Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, active since 1990. The group is associated with progressive metal, progressive death metal, death metal, melodic death metal and related rock-influenced styles, and it also draws on acoustic rock, art rock, melodic black metal and metal.

Style and sound

The band builds its music around elements of folk, blues, classical music and jazz, alongside death metal influences that are especially prominent in its early work. Its arrangements often feature acoustic guitar passages, Mellotron, death growls and abrupt dynamic changes. Opeth is also noted for combining progressive metal with progressive rock characteristics.

History

Opeth forms in 1990 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Its line-up changes repeatedly over the years, and every original member is eventually replaced. Founder David Isberg leaves the band in 1992, after which Mikael Åkerfeldt becomes the lead vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter and remains the group’s central figure.

The band’s debut album, Orchid, appears in 1995. During the period of its first four albums, Opeth makes relatively few live appearances, before beginning extensive world touring after Blackwater Park in 2001.

Albums and releases

Opeth releases fourteen studio albums, four live DVDs, four live albums, with three of the live albums connected to DVD releases, and two box sets. Its studio albums are 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) and The Last Will and Testament (2024).

Ghost Reveries brings the band chart success in several countries, including a top ten placing in Sweden. Watershed reaches number one in Finland and number 23 on the US Billboard 200. By 2009, Opeth has sold more than 1.5 million albums and DVDs worldwide, including 300,000 SoundScan sales in the United States for Blackwater Park, Damnation and Deliverance.

Awards

The Last Will and Testament wins the Swedish Grammis award for Best Hard Rock/Metal.

Line-up

Members associated with the band include Mikael Åkerfeldt, David Isberg, Anders Nordin, Mattias Ander, Johan De Farfalla, Kim Pettersson, Stefan Guteklint, Peter Lindgren, Martin Lopez, Martín Méndez, Gene Hoglan, Per Wiberg, Martin Axenrot, Fredrik Åkesson, Joakim Svalberg, Micke Bargstörm, Rille Even, Dan Nilsson, Martin Persson, Andreas Dimeo and Nick Döring.