Opeth
Biography
Brought together in Stockholm by guitarists Peter Lindgren and Mikael Åkerfeldt in 1990, Opeth added progressive influences and acoustic instrumentation to their brand of Swedish death metal. As the group progressed, it was very common for an Opeth live set to fly in several different musical directions -- and an average song lasted no less than ten minutes. Impressed by their originality, Candlelight Records released their debut full-length in 1995, which was titled Orchid, and featured a rhythm section of bassist Johan de Farfalla and drummer Anders Nordin. Edge of Sanity mastermind Dan Swano produced the band's ambitious second album Morningrise in 1996, after which they embarked on a brief tour with Morbid Angel. Century Media took notice and not only licensed Opeth's first two albums for the United States, but also planned on releasing their next album on both sides of the Atlantic. With the recruitment of bassist Martin Mendez and drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Amon Amarth) to replace the departed de Farfalla and Nordin, Opeth's third album, My Arms, Your Hearse, was released in 1998 to glowing reviews, establishing the band as a leading force in progressive metal with death roots.
Selected Discography
Watershed
2008
The Roundhouse Tapes
2007
Lamentations: Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003
2006
Ghost Reveries
2005
Orchid
2003
I agree CSutherland. I like your opionion. Opeth is definitely in a category by themselves. I've seen them twice live and they are just as good as they are on their recordings. Mikael Akerfeldt ROCKS. Who else could change from a dark metal voice to angel-like in a heartbeat with control. I've ever heard any singer who could do that. I've been around a very very long time.
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I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. Candles raise my desire, Why I'm so far away. No more meaning to my life, No more reason to stay. Freezing, feeling, Breathe in, breathe in... I'm coming back again... I'm not the one who's so far away When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. |
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double standards-op i n i o n s only if we agree-fitter happier, more productive-o n l y our metal withstands heat-u are 2 abrassive-fi t t e r happier, more productive-b i l l of rights out the window-natio n under one ruler-cant say tr*e metal anymore-time for change- you are fitter, happier, more productive. Refuse you comments we have that right-contac t admins for help-erase that eye sore. fitter, happier..mor e govt.One nation, under Pres Obama.Russia . C h i n a . I r a n . l e a d us there. internet died.end tran
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I actually got into Opeth (and the harsh vocals) through Blackwater Park. I just couldn't resist the intricate harmonies and the beautiful vocals. I then acclimated to loving the entire album and thus opened up a whole realm of harsh vocal bands.
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Yeah, Damnation is unquestionab l y top-notch work. It's been a while since I've regularly listened to a band with growled vocals, but Opeth's given me a new reason to put that style back into my rotation. Thanks for the tips guys
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Deliverance and Damnation are sister albums. Deliverance is the heavy sound with harsher vocals, Damnation is growl-free and a pure melancholy sound. I would probably start with Damnation for newer listeners who aren't experienced with black metal. For black metal fans, I would start with Blackwater Park, but all their albums have the same level of musicianship and songwriting quality.
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@02shredder: I have the Deliverance album, and it's pretty good if you approach it as a prog/experim e n t a l death metal album.
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Apropos of nothing in particular, the discographie s on this site are so useless. Hardly any of the dates in the one above are correct. Couldn't they at least get the order right? It's not that hard.
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I'm really a huge fan of Damnation (and prog rock and metal in general), but so far I've found their other albums to be a bit impenetrable . Is there a heavy Opeth album that long time fans would recommend as an entry point for new listeners?
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Willow, seriously, shut the HELL up! I'm sick of you listening to angry teen trash music. We can find enough of that in horrible bands like Slayer, Nirvana, Metallica, and most all of the metal bands out today and out before. Save a few thrash bands. Only good metal is PROG-metal, just like PROG-ROCK. These guys rock. One of the few metal bands I like at all.
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latem EURT ot netsiL
slateM ekaf rof elttes ton oD .hguone doog ton era (s)dnab ruoY dna latem eurT tuoba eno emos llet dluohs uoY !KCAMSDOG tuoba |
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Yeah, Liquid Tension Experiment is pretty much Dream Theater minus James Labrie. Great listening. Sonata Arctica's new album is pretty proggy too, although it's got less wankery than DT or LTE or past SA albums...and it's not as metallic.
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I see what you mean. Yes that is pretty cool.
