Opeth Albums- Defined by Mixed Genres

Many music information sites categorize this group from Sweden as a heavy metal band. An Opeth merch and album owner and fan however may beg to differ because the group does sometimes fall outside the box. For two decades, the band has been infusing its metal sounds with folk and jazz. It is not unheard of to find tracks filled with acoustic sounds. Despite the presence of the usual growls, one can also hear clear, spine-tingling vocals.

The path that the band is on is attributed to Mikael Åkerfeldt. This is surprising, considering that Åkerfeldt is not the founder or first member. It is perhaps appropriate to say that from the moment he took the steering wheel, the band moved more towards mixed tunes and strangely lengthy pieces rather than towards typical metal.

It was really David Isberg who put the group together in 1990. Åkerfeldt was a recruit tasked to play bass. Unfortunately, it was his entrance that almost broke the band apart. The other band members had not been informed about his inclusion. This led to other previously assembled members walking out. Isberg however stuck to his decision of taking on the new bassist.

Other members were invited to join. Nick Doring was tapped for bass, Andreas Dimeo for guitar and Anders Nordin for drums. Unfortunately, band members leaving at short notice continued to be a problem for the group. Before Opeth Albums could roll into production, Dimeo and Doring already bolted. Johan DeFarfalla and Kim Pettersson stepped in but it didn’t take long for them to stop wearing the studded belts and find the door too. Peter Lindgren then became a part of the group. Isberg also eventually left after he had lost interest in his band.

It is perhaps because of the strange line up developments that the band didn’t produce a debut album until a couple of years. It was only in 1995 that Orchid was released. By this time the variety of musical influences was already apparent in the album. The work was not an absolute chart topper but it did introduce a unique brand of music that was strangely alluring because of its moments of clarity and depth.

Morningrise came in second after one year. This piece of work stands out from all the rest because of a song in it that is twenty minutes long. Although this was even more unusual than the band’s first release, it did get the group the much needed attention for an excellent launch outside their home country.

The succeeding years had been characterized by regular musical output. The albums that came in after the band’s introductory years were Still Life, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Damnation, Ghost Reveries and Watershed. In twenty years, the group made nine album releases. Although they were already known outside their country, it is only with Watershed that Opeth was able to break out of Europe. This release took a high spot in Billboard 200 at 23.

It isn’t easy to listen to an Opeth album. To truly be able to appreciate and listen to their long pieces, you have to be a solid black hoodie wearing band fan with a knack for the original. There is no way you can listen to their songs in a casual way.