History
Opeth was formed in Stockholm, Södermanland, Sweden in 1990 by David Isberg. Isberg invited Mikael Åkerfeldt to join the band at a practice session as a bass player, but failed to inform the current bass player or any of the other members of the band. Because of this, all band members except for Isberg quit, and Åkerfeldt soon joined Opeth after his band, Eruption, faltered. With Åkerfeldt on guitar and David Isberg on vocals, Opeth still lacked members and needing more, they were soon joined by long-time friend of Åkerfeldt and former Eruption drummer Anders Nordin and Nick Döring on bass. Andreas Dimeo was recruited as a second guitarist. Rehearsing in an elementary school with old equipment they had found, this lineup lasted less than a year and only played one show. In 1991 they spent the summer rehearsing on the island of Hamnholmen outside Stockholm with their old school friend and bass player Max Jaderberg, who suggested a more prominent bass sound.
After their first performance, Andreas Dimeo and Nick Döring quit the band. For the second performance, guitarist Kim Pettersson and bassist Johan DeFarfalla joined the group. After the show, DeFarfalla left to spend time with his girlfriend and did not return until 1994. Pettersson stuck with the band for another show before leaving in late 1991. DaFarfall was replaced by Peter Lindgren, playing the bass. However, once Pettersson left, Lindgren returned to the guitar, his original instrument. Isberg left the band in early 1992 due to creative differences and boredom. Since Mikael had previous experience as a vocalist from fronting Eruption, he became the new vocalist and immediately began writing material with Peter Lindgren. They rehearsed as a 3-piece for more than a year but eventually found a new bass player, Stefan Guteklint, who was dismissed by the band before they signed their record contract with Candlelight Records.
Impressed by their originality, Candlelight Records released their debut full-length Orchid in 1995. It featured a rhythm section of bassist Johan DeFarfalla and drummer Anders Nordin. Dan Swanö, of Edge of Sanity fame, produced the band's ambitious second album Morningrise in 1996. After this Opeth 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.
The next album would introduce a change in style as well as line-up. With the recruitment of bassist Martin Mendez to replace DeFarfalla and drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Amon Amarth) replacing Nordin, Opeth's third album, entitled My Arms, Your Hearse, was released in 1998 to glowing reviews, establishing the band as a leading force in progressive metal with death roots. The album is conceptually based on a character who dies and returns to Earth as a ghost.
1999's Still Life displayed even more of the band's progressive rock influences, and the following year the band played its first U.S. concert at the Milwaukee Metalfest. This was the first album on which Martin Mendez contributed. Like My Arms, Your Hearse before it, Still Life is also a concept album, revolving around a man who is banished from his village for dissenting religious beliefs. The album then then regals the tale of his courtship of the character Melinda.
Their next album, Blackwater Park, was released in early 2001 and was titled after an obscure psychedelic progressive rock band from the '70s. Blackwater Park is considered to be Opeth's magnum opus and the defining document of their career. The album created a huge buzz among progressive metal fans, who had begun to lump the band in with other experimental metal bands like Tiamat. It was the first of three albums that Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame would produce. Wilson also contributed backing vocals and guitar.
Instead of waiting until the buzz died down, the band released Deliverance (also known as D1) in the fall of 2002, which was intended to be a double album, Damnation (or D2) comprising the other half. Deliverance presented the typical death metal aspect of Opeth while Damnation presented a new side of Opeth: the album that was almost completely devoid of any heavy metal trappings and focused instead on acoustic instruments and traditional songwriting. Steven Wilson again contributed by co-authoring one song, Death Whispered a Lullaby, and by providing backing vocals and playing mellotron, piano, electric piano, keyboards, and guitar.
Opeth then released a DVD, "Lamentations", filmed in England during the Damnation Tour, in fall of '03. It featured the Damnation album in its entirety along with some highlights from the previous two albums. Now signed to the major label Roadrunner Records, Opeth's next album Ghost Reveries arrived in 2005 and proved to be a return to form for the band. Shortly before the recordings of this album, Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars) officially joined the band to play keyboards, as he did on the tour that supported Damnation. He can also be seen on the "Lamentations" DVD. More lineup changes followed in May of 2006, when long time drummer Martin Lopez left the band due to complications from a rare disease he has. After a short delay, he was replaced by Martin Axe Axenrot, former drummer of Bloodbath.
On May 17th, 2007, an open letter from Peter Lindgren was posted on the official Opeth website where he wrote that he had decided to leave the band. He said that he had lost some of the enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in a band that has grown to become a world-wide industry. It was especially the massive amount of touring, and being away from home for long periods of time that caused this decision. "I have come to a point where I realise I won't be able to give the band 100%, and from both sides this will not be good enough for what Opeth stands for." On the same day Fredrik Åkesson (ex-Arch Enemy, Krux) was announced as the new guitar-player and full-time member of Opeth.
In Fall 2007, Opeth released their first live album, The Roundhouse Tapes, recorded in the famous Roundhouse concert hall in Great Britain.
The progressive rock/metal band Dream Theater announced in November of 2007 that Opeth would be joining them on the Progressive Nation 2008 tour. Joining these two bands were Between the Buried and Me and 3.
Opeth's ninth studio album, entitled Watershed was released on June 3, 2008. It was well received by most fans and critics. The first single from the album, Porcelain Heart, was released on April 19th, 2008. The track The Lotus Eater is also available on RoadRunner Record's website for free.
