Opeth

Opeth are a progressive metal band formed in Sweden in 1990 by David Isberg (vocals), Mikael Åkerfeldt (guitar), Anders Nordin (drums) and Andreas Dimmeo (guitar). Nick Döring (bass) joined them soon after. The line-up changed several times over the course of the band and now Åkerfeldt is the only remaining founding member. Their ability to fuse the growling, raging death metal with lush orchestration, acoustic guitars and sweet melody has confounded those who try to pigeonhole them too tightly within a genre.

Their first album was 1995's Orchid and a year later their second was Morningrise which contained the 20 minute long track "Black Rose Immortal". After touring with Cradle of Filth they released their third album My Arms, Your Hearse in 1998, a concept album of shorter, more death metal-oriented music with fewer acoustic breaks. 1999's Still Life was followed by 2001's Blackwater Park for which they collaborated with Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson to create a critically acclaimed album.

Deliverance (02) and Damnation (03) were both recorded within a seven week timescale. The intention had been to record opposing albums, one heavier, one more mellow. In Damnation they abandoned the death metal elements altogether and, with Wilson still in tow, delivered a pure prog rock feast.

Ghost Reveries was very well received by critics and fans alike in 2005. In 2008 Opeth first released the live album and DVD Roundhouse Tapes, followed shortly after by the release of their most critically acclaimed studio album to date, Watershed. Following Watershed, Opeth had very successful tour with Progressive Nation, which featured such bands as Dream Theater.