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
To Rid the Disease
Opeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nobody near
I try not to care
Dead eyes always stare
Let these matters be
(Don't trust what you see)
Take hold of your time
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn, the trust in you
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do?
(Would you?)
Leave your mark upon
The head of someone
Who'll cry for his state
We know it's too late
I turn round to see
(What was meant to be)
Faint movement release
(To rid the disease)
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn, the trust in you
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do?
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
"To Rid the Disease" is a dark and introspective song by Swedish progressive death metal band, Opeth. The lyrics depict a sense of isolation and despair, with the singer feeling alone and detached from the world around them. They caution against trusting appearances and encourage the listeners to take control of their own lives rather than relying on others.
The opening line, "There's nobody here, there's nobody near" immediately establishes a sense of distance and solitude, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is struggling with feelings of betrayal and disappointment, as evidenced by the lines "I have lost all trust I had in you." These emotions are juxtaposed with a call to action, urging listeners to take control of their own destinies and not be swayed by external forces.
The lyrics also touch on themes of death and loss, with lines like "innocence torn from its maker" and "faint movement release to rid the disease" suggesting a sense of finality and resignation. The repeated refrain of "This failure has made the creator / So would you tell him what to do?" is a powerful one, suggesting that even the most powerful beings can be subject to failure and self-doubt.
Overall, "To Rid the Disease" is a deeply introspective song that speaks to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world. Its haunting melody and emotionally-charged lyrics make it a standout track on Opeth's catalog.
Line by Line Meaning
There's nobody here, there's nobody near
The singer is alone and there is no one around.
I try not to care, dead eyes always stare
The singer is feeling indifferent but the people around him/her are unresponsive.
Let these matters be, don't trust what you see
The singer is advising to let things be and not believe everything you see.
Take hold of your time, step into the line
The artist is encouraging to seize the moment and take action.
There's innocence torn from its maker
The artist is acknowledging that innocence has been taken away from someone who did not deserve it.
Stillborn, the trust in you
The trust that was placed on someone has been lost and is now no longer present.
This failure has made the creator
The loss of trust has been a failure and the person who was trusted in the first place is now being looked at as the creator of the failure.
So would you tell him what to do? Would you?
The artist is questioning whether the person who has caused the failure should be told what to do next.
Leave your mark upon the head of someone
The artist is saying to make an impact on someone's life, make a difference.
Who'll cry for his state, we know it's too late
The artist is acknowledging that someone's state is already deteriorated and nothing more can be done.
I turn round to see what was meant to be
The singer looks back to evaluate what the outcome was supposed to be.
Faint movement release to rid the disease
The only option left to rid the current state of things is to take a drastic measure.
I have lost all trust I had in you
The singer has lost all trust in someone who was previously trusted.
This failure has made the creator
The loss of trust has been a failure and the person who was trusted in the first place is now being looked at as the creator of the failure.
So would you tell him what to do?
The singer is questioning whether the person who has caused the failure should be told what to do next.
I have lost all trust I had in you
The artist has lost all trust in someone who was previously trusted.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mikael Lars Akerfeldt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arigres136
There's nobody here, there's nobody near
I try not to care, dead eyes always stare
Let these matters be, don't trust what you see
Take hold of your time, step into the line
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn the trust in you
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do (would you)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave your mark upon the head of someone
Who'll cry for his state, we know it's too late
I turn round to see what was meant to be
Faint movement release to rid the disease
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn the trust in you
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
@mostafahossaintuhin
There's nobody here, there's nobody near
I try not to care, dead eyes always stare
Let these matters be, don't trust what you see
Take hold of your time, step into the line
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn the trust in you
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do (would you)
Leave your mark upon the head of someone
Who'll cry for his state, we know it's too late
I turn round to see what was meant to be
Faint movement release to rid the disease
There's innocence torn from its maker
Stillborn the trust in you
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
This failure has made the creator
So would you tell him what to do
(I have lost all trust I had in you)
@shieysarajevo9275
Play this song if you"re feeling uncomfortable with your existence .
@camuloth5534
Opeth keeps me from freaking out lol amazing band.
@savinpetru6512
Or if you have a disease that can't be cured...
@KennyHedgehog
Alright, I'll play it everyday then.
@filipilustratorrsz2388
it's okay just breathe ... listen to this masterpiece...Feelings are constantly relevant
@EnterDakura
@@savinpetru6512 I know that feel...
@castlelanternstudio3661
is anyone else brought to tears by the emotional beauty of this album?
@fannyberchtold8814
Me😢
@casajaguar_tarija
Yeah bro
@patrickr6505
Melancholic masterpiece