Opeth

Opeth, the seminal Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, emerged in 1990. Their sound is a masterful blend of progressive metal, death metal (particularly prominent in their early work), folk, blues, classical, and jazz influences. This eclectic mix is woven into epic compositions characterized by acoustic guitar passages, Mellotron textures, harsh death growls, and dramatic dynamic shifts.

The band`s history is marked by significant personnel changes; every original member has since departed. However, Mikael Åkerfeldt, the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter, has remained the creative force since the departure of founder David Isberg in 1992. Initially, Opeth played live shows sparingly, but following their 2001 breakthrough album Blackwater Park, they embarked on numerous world tours, cementing their status as a major live act.

Opeth boasts an extensive discography: fourteen studio albums, four live DVDs, four live albums (three paired with DVDs), and two box sets. Their debut, Orchid, dropped in 1995. The band achieved significant international chart success with Ghost Reveries (2005), cracking the Top Ten in Sweden and charting in numerous other countries. Their subsequent album, Watershed (2008), debuted at number one in Finland and reached a respectable #23 on the US Billboard 200. Their impact on progressive metal and the wider metal scene remains undeniable.