The band Opeth released their first album in 1985 entitled Orchid. After the release of the Orchid album, the band continued to release albums on a steady basis never lingering for too long between records. From 1995 to their latest 2016 release entitled Sorceress, the band has released eleven albums.
Our Top 10 Opeth Songs list takes a look at different periods in the band’s career. Of course, it’s just a subjective list, but we believe we have picked some of their finest moments that will entice people who are unaware of the band to go check them out.
# 10 –Â Reverie/Harlequin Forest
Opening up our Top 10 Opeth songs list is the mind-blowing epic “Reverie/ Harlequin Forest.” The song was released on the Ghost Reveries album in 2005. The epic track was written by Mikael Ã…kerfeldt. It appeared as the fifth selection on this amazing Progressive Rock album.
# 9 – Closure
This grand piece of music was released on the Damnation album in 2003. The record was produced by the God of modern Progressive Rock, Mr. Steven Wilson. The song starts out in a similar fashion to many of Wilson’s classic Porcupine Tree tracks with some smooth acoustic guitar strumming and vocals. Of course about a minute in, the song ignites to another sonic level becoming more interesting with every passing beat.
# 8 – The Moor
One of our favorite Opeth albums is their 1999 album Still Life. The song “The Moor,” was the album’s opening track. It takes a little over two minutes for this song to start to cook, but it’s a pretty tasty track once it gets boiling.
# 7 – The Drapery Falls
“The Drapery Falls,” is from the legendary Blackwater Park album. The great Opeth album was released in 2001. The guitar work at the beginning of the song is extraordinary in the way the arrangement transcends back and forth from electric guitars to acoustic. The vocals follow the same pattern of changing resonance to create a cinematic effect that is very powerful.
# 6 – Face of Melinda
Another killer track from the Still Life album is the song “Face Of Melinda.” The song was composed by Mikael Ã…kerfeldt. The band on the album featured Mikael Ã…kerfeldt on vocals, and guitars, Peter Lindgren on guitars, Martin Mendez on bass and Martin Lopez on drums. Mikael Ã…kerfeldt’s vocals on this track are as hanging as it gets. Peter Lindgren’s guitar playing is just simply perfect as his acoustic picking compliments Mikael Ã…kerfeldt’s vocals making them even more chilling.
# 5 – Black Rose Immortal
Continuing with our Top 10 Opeth songs list we turn to the Morningrise album. The record was released in June of 1996. It was the band’s second album. All the material on the album was written by Mikael Ã…kerfeldt and Peter Lindgren. The song “Black Rise Immortal,” had the longest run time on the album clocking in at just over twenty minutes.
# 4 – Demon Of The Fall
Everything about the title of the album, the song, and the album cover just creeps me out on this one. But it’s so cool. The My Arms, Your Hearse was the band’s third album release. The record was issued in 1998. This was the band’s first album to feature drummer Martin Lopez.
# 3 – Harvest
As we arrive at the top 3 spots on our Top 10 Opeth songs list, we turn to band’s crowning achievement; the Blackwater Park album. It’s no secret that this is the album most Opeth fans argue was the band’s best. The song “Harvest,” appeared as the third track on the album. The song was written by Mikael Ã…kerfeldt.
# 2 – Blackwater Park
The title track from the album Blackwater Park was the CD’s closing track. It was also the album’s longest-running track. The heavy metal riffs draped in dark strings defined the Opeth sound. Seven Wilsons’s touch is all over this record and you can especially hear it on the title track Blackwater Park. Listen to those killer riffs. Wow! This is heavy.
# 1 – To Bid You Farewell
Our choice for the number one spot on our Top 10 Opeth Songs lost is the great track “To Bid You Farewell.” The song was released on the Morningrise album which was released in 1996. The song “To Bid You Farewell,” was the album’s closing track. It is one of those songs that has an emotional effect on the listener leaving that forces you to keep coming back to the record and its brilliant artistic statement.
Updated August 4, 2022
Top 10 Opeth Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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