses elements of death metal with progressive rock. Critics often label their style as "epic, progressive death metal," enriched by aspects of folk, funk, blues, '70s rock, goth, among other genres. Their compositions frequently alternate between acoustic segments and powerful death metal passages. Åkerfeldt stresses that the band resists confinement within any single genre boundary, embracing musical variety and innovation.

In recent years, Opeth has transitioned away from death metal towards a smoother progressive rock approach. Guitarist Fredrik Åkesson acknowledged that this stylistic shift beginning with Heritage was crucial for sustaining the band’s future despite eliciting mixed responses from their audience.

Vocally, Åkerfeldt switches between traditional death growls during heavier sections and clean singing in more melodic parts. While earlier albums predominantly featured growled vocals, later works including Damnation, Heritage, Pale Communion, Sorceress, and In Cauda Venenum showcase exclusively clean vocal performances. Reviewers commend his wide vocal range that spans from harsh grunts to melodious singing depending on the emotional tone of each track.

Legacy

Opeth has served as a major source of inspiration for a wide array of musicians and bands within the progressive and metal genres. Among those who have acknowledged Opeth's influence are Mayan (featuring Mark Jansen from Epica), Luc Lemay of Gorguts, Soen (including ex-Opeth drummer Martin Lopez), Tor Oddmund Suhrke of Leprous, Disillusion, Caligula's Horse, Klimt 1918, Daniel Droste from Ahab, Becoming the Archetype, Nucleus Torn, Alex Vynogradoff of Kauan, Wastefall, Eric Guenther of The Contortionist, Thomas MacLean and To-Mera, The Man-Eating Tree, Nahemah, Vladimir Agafonkin of Obiymy Doshchu, Schizoid Lloyd, Native Construct, Maxime Côté of Catuvolcus, Bilocate, and Jinjer.

Moreover, acclaimed artists such as Steven Wilson, Seven Lions, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Ihsahn, Simone Simons from Epica, Oliver Palotai of Kamelot, Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, and Haken have publicly praised Opeth’s artistry. These endorsements underscore Opeth’s profound influence on the contemporary progressive and metal music arenas.

Band members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Template:CSS image crop	Mikael Åkerfeldt	1990–present	guitars lead vocals (from 1992) bass (1990, 1992, 1997)	featured on all Opeth albums
Template:CSS image crop	Martín Méndez	1997–present	bass	participated in all Opeth releases starting with Still Life (1999)
Template:CSS image crop	Fredrik Åkesson	2007–present	guitars backing vocals	appears on all Opeth albums from Watershed (2008) forward
Template:CSS image crop	Joakim Svalberg	2011–present	keyboards backing vocals	contributed to all Opeth releases beginning with Heritage (2011)
Template:CSS image crop	Waltteri Väyrynen	2022–present	drums	featured on The Last Will and Testament (2024)

Discography

• Orchid (1995)
• Morningrise (1996)
• My Arms, Your Hearse (1998)
• Still Life (1999)
• Blackwater Park (2001)
• Deliverance (2002)
• Damnation (2003)
• Ghost Reveries (2005)
• Watershed (2008)
• Heritage (2011)
• Pale Communion (2014)
• Sorceress (2016)
• In Cauda Venenum (2019)
• The Last Will and Testament (2024)

References

Sources

External links

• Official site