Opeth Albums Ranked (rated from worst to best)

Opeth are a Swedish progressive metal band formed in Stockholm in 1990. They incorporate metal, jazz, blues, folk and classical music into their usually long tracks.

They have death metal influences as well as acoustic guitar passages along with death growls and the use of mellotrons. They never really supported their early work with live shows until the release of “Blackwater Park” in 2001.

Since then they have embarked on several world tours and over the years, they have replaced every original band member.

Best Opeth Albums Of All Time

Opeth has released 13 studio albums and as always we will rank them as we see them from the rest to the best.

13. Pale Communion (2014)

Released on August 26th 2014, “Pale Communion” is the band’s 11th studio album. It is their first album to feature Joakim Svalberg (keyboards) after Per Wiberg left in 2011.

There are no death growls featured on any of the tracks on this album and it’s far more melodic overall. It is in some ways reminiscent of early King Crimson.

The album cover was designed by Travis Smith who had designed a number of earlier Opeth album covers.

The album peaked at number 3 on the Swedish album chart, number 14 on the UK album charts and number 19 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US

12. Heritage (2011)

This was Opeth’s 10th studio album which was released on September 13th 2011. This is a far more progressive rock sounding album than any of their earlier work. It is also their first since “Damnation” in 2003 to not feature any death growls.

Mikael Akerfeldt (lead vocals, guitar, mellotron, piano) has said that he wanted to lead the band away from death metal and into a more progressive rock sound. He said;

I was a bit discouraged with the contemporary metal scene, and I wanted to break away from it even more. I feel we’ve been on the outskirts of that scene for a couple of years. I just couldn’t see myself writing another album in the same vein as the last couple of records. Thankfully I listen to so many different kinds of music, and writing music has never been a problem. I’ve always seen Opeth as a band without boundaries. So if it’s good and everybody in the band likes it, it’s an Opeth record. In the end I sat down and wrote the music that I wanted to hear right now.

Mikael Akerfeldt

The album peaked at number 4 on the Swedish album charts, number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number 22 on the UK album charts.

11. Sorceress (2016)

Released on September 30th 2016, this is Opeth’s 12th studio album. It was produced and mixed by Tom Dalgety and recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales.

The album was streamed via SoundCloud on September 29th 2016.

All of the tracks on the album were written or co-written by Mikael Akerfeldt.

It peaked at number 7 on the Swedish album charts but could only manage number 24 on the Billboard 200. It did, however, peak at number 11 on the UK album charts.

10. Orchid (1995)

“Orchid” is Opeth’s debut album which was released on May 15th 1995 in Europe and June 24th 1997 in the US. 

The album combines progressive rock, folk music, acoustic pieces, death metal growl, black metal scream and jazz.

The majority of tracks are over 9 minutes long with the exception of the 2 instrumental pieces; “Silhouette” and “Requiem”. “Silhouette” was played on piano by the band’s drummer Anders Nordin.

9. In Cauda Venenum (2019)

“In Cauda Venenum” is Opeth’s 13th studio album which was released on September 27th 2019. They released 2 versions, one in Swedish and the other in English.

It is their last album to feature Martin Axenrot (drums) before he left the band in 2021. It is also their longest studio album with a run time of almost 68 minutes.

The album peaked at number 12 on the Swedish album charts, number 13 in the UK and number 59 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

SEE ALSO: Heart In Hand Chords & Lyrics

8. Morningrise (1996)

“Morningrise” is the 2nd studio album by Opeth. It was released on June 24th 1996 in Europe and exactly one year later in the US.

It was their last album to feature Anders Nordin (drums) and Johan De Farfalla (bass).

This album is a great showcase of the band’s style, mixing death metal, black metal, progressive rock and acoustic music.

7. Watershed (2008)

Released on May 19th 2008, “Watershed” is the band’s 9th studio album. It is their first album to feature Frederik Akersson (guitar) and Martin Axenrot (drums) and their last to date to contain any death metal growls.

They released 3 singles from this album which are; “Porcelain Heart”, “Mellotron Heart” and “Burden”.

The album peaked at number 7 on the Swedish album chart, number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and number 34 on the UK album chart.

SEE ALSO: Den Standiga Resan Chords, Tab & Lyrics 

AND THEN SEE: Burden Chords & Lyrics

6. Damnation (2003)

“Damnation” is Opeth’s 7th studio album which was released on April 22nd 2003. It was recorded at the same time as their previous release “Deliverance” which was released 5 months earlier.

This album is a far more progressive rock influenced album than any of their earlier works. It was their first to use all clean vocals, clean guitars and featured prominent usage of the mellotron.

Although the album had great reviews, it failed to do well in the charts, peaking at number 181 on the UK album charts and number 192 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

5. Deliverance (2002)

This is Opeth’s 6th studio album which was released on November 12th 2002. It was recorded between July 22 and September 4th at the same time as their next album release, “Damnation”.

Although recorded at the same time, these 2 albums are at complete opposites. This album is considered to be one of their heaviest albums whereas “Damnation” is considered to be a far mellower sounding album.

Originally intended to be released as a double album by the band, the record company decided to release them separately as 2 single albums.

The band had to endure lots of problems while recording both of these albums including; equipment breakdowns, microphones changing positions, arguments and Mikael Akerfeldt’s grandmother was killed in a car accident and he later dedicated both albums to her.

The band won a Grammis Award (Swedish Grammy) for Best Hard Rock Performance for this album.

4. Ghost Reveries (2005)

Released on August 29th 2005 this is the band’s 8th studio album. It was their first for Roadrunner Records and their first album since 1999s “Still Life” not to be produced by Steven Wilson.

It is also their first studio album to feature Per Wiberg as a permanent band member and the last to feature Martin Lopez (drums) and Peter Lindgren (guitar).

They released the track “The Grand Conjuration” as the only single from this album.

The album peaked at number 9 on the Swedish album charts, number 62 in the UK and number 64 in the US.

SEE ALSO: Hours Of Wealth Chords & Lyrics

THEN SEE: Isolation Years Chords & Lyrics

3. Still Life (1999)

“Still Life” is the band’s 4th studio album which was released on October 18th 1999 in Europe and on February 27th 2001 in the US. 

It was their only album to be released through Peaceville Records and their first to feature Martin Mendez (bass).

All of the tracks on this album were written by Mikael Akerfeldt and the cover art was designed by Travis Smith.

2. My Arms, Your Hearse (1998)

This is the band’s 3rd studio album which was released on August 18th 1998. 

It was their first album to be released simultaneously in Europe and the US.

It was also their first album to feature Martin Lopez (drums). They also brought in Martin Mendez (bass) who was a friend and former bandmate of Lopez.

However, Mendez never had time to learn the bass parts so Mikael Akerfeldt played bass for all of the recording session.

Akerfeldt wrote all of the lyrics before the music was composed and created Opeth’s first concept album. Each track ends with the title of the next song.

1. Blackwater Park (2001)

“Blackwater Park” is Opeth’s 5th studio album which was released on March 12th 2001 in Europe and the following day in the US.

It was the first Opeth album to feature Steven Wilson as producer.

Although the album failed to chart in the UK or the US it was a commercial breakthrough for Opeth. It received high praise from music critics and is often considered to be their “magnum opus” or masterpiece.

The album peaked at number 10 on the Polish album chart and number 58 in Germany.

SEE ALSO: The Swedish Guitarists You Need To Listen To (right now!)

THEN SEE: Heavy Metal Guitarists You Can’t Help But Air Guitar To

All Opeth Albums In Chronological Order

Album	Date
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

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