Opeth Songs Ranked

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal/rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1989. The group has been through several personnel changes, including the replacement of every single original member. Lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth’s primary driving force since the departure of original vocalist David Isberg in 1992. Opeth has consistently incorporated progressive, folk, blues, classical, and jazz influences into its usually lengthy compositions, as well as strong influences from death metal, especially in their early works. Many songs include acoustic guitar passages and strong dynamic shifts, as well as death growls. Opeth is also well known for their incorporation of Mellotrons in their work. The band rarely made live appearances supporting their first four albums, but since conducting their first world tour after the 2001 release of Blackwater Park, they have led several major world tours. Here are all of Opeth’s songs ranked.

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20. April Ethereal (My Arms, Your Hearse, 1998)

“This is without a doubt the most powerful piece of music in the whole entire real of music. The way the lyrics and music flow together like a story, the way the atmosphere takes you to a different world, and the way each riff continues to get better until the God-like outro which is the pinnacle of music altogether… This is not only the greatest Opeth song, but the greatest song ever created.”

19. The Leper Affinity (Blackwater Park, 2001)

“This song is so underrated! I love that dark riffing, but with the quirky prog rock nature. It was the first Opeth song I had ever heard, and is still one of their absolute best!

18. Windowpane (Damnation, 2003)

“Musical composition is just enchanting, and the lyrics about a girl he sees on a window.. Its just so beautiful. It is a perfect dose for someone who is listening to Opeth for the first time ^_^ Long live Mikael! Long live Opeth!”

17. Harvest (Blackwater Park, 2001)

“This song is just pure amazing. The clean vocals is soft and brilliant! I think it’s the best song for learning and feeling how accords can influence the song.”

See more: Opeth Albums Ranked

16. Demons of the Fall (My Arms, Your Hearse, 1998)

“This is the definitive Opeth song in their death metal phase. Absolutely terrifying performance. This is one of the best progressive death metal songs out there.”

15. Hessian Peel (Watershed, 2008)

“The whole song is pure chills, first it starts off with that hair-raising acoustic intro, then moves into the beautiful melodic part where mike sings “will the children cry” leading into the satanic message and eerie but beautiful section that follows. That epic riff afterward and then the calm before the storm everything gets quieter and the keyboard comes in and starts getting more intense then… BAM “LIGHT COMES ONN” the song is brutal as hell for a minute before going into the intense but softer “lock the children away from harm” part then after a bit goes back to the brutal riffs and finishes off with the keyboard.”

14. The Baying of the Hounds (Ghost Reveries, 2005)

“I love the groovy bass lines on this album: especially in this song. A great balance of vocal styles and the epic journey that this song takes you on from beginning to end make this song my favorite of all time.”

13. Face of Melinda (Still Life, 1999)

“I listen to this song every night before sleeping, it’s a masterpiece, a sample of heaven. Especially the roundhouse tapes very melodic. Opeth has so many perfect riffs. Lots of them are in this song”

12. Godhead’s Lament (Still Life, 1999)

“This has it all at Opeth’s best – complex and inventive drumming, layers of shifting melody, guitars swinging from brutal riffs to delicate finger picking, Akerfeldt’s trademark clean/growling vocals and a haunting storyline which ties the whole thing together with the rest of Still Life. Mesmerizing.”

11. Harlequin Forest (Ghost Reveries, 2005)

“The culmination of all their talent in songwriting, storytelling, riff-crafting, and musicianship. Boasts the single most beautiful and haunting passage (they are the trees…) in a discography chock full of such moments. More than any other Opeth song, Harlequin Forest takes you on a dark, sorrowful, but beautiful journey. Every note is perfectly placed, every lyric perfectly suited to telling this story. All of it combines to create a truly masterful composition.”

10. In My Time of Need (Damnation, 2003)

“Amazing song. Very slow and smooth to start and it’s very enjoyable. It’s very melodic like the King Crimson song “in the wake of Poseidon” has that feel to it with the piano.”

9. To Bid You Farewell (Morningrise, 1996)

“Simply beautiful, and the Gilmouresque solo is one of my favorites off all time. This song really blