Opeths myspace1991-2001 Archived News
June 2001
Opeth just returned home from their first ever North American tour. Now awaits 2 weeks of rest after which the band will play at the famous Hultsfred festival in the southern part of Sweden. The band are scheduled to appear on a number of festivals this Summer.
Both Opeth and Nevermore express their sincere apologies to the fans that came to see the show in El Paso, Texas. This show had to be cancelled as the promoter refused to fullfill his obligations towards the band and the crew, expecting low presales for the show. Those of you who came there know how wrong he was and so do the bands. We hope you will be there next time as well as there is no way Opeth will cancel in El Paso again.
A European tour is in the making for the support of "Blackwater Park". As for now no details have been revealed, so we'll keep you posted as we get to know more about this matter.
There's also plans to bring Opeth over to both Australia and Japan during November of this year. We're looking at 4-6 gigs in Australia and about 3-4 in Japan at this point. Check this space for more info.
This Summer Opeth will perform at the following festivals:
June 14-Hultsfred festival (SWE)
June 30-Waldrock festival (HOL)
July 5-Quart festival (NOR)
August 4-Wacken open air (GER)
August 5-Eurorock (BEL)
Rumours have been going around that the band has cancelled all these festivals. This is absolutely NOT true! Opeth will be there and they definately will perform! When you need first hand, true information check this spot and nothing else!
February 2001
It is now confirmed that the said Opeth/Porcupine tree gig will happen! The venue is called Kashmir and it is located in the town of Boras/Sweden. Tickets can be ordered at Biljett direkt at 077-1707070, at Bengans at 031-242400, and from Kashmir at 033-411114. There's also a web page for the venue at: www.kashmir-music.com Please note that all the phonenumbers displayed here are only valid if you're calling from Sweden yourself. For international calls please add 46 and loose the first zero of the numbers above. We also want to add that the capacity of the venue is stricktly limited and getting ahold of tickets will probably be extremely hard. Only 250 are allowed entrance. There's talk on a very very long USA/Canada tour for the band. In April and May the band may undertake their first ever US tour together with Nevermore. This is not fully confirmed yet, but is about 90% done. We'll keep you updated! More gig related news: The annual Wacken festival close to Hamburg/Germany will most probably have Opeth performing on either of the 2 dates it's going.More on this soon....
January 2001
Rumours say that Opeth might do a co-headline super special gig with Porcupine Tree in Sweden sometime in March. This would mark the first Swedish gig for Opeth in 5 years and the first ever Swedish concert for Porcupine Tree. It is said that the venue only hold around 300 people which means that tickets will probably be extremely hard to get ahold of. We'll keep you updated on this matter!" It's also said that Opeth will appear on this years Wacken festival in Germany. Nothing is confirmed at this stage, but apparently the band is negotiating with the staff of the festival for their first ever outdoor concert....more to come soon!
Mega rare photo found! (To the right)
Courtesy of At the gates homepage and Jonas Björler we are able to bring back a taste of the "good ol’ days" of Opeth for you. The picture featuring Mikael Åkerfeldt and old vocalist David Isberg was taken at a one off gig
in Gothenbourg way back in 1991! Yes...you could say Samael was the "stuff" back then!
December 2000
The album, due to be released through Music for nations in Europe on the 26th of February 2001 will have the following titles:
1. The leper affinity
2. Bleak
3. Harvest
4. The drapery falls
5. Dirge for November
6. The funeral portrait
7. Patterns in the ivy
8. Blackwater park
Our advice is to simply to tuck away some dough for this one right now, as you obviously canL« live/die without it!
The plague over the US is now over. With a stateside release of "Still Life" through DNA, Koch didn'L« want to prove worse and was able to snatch the rights for "Blackwater park". They will actually release the album in the US on the very same YEAR (wow!) as the european release!
The Cd will also be available in Japan through JVC.
November 2000
This Saturday (12th) Opeth headlined the annual Prog power festival in Baarlo/Holland. The band had a stage time of one and a half hour which is the longest Opeth gig to date.
The somewhat exclusive setlist was: White cluster, Forest of October, The amen corner, Moonlapse vertigo, The drapery falls (new track), Credence, Godhead's lament, Advent and Demon of the fall.
The re-issues of the first three albums are now out through Candlelight records. These incudes bonus tracks, never before seen photos and liner notes. The original pressings will be deleted and unavailable from now on.
We can now officially confirm that Opeth have signed directly to Music for nations for Europe. MFN will release "Blackwater park" early next year. Check out www.music-for-nations.co.uk
In the meantime Peaceville records are reissuing a slip case version of "Still Life". This should be out any day now. Check out www.peaceville.co.uk
October 2000
Fantastic news...."Blackwater Park" is now recorded, mastered and almost ready for printing. The band has also been immortalized by photographer Harry Valimaki, who also worked with the band on "Still Life". Travis Smith is currently working with the artwork.
The album itself is over 67 minutes long which makes it the longest Opeth album to date. It features 8 titles where one is a short instrumental "breather". And you will need a breather as this album includes some of the heaviest arrangements ever!
For the production the band brought in Steven Wilson, famed for his own band, Porcupine tree. Steven worked with Opeth for 12 days and we will even hear some singing/playing from the man.
During the recording a independent film-crew documented the entire recording. As for now, the movie is not said to ever be released, but who knows...if the demand is there. Fredrik OdefjaNrd, director of this documentary is a childhood friend of Mikael Åkerfeldt, and it is rumoured the two have been discussing some co-operation in the future as well. "Blackwater Park" is being released in February of 2001.
August 2000
It is now confirmed that the title of the 5th Opeth album will be "Blackwater Park" The album is due to be recorded during 7 weeks at Fredman studios starting on the 14th of August. It will most probably feature 8 titles, amongst them a 12 minute epic bearing the album title. The material is said to be a twisted and schizophrenic blend of evocative riffs and arrangements put together with an overload of sheer emotion. How about that? "Blackwater Park" will be released during February of 2001.
The band just got back home from their first ever US apperance. They co-headlined the Milwaukee metalfest in Wisconsin playing to a 1500+ crowd even though clashing with the schedules of King Diamond and Mayhem.
T-shirts are on the way! Razamataz will soon have at least 2 new designs delivered for printing. We'll keep you posted as we know more!
May 2000
Milwaukee Metalfest will mark the first ever Stateside Opeth gig. The band has been offered to do additional shows as well, but due to the beckoning of Fredman studios (August 14th) the band has decided to only do this one show. Make sure you'll be there!!! We'll kepp you updated on any info that might appear.
Opeth did 3 shows in Poland recently. This were their first in over 2 years. Included was the annual Metalmania festival in Katowice where they shared stage with My dying bride, Tiamat, Katatonia and more. The setlist: "Moonlapse vertigo", "Forest of October" "Advent", "Demon of the fall" and "White
cluster".
April 2000
We are happy to announce a few confirmed live appearances by Opeth. The band will undertake a short 3 gig stint in Poland including the Metalmania festival in Katowice together with bands such as My dying bride, Katatonia, Tiamat and Theatre of tragedy.
The dates/venues are as follows:
27th April - Warszawa, Klub Proxima
28th April - Wroclaw, Strefa Radia Kolor
29th April - Katowice, Spodek (Metalmania Festival)
The band is also confirmed to play the annual Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig/Germany at the 10th of June.
Check out www.wave-gotik-treffen.de for more information.
As if this was not enough (hell no!!) the band are also set to play the 3rd annual Prog power festival in Holland on the 12th of November. Check www.progpower.com for further details.
Fredman studios has again been booked for the recordings of the 5th album that has yet to see a title/working title. The recordings will last for 7 weeks starting in August and the album is planned to hit the stores in January 2001. This time we might see a exciting collaboration as the band have approached Porcupine Tree mainman and Opeth fan Steven Wilson to co-produce the album together with the band.
We'll keep you posted about this.
January 2000
Although a bit late we wish to say happy new year to all of you and thank you for visiting this site. So far about 25.000 hits have been documented since October 1999.
In recent Opeth related news we sadly confirm that the planned European tour together with My dying bride and The Gathering will not be happening. The reason for this is the lack of finaces needed to take care of the tour support. My dying bride will on the other hand still undertake the concerts as planned. Make sure to check this spot for any information regarding upcoming gigs.
During 2000 Opeth's old label, Candlelight records will be re-releasing the first 3 albums, "Orchid", "Morningrise" and "My arms your hearse" All with new and improved packaging, never before seen photos, liner notes and bonus tracks. How about that?
For the 5th album Opeth will most probably return to the famous Fredman studio for the recordings. The band plan to start the sessions in mid-August or later. Some material has already been written, but we still don't have any information on what to expect. Well, a top-class album, but apart from that, nothing.
Still Life has yet to see a Stateside release as the negotiations for the license are still not done. The Cd however, can be obtained by mailorders. Try: www.metaldisc.com or www.cdon.com With any luck you'll find it there. Expensive? Well, we don´t know, but Swedes are used to being robbed with every single buy as you probably know.
November 1991
The rumours about the Opeth/My dying bride tour is hotter than ever! Still, no dates have been arranged as yet. We will announce all and any gigs Opeth will make here, so check this spot once in a while.
The band is currently busy doing promotion for "Still Life". A massive schedule with around 200 interviews has been executed by the poor lads. Then again, the overall response of the new album has been nothing short of amazing!
October 1991
The release of "Still Life" has been pushed back to October 18. The was mainly due to time pressure with getting the promotional copies out to magazines and labels. However, if everything goes as planned the album will be out on a worldwide basis on the same date.
This year might also include some festival performances from the band, and rumours say that Opeth might have slot at the famous Dynamo festival next Summer.
A full European tour together with My dying bride is in the making as well. Although no dates are set, the tour will most probably become reality in January/February 2000!
July 1991
October 4th will be a rememberable date for all Opeth fans. It is the official date for the release of the 4th album entitled "Still Life", available through Peaceville records. The album is described to be a cross between "Morningrise" and "My arms, your hearse" combined with even more progressions and developments of the special Opeth sound. It is perhaps the most diverse and progressive album ever recorded by the band with a multitide of different influences, emotions and sounds. Again, Opeth have made a record of the unique and epic nature all fans are craving for. This should be Opeths ticket to worldwide recognition and respect. If not, it will still be a helluva gem within the metal scene, no, correction, the entire music scene for that matter. Track listing: The Moor, Godhead´s Lament, Benighted, Moonlapse Vertigo, Face Of Melinda, Serenity Painted Death, and White Cluster. Total running time is just above 62 minutes.
The cover art for "Still Life" will be taken care of Travis Smith (Death, Overkill, Solitude aeturnus, Katatonia) together with Opeth. We hope to be able to have the cover art available here on the official site within soon.
A full European tour is being planned for late autumn/early winter. Rumours say that the band might go with the legendary UK doom act, My dying bride. Still, this will be confirmed if it will ever happen. See, the band have not been seen live since 1997.
Mikael have again been involved with the vocal production of the latest Katatonia album, "Tonight´s decision". 2 weeks was spent at Sunlight studios for the vocal takes. This effort should hit the streets any day, also through Peaceville records.
May 1991
Opeth has now singned for UK label Peaceville records. For futher details, check out Peaceville records www.peaceville.com.
January 1991
"It's 1999, the human race has to face it...". First up, we wish you a pleasant new year, those of you who survived the last night of 1998. The official site has now been updated and improved, again we might add! We have new soundfiles (courtesy of Thomas Westling, Thanks!), pictures and sheer information for you to browse through. You´ll find new and longer excerpts from all Opeth albums, as well as exclusive clips from the side-projects. Most notable is Bloodbath, which is a one-off "smack in your fucking face" formation including Mikael, Dan Swanö and Anders/Jonas from Katatonia. Read and hear more in the related section. In the meantime, read on about the most recent news concerning our all-time favourite metal act!
We have not forgot our promise of putting up some sounds from the early days of Eruption and Opeth. It will be done in a near future, so be sure to check this space once in a while.
It is now confirmed that the 4th Opeth volume will be released by UK label, Peaceville records. The band´s currently on the verge of signing the necessary papers, and are due to enter Fredman studios on April (not March) the 15th. There are also plans of doing a pre-production of the album together with Dan Swanö behind the mixing desk. This unofficial recording has only one purpose, to be the solid ground on which their 4th album will be constructed.
Opeth are currently rehearsing the newly written material, which is nearly done. It will definately be another concept album, and the music is descibed to be the most wicked and strange sounds ever in the history of Opeth. The mellow parts have taken a near classical direction with many additional "Camel" touches. The heavy parts are described to create strong emotional visions with the usual Opeth vibes, but the band have also incorporated some virtuoso leads caressing the solid power of the rhythms. As usual there is no title for the album yet, but some songs are "Face of Melinda", and "Serenity painted death". This might be Opeth´s longest work since "Morningrise". The album will probably be released duirng the late summer of 1999.
PHD can now offer T-shirts and long sleeves with the "My arms" motive. For further information, contact Plastic Head Distrobution.
1998 was a good year for Opeth concerning the release of the "My arms, your hearse" album. The album ended up on several "best of year" lists in magazines all over the world, most notable Metal maniacs (US) and Close-up (SWE). Obviously, the latest album is the most successful album in their discography so far.