Ophthalamia
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Stockholm, Sweden |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Stockholm , Sweden |
| Products | Studio albums, compilation albums |
Ophthalamia was a Swedish band specializing in black metal and doom metal, established in Stockholm in 1989. Throughout their career, they produced three studio albums before disbanding in 1998. Central figures in the group included guitarist IT (Tony Särkkä), guitarist and bassist Night (Emil Nödtveidt), drummer Bone (Ole Öhman), and vocalist Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt).
History
The formation of Ophthalamia took place in 1989, initiated by vocalist All (Jim Berger) and guitarist IT (Tony Särkkä), both previously involved with Abruptum and Vondur. The band's name originates from a fantasy realm crafted by IT, characterized by distinctive landscapes, mythical beings, a constructed language, and a demon goddess named Elishia. The majority of their tracks revolve around this thematic universe. Their first album, A Journey in Darkness, debuted in 1994, succeeded by Via Dolorosa in 1995. In 1997, they issued the compilation album To Elishia. The year 1998 saw the release of a re-recorded version of their debut titled A Long Journey, alongside their third studio effort, Dominion, which marked a lyrical transition towards Shakespeare's Macbeth. The band dissolved later that same year. Vocalist Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) passed away by suicide in 2006, and founder IT died in 2017. A posthumous compilation named II Elishia II was released in 2019.
Final line-up
- IT (Tony Särkkä) – guitar, vocals (1989–1998; deceased 2017)
- All (Jim Berger) – vocals (1989–1994, 1996–1998)
- Night (Emil Nödtveidt) – guitar, backing vocals (1995–1998), bass guitar (1995–1996)
- Mist (Mikael Schelén) – bass guitar (1996–1998)
- Bone (Ole Öhman) – drums, percussion (1997–1998)
Former members
- Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) – vocals (1992–1994; deceased 2006)
- Legion (Erik Hagstedt) – vocals (1994–1995)
- Mourning (Robert Ivarsson) – bass guitar, backing vocals (1991–1994), guitar (1989–1991)
- Winter (Benny Larsson) – drums, vocals (1989–1996)
Live members
- Mäbe (Mattias Johansson) – guitar
Session members
- Day Disyraah (Dan Swanö) – guitars, vocals (1994)
- Axa (Alexandra Balogh) – piano, vocals (1994, 1995)
Discography
Studio albums
- A Journey in Darkness (1994)
- Via Dolorosa (1995)
- A Long Journey (1998)
- Dominion (1998)
Compilation albums
- To Elishia (1997)
- II Elishia II (2019)