Opeth is a Swedish band active since 1990. Many consider them a melodic death metal band, but their aggressive death metal, with Mikael's growls (generated with his own voice, not electronic instruments), is interspersed and enriched with acoustic sections and vocals featuring Mikael's clear voice.
The guitar is a key component, with great riffs for the aggressive parts and fantastic melodic solos.
The sound is obviously influenced by Scandinavian folk.
There's progressive death metal and also progressive rock, with the addition of acoustic and classical instruments—zither, mellotron, piano, Hammond, Moog—and even sampling, with great sound research, and the production is generally top-notch.
The most recent lineup is composed of
- Mikael Åkerfeldt - vocals, guitars
- Fredrik Åkesson - guitars, backing vocals
- Martin Mendez - bass
- Waltteri Vayrynen - drums and percussion
- Joakim Svalberg - keyboards, backing vocals
If you're unfamiliar with them or are skeptical of the genre (like when you don't listen to something even though you're unfamiliar with it, out of pure prejudice—it happens to me, too, of course) I recommend you give them a listen and let yourself be surprised (as I was, in fact). Don't just judge the signature growl vocals (which, incidentally, aren't a constant presence in every song, but are nevertheless part of a narrative, a story, and therefore perfect in context), but above all appreciate the enormous quality of the compositions and the incredible mastery and skill of the musicians: a stellar band.
Opeth's Main Works
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
The Last Will And Testament - 2024
.jpeg "Still Life by Opeth")