Former members:
* David Isberg – Vocals (1990-1992)
* Andreas Dimeo – Guitar (1991)
* Kim Pettersson – Guitar (1991)
* Johan DeFarfalla – Bass (1991,1994-1996)
* Stefan Guteklint – Bass (1992-1993)
* Mattias Ander – Bass (1992)
* Nick Döring – Bass (1990-1991)
* Anders Nordin – Drums (1990-1997)
* Martin Lopez – Drums (1997-2006)
* Peter Lindgren – Guitars (1991-2007)
Discography:
1995 Orchid
1996 Morningrise
1998 My Arms, Your Hearse
1999 Still Life
2001 Blackwater Park
2002 Deliverance
2003 Damnation
2005 Ghost Reveries
2008 Watershed
2011 Heritage
2014 Pale Communion
2016 Sorceress
2019 In cauda venenum
Official site: Opeth.com
In My Time of Need
Opeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of this life I'm leading
I try to forget you
As you forgot me
This time there is nothing
Left for you to take
This is goodbye
And no one would ask me to stay
And I
Should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I
Should step out of the rain
Turn away
Close to ending it all
I am drifting through the
Stages of the rapture
Born within this loss
Thoughts of death inside
Tear me apart from the
Core of my soul
Summer is miles and miles away
And no one would ask me to stay
And I
Should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I
Should step out of the rain
Turn away
At times the
Dark's fading slowly
But it never sustains
Would someone
Watch over me
In my time of need?
Summer is miles and miles away
And no one would ask me to stay
And I
Should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I
Should step out of the rain
Turn away
And I
Should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I
Should step out of the rain
Turn away
The lyrics of Opeth's "In My Time of Need" suggest a sense of loneliness and isolation, as the singer cannot see the meaning of their life and struggles with the pain of lost love. The first stanza demonstrates the singer's attempt to move on, as they state that there is nothing left for the other person to take. However, the singer becomes increasingly introspective as they consider suicide and the gradual fading of their dark thoughts. The chorus repeats a sense of distance and isolation, as the singer reflects on the meaninglessness of their pain and struggles to find someone to help them through it.
The second stanza contains the most explicit references to suicide, as the singer describes themselves as "drifting through the stages of the rapture born within this loss". The use of the word "rapture" suggests religious connotations, implying either a desire for a spiritual release or a feeling of being abandoned by a higher power. The closing lines of the song repeat the same ideas as the chorus, as the singer is left alone with their pain and yearning for something to ease their suffering.
Overall, the song suggests a struggle with depression and isolation, as the singer tries to find meaning and purpose in a life that feels empty and meaningless. The lyrics are reminiscent of other depressive black metal and death metal songs, emphasizing the sense of hopelessness and despair that often accompanies these genres.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't see the meaning of this life I'm leading
I feel lost and purposeless, unsure of the reason behind my existence.
I try to forget you as you forgot me
I attempt to move on from a past relationship where I was left behind and forgotten.
This time there is nothing left for you to take
You have taken all that I had to offer, leaving me with nothing else to give.
This is goodbye
Our relationship has come to an end, and we must part ways.
Summer is miles and miles away
The warm, carefree season of summer seems distant and out of reach.
And no one would ask me to stay
Nobody would urge me to remain where I am; I am free to go as I please.
And I should contemplate this change
I should consider making a significant change to my life in order to alleviate my suffering.
To ease the pain
In doing so, I hope to lessen the emotional discomfort I am experiencing.
And I should step out of the rain
I need to remove myself from a difficult and unpleasant situation that is causing me distress.
Turn away
I need to look to a new direction and move on from what is holding me back.
Close to ending it all, I am drifting through the stages
I am on the brink of suicide and am caught in a cycle of grief and despair.
Of the rapture born within this loss
The intense emotional upheaval I am experiencing has given way to a sort of mystical, transcendent ecstasy.
Thoughts of death inside
I am consumed by suicidal ideation and the idea of death within me.
Tear me apart from the core of my soul
These thoughts and emotions are so overwhelming that they are causing deep, fundamental damage at the very center of my being.
At times the dark's fading slowly
There are moments when the darkness and despair begin to recede slowly.
But it never sustains
Unfortunately, these moments of emotional respite are fleeting and temporary.
Would someone watch over me
I am asking for spiritual or emotional support and guidance from someone else.
In my time of need?
During this period of great hardship in my life, I require the help and compassion of others to make it through.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mikael Lars Akerfeldt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doobie
I can't see the meaning of this life I'm leading
I try to forget you as you forgot me
This time there is nothing left for you to take
This is goodbye
Summer is miles and miles away
And no one would ask me to stay
And I should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I should step out of the rain
Turn away
Close to ending it all
I am drifting through the stages
Of the rapture born within this loss
Thoughts of death inside
Tear me apart from the core of my soul
Summer is miles and miles away
And no one would ask me to stay
And I should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I should step out of the rain
Turn away
At times the
Dark's fading slowly
But it never sustains
Would someone watch over me
In my time of need
Summer is miles and miles away
And no one would ask me to stay
And I should contemplate this change
To ease the pain
And I should step out of the rain
Turn away
Jartoc Janror
as someone who's struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts my entire life, this particular song really hit me and really feels like a light in the darkest place.
Red Strat59
Hope you are doing better dude
Craig With a Wig
Mikael made this album after his mother died.
It has a transient feel of understanding that we all embrace.
렙타일 킹 Reptile King
We all are similar as you. You are not alone bro.
Little Jimmy Youman
Glad you found happy thoughts in it, it makes me want to destroy myself sometimes.
Mr. Luke
@Little Jimmy Youman similar here. Greets dude
Lol_itsnot_erick
I remember when I was like 4 or 3 years old, this was in 2010 or 2009, my father would always be playing ps2 and playing the full album, and i would love watching him play, but u would also listen to the songs, and it somehow stuck with me till now, I am 14 already and this album just gives me nostalgic memories of my father.
Aria
I feel the exact same way, I still have my dads old opeth shirt.
Quino Kirty
Same
fabrini pedretti
9ooo