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
The Leper Affinity
Opeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Naked, freezing from my breath
‘Neath the lid, all limbs tucked away
This coffin is your abode from now and onwards
Your body is mine to avail
Such a tragic sight you are
Slave under my creed
I am beyond death
Midst a dreaming affinity
Saving strength now, faint whispers
Come erotic communion in its splendour
Fever mirrored ghosts
Night-time consolation, cross the line
Draw murder into art
Sleep inside through days
In the wake of this relief
Shivering, longing for more
Insanity at its peak
Love me to my death
Lost are the days of Spring
You sighed and let me in
Keep the beast inside
Shackled within my hide
Screaming out too late
Losing to my hate
Grew together with your skin
And paced the trails of sin
Your gaze, covered with virgin snow
Rigid features….
It's the shallow deeds who's to blame
Deafening shrieks pierced the night
A step from oblivion
Moving into the dim lights
Hiding within a reverie
It was worth it for the wait alone
In "The Leper Affinity," Opeth speaks of a protagonist who has entered the wintertime once more, possibly referring to a period of depression or hardship in their life. The imagery of being naked and cold emphasizes vulnerability and discomfort. The singer seems to find solace in death, which is symbolized by a coffin. The lyrics are also suggestive of necrophilia, as the singer takes ownership of the dead body by saying, "Your body is mine to avail." The singer views the dead body as a tragic sight but is also unable to resist the temptation and indulges in eroticism with the body. The repetitions of the lines, "I am beyond death / Midst a dreaming affinity," indicate that the singer is alluding to a feeling of transcendence and detachment from life.
Furthermore, in the latter part of the song, there is a sense that the singer is losing their grip on reality. They refer to feeling shivers and an intense longing for more, which portrays obsessive behavior that borders on insanity. There is also a mention of "drawing murder into art" which can be interpreted as a representation of creative expression through destructive tendencies. The song concludes with a sense of relief that the wait has been worth it, but the final line, "moving into the dim lights," signifies a path towards a potential disaster.
Line by Line Meaning
We entered Winter once again
The singer and the subject have returned to a cold, bleak time in their lives.
Naked, freezing from my breath
The subject is exposed and vulnerable to the singer's power and control.
‘Neath the lid, all limbs tucked away
The subject is trapped and confined to a coffin-like state by the singer.
This coffin is your abode from now and onwards
The subject's life is now completely under the control of the artist.
Your body is mine to avail
The artist has taken complete possession of the subject's body.
Such a tragic sight you are
The singer views the subject as pitiful and helpless.
Slave under my creed
The subject is subservient to the singer's beliefs and values.
Spurring me with those tears
The subject's emotional reactions provoke and motivate the artist.
I am beyond death
The artist believes they are immortal or above the limitations of mortality.
Midst a dreaming affinity
The artist is in a state of strong emotional connection or attraction to the subject.
Saving strength now, faint whispers
The singer is conserving their energy while listening to the subject's weak, quiet sounds.
Come erotic communion in its splendour
The artist anticipates experiencing some kind of sexual or intimate intimacy with the subject.
Fever mirrored ghosts
The singer is experiencing hallucinations or visions of their own past due to their intense emotions.
Night-time consolation, cross the line
The singer finds comfort and validation in their relationship with the subject, even if it is taboo or transgressive.
Draw murder into art
The singer is able to turn violent or destructive acts into something beautiful or meaningful.
Sleep inside through days
The artist hides their true self or intentions during daylight hours.
In the wake of this relief
After experiencing a sense of release or release from suffering, the artist feels renewed or exhilarated.
Shivering, longing for more
The singer is addicted to the intense emotional experience they share with the subject.
Insanity at its peak
The singer is at the height of their irrational or obsessive behavior.
Love me to my death
The artist desires the subject's love and affection even if it leads to their own demise.
Lost are the days of Spring
The artist and subject have left behind a time of growth and renewal.
You sighed and let me in
The subject allowed the artist to enter and take control of their life.
Keep the beast inside
The singer warns themselves not to reveal their true, savage nature.
Shackled within my hide
The artist feels imprisoned by their own identity or persona.
Screaming out too late
The singer has reached a point where they can no longer hide their emotions or actions.
Losing to my hate
The singer is unable to overcome their feelings of anger or resentment.
Grew together with your skin
The singer has become intimately attached to the subject's body and physicality.
And paced the trails of sin
The artist and subject have engaged in immoral or taboo behavior together.
Your gaze, covered with virgin snow
The subject's innocent or pure appearance belies the corruption or degradation of their situation.
Rigid features….
The subject's outward appearance reveals their emotional detachment and suffering.
It's the shallow deeds who's to blame
The singer blames society or external factors for their own immoral behavior.
Deafening shrieks pierced the night
The artist and subject caused a disturbance or upheaval that could not be ignored.
A step from oblivion
The artist is teetering on the brink of self-destruction.
Moving into the dim lights
The artist is entering into a darker, more dangerous phase of their relationship with the subject.
Hiding within a reverie
The singer is retreating into a fantasy or daydream to escape from reality.
It was worth it for the wait alone
The artist feels that the suffering and challenges they have faced were justified by the satisfaction of ultimately achieving their goals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKAEL LARS AKERFELDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Meemaw567
The Leper Affinity. Best Opeth opening track ever, in my opinion. It sets such an amazing mood for the rest of the album and just screams Opeth to me. The riffs, the melodies, the raw/gritty side, the mournful/sad side, this one song has that all.
Sure, The Moor, Ghost of Perdition, In Mist She Was Standing and Heir Apparent (kinda cheating here but bear with me) are all amazing openers (especially Ghost and Heir) but this song is just pure magical. And for this kind of song, in just 10 and a half minutes, it's the perfect length for what it needs to evoke.
The riff at 3:14 is my absolute favorite Opeth riff EVER! It's very disturbed, it's super kick-ass, and it took me a long time to figure out how to actually play.
The soft part in the middle is very nice, not my favorite by any means but beautiful nonetheless. And Mikael's singing is extremely soothing.
OH YEAH! I forgot about the vocals. Mikael Akerfeldt's growls were definitely in their peak in this era, he was a machine not to be reckoned with. It's definitely low, but not quite guttural, so it still sounds extremely badass (No offense to guttural, I'm just not a big fan).
The production is super clean and every instrument sounds very nice. Martin Lopez's drums are really juicy in this mix and i love how Mendez's bass isn't just super buried like other albums. The guitars also sound fantastic, it's just an awesome tonethat they have. It's a bit harsh, but it's an Opeth mix, so it kind of has to be a bit harsh. Steven Wilson is one of my all time favorite producers, so the fact that he was on board with this album and Deliverance/Damnation (two other fantastic albums) is a godsend.
And speaking of Steven Wilson, THAT. OUTRO. The rest of the song is already amazing, but having this piano play at the end of this song with the signature Opeth key changes and melodies was definitely one of the smartest moves the band has ever made. Wilson is definitely a great piano player, he's not technically proficient or gifted, but he just sits back and lets the thing talk. And those final chords that play until the song ends takes me to another dimension.
Overall, an absolute masterpiece of a track and one of my favorite Opeth songs ever. Blackwater Park is one of my favorite albums ever.
Opeth is one of my favorite bands ever.
And remember, this is just track one.
@davecrupel2817
"Lost are the days of Spring
You sighted and let me in
Keeping the beast inside
Shackled within my hide
Screaming out too late
Losing to my hate
Grew together with your skin
And paced on the trails of sin"
My favorite part of this song.
@bjorn6300
We entered Winter once again
Naked, freezing from my breath
‘Neath the lid, all limbs tucked away
This coffin is your abode from now and onwards
Your body is mine to avail
Such a tragic sight you are
Slave under my creed
Spurring me with those tears
I am beyond death
Midst a dreaming affinity
Saving strength now, faint whispers
Come erotic communion in its splendour
Fever mirrored ghosts
Night-time consolation, cross the line
Draw murder into art
Sleep inside through days
In the wake of this relief
Shivering, longing for more
Insanity at its peak
Love me to my death
Lost are the days of Spring
You sighed and let me in
Keep the beast inside
Shackled within my hide
Screaming out too late
Losing to my hate
Grew together with your skin
And paced the trails of sin
Your gaze, covered with virgin snow
Rigid features….
It's the shallow deeds who's to blame
Deafening shrieks pierced the night
A step from oblivion
Moving into the dim lights
Hiding within a reverie
It was worth it for the wait alone
@yurek2751
0:00 - masterpiece
0:01 - masterpiece
0:02 - masterpiece
0:03 - masterpiece
0:04 - masterpiece
0:05 - masterpiece
0:06 - masterpiece
0:07 - masterpiece
0:08 - masterpiece
0:09 - masterpiece
0:10 - masterpiece
0:11 - masterpiece
0:12 - masterpiece
0:13 - masterpiece
0:14 - masterpiece
0:15 - masterpiece
0:16 - masterpiece
0:17 - masterpiece
0:18 - masterpiece
0:19 - masterpiece
0:20 - masterpiece
0:21 - masterpiece
0:22 - masterpiece
0:23 - masterpiece
0:24 - masterpiece
0:25 - masterpiece
0:26 - masterpiece
0:27 - masterpiece
0:28 - masterpiece
0:29 - masterpiece
0:30 - masterpiece
0:31 - masterpiece
0:3-
Okay, you got it.
@Ukulilly
Never listened to Opeth before, but I think I picked a good first song
@jotaroshinsuke
How far did you reach
@Ukulilly
@@jotaroshinsuke listened to the whole album around midnight and changed my life
@chikenspongebob5434
@@Ukulilly did u hear the entire discography now?
@IJH1984
My favourite all time, great choice!
@ledsabbazepplath3889
Opeth is a life changing band indeed
@Kinnakeeter
The best way to describe Opeth would be to use 2 words:
Beautiful and brutal
@jiersk
I found this on another music vid so the term ain't mine: Brutiful
@asloii_1749
Thats 3 words.
@JonaThan-ey5nt
@Vlad the Inhaler brutally beautiful