So, pretty much every significant metal label, then. Originally signed to British extreme metal label Candlelight, they have also released albums on Roadrunner, Peaceville, and Music For Nations. Opeth’s current label, legendary German metal imprint Nuclear Blast isn’t the only place they’ve called home. Opeth were unavailable for comment on what the deal with all the Martins is. Lopez sadly departed after Ghost Reveries for health reasons, replaced by Martin Axenrot and these days playing drums in supergroup Soen. Realising this was nonsense, they were hired, contributing to some of the finest albums in the band’s discography. Both of south American descent, the band initially balked at employing both, lest it create a divide. On the hunt for a new drummer and bass player, the band placed an ad in a music shop, which was responded to by drummer Martin Lopez, and bassist Martín Méndez. He has successfully adapted his intricate style of playing to complement Opeth’s ever evolving sound, never sounding more liberated than on forthcoming opus Sorceress. An adept death metal drummer, Axenrot has played with Bloodbath, Nifelheim and Witchery. The other nickname of drummer Martin ‘Axe’ Axenrot, given to him jokingly by the band for his passing resemblance of the flaxen haired, delicate beauty of JRR Tolkien’s legendary elf. A stand out part of their extensive discography, the rich baritone of Åkerfeldt’s death vocals perfectly complement the band’s iconic, dour fretwork, creating one of their most dismally memorable records to date. Mikael has contributed to several Katatonia releases, most significantly 1996’s Brave Murder Day, their second album, on which he sang lead vocals. K is for Katatoniaįellow Swedes Katatonia share an indelible link with Opeth, not only because of their shared history as members of Bloodbath. Having renounced his satanic metal past, these days he is a member of the Christian Democratic Party of Sweden. A lover of jazz fusion, he left the band citing creative differences, Åkerfeldt uncomfortable with how much emphasis he expected the bass to have in their sound. J is for Johan DeFarfallaĪn early member in the ongoing bassist saga of the ever-revolving door of Opeth band members, DeFarfalla contributed to their first two records, 1995’s Orchid and 1996’s Morningrise.
Since Emperor’s demise Ihsahn’s solo material continues his diverse experimentation, featuring Åkerfeldt as guest vocalist on the track Unhealer from 2008’s angL. Another of such is undoubtedly Ihsahn, an icon of Norwegian black metal as frontman of Emperor, the band whom above all others was early on responsible for showing the symphonic, progressively complex potential of black metal.
Mikael Åkerfeldt is one of modern metal’s few auteurs, a defining artist of singular voice and unparalleled ability. The band’s original keyboard player Per Wiberg only joined the band for Ghost Reveries as the band sought to flesh out their sound, later leaving to be replaced by Joakim Svalberg. H is for Hammond organĪ signature instrument of the progressive rock which has so inspired Opeth’s continued evolution, the Hammond organ’s unmistakeable tones rose increasingly to prominence in their sound on 2011’s Heritage and 2014’s Pale Communion. Conceptually Åkerfeldt was inspired by occult literature in his wife’s collection, giving the record its delectably dark concept. In many ways it was their eighth album, released in 2005, that propelled Opeth to the next level of stardom, further consolidating the concoction of death metal and progressive meanderings the band had firmly established and had been further building upon since 1999’s Still Life. Åkesson’s first album was 2008’s Watershed, on which he co-wrote fifth track Porcelain Heart. Opeth came calling after the departure of guitarist Peter Lindgren around the same time, and they all lived happily ever after. (Image credit: Getty Images) F is for Fredrik Åkessonįormer member of fellow Swedish death metallers Arch Enemy, Åkesson originally replaced guitarist Christopher Amott, brother of founding member Michael, in 2005, before making way for his return in 2007.