Back to complex, progressive music ... I discovered an instrumental band called 'Liquid Tension Experiment' involving John Petrucci of Dream Theater. I just want to plug them as one the most amazing pieces of progressive genius I've ever heard! |
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@OMW: It really comes down to coming up with a vocal melody instead of just a rhythm. If you pay attention to Opeth's singer (I don't remember his name), a lot of his vocal parts mimick the guitar melodies.
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One of the few bands that is able to consistantly change their sound from album to album while maintaining their identity.
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In Mist She Was Standing is so amazing. I love the different movements of the song and the way the mood progresses from kick a** to dark melancholy and back to kicking a**.
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@Plague: Really? Sounds ambitious! I wouldn't have a clue where to start with that.
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Opeth is pretty dang good. Really phenomenal vocalist. Actually SINGS under the growling overtone, a technique I'm working on incorporatin g into my next project.
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@Cadaver: I want to understand your criticism, I really do. I guess I don't find them random so much as just ebbing and flowing. The music doesn't get to the point because the the point is always moving in front of the music.
This is absolutely no different than Dream Theater. In fact, I think Dream Theater are worse at not getting to the point. For example, in 'Endless Sacrifice' when does the song gain cohesion? That is truly a long drawn out song that tests even my patience. |
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The Orchids CD by Opeth is truly an inspirationa l piece of artistry. They had a few good songs on later albums but nothing has yet to compare. I completely disagree with what the_cadaver says.
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Then again, I can only handle so much intricacy before I want the music to just "get to the point already".
I'm a simpleton, I know. |
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Idunno, to me Opeth just sounds like a jam band. It kinda sounds like the stuff that comes out of my garage when me and my buddies are messin' around, aside from the vocals and the interesting accoustic progressions . For the most part though, their songs just sound like good random jam sessions.
Mind you, I literally grew up with my pops listening to Dream Theater, so I totally understand the appeal of their prog approach to their song structures. It's just too random for me. |
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it's the end of the world...I actually agree w/ Baron---oh no!! I've gone mad!!! lol....
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Agreed, upper echelon. SOAD is all they're cracked up to be and then some. I own all except 1 album. Checked out Bloodbath. It is indeed very heavy, pure carnage really. But it lacks the emotional drive and discordant harmonies of Opeth.
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Along with Tool, Mastodon, Baroness and System of a Down (there are many others too...) Opeth is in the absolute upper echelon of talented Metal if not just Rock bands on the planet today.
I know many criticise SOAD, But you gotta admit if youve heard more than just thier radio hits, they are some talented a** Armenians... . . . t h a t can really rock. |
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FYI - Check out Bloodbath.
Its the singer's side project that is straight up death metal. Brutal. Quite good. Very, very much heavier overall than Opeth. |
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The Baron Von Shouse quoted this on another page, I thought it deserved a view on this page.
"Imagine TOOL got lost in a deep dark forest in Tolkien's Middle Earth.....Th i s is the dark and beautiful sound of Opeth" |
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I like sunn o))). Whether or not they write complicated structures I cannot tell, because it is so slow. Drone Metal is good.
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Thank you midget. Moreover, simple song structures are usually indicative of a simpleton band (unskilled, uncreative, usually gift wrapped for a mass audience). Opeth's talents give them the capacity to create truly inspired music. I actually like Dream Theatre. Some of their music drones on (ie: 'endless sacrifice') but they're very good on the whole.
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@segnts: No "hyper complicated" song structures don't make a band good. All it means is that they are skilled (being able to play those structures), which usually means that they are good. However this isn't always true, for example I f**king HATE dream theatre, though I do not deny they are skilled, I have trouble just playing their song on Rock Band.
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seen OPeth LIVe twice...omfu c k i n g g o d it was great the first time and f**king awesome the second, opeth will never fade away
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I like all of it. I listen to King Crimson, and I listen to Cannibal Corpse. So, I like the softer and heavier sides of Opeth.
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I don't know if I could recommend a specific album, they all have the same magnificent songwriting and skill caliber. However, to ease someone who is not comfortable listening to growling (my wife hates opeth for this reason), check out Damnation.
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I love opeth my dad took me to see them a few months ago. I twas the best show I have ever been to.
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I can't describe them with words. Wait, of course I can. They make a sound that truelly captures the essence of an emotion, theme, mood, and an idea and then delivers it powerfully. Too few bands can do that.
Ghost Reveries is the best albulm to get if you're new to them. |
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U think they could get the release dates right for the albums. Oh well, Opeth rules over most other bands and they are one of the best live acts out there its hard to tell the difference between live and recorded. There's nothing they can't play and it all turns out amazing.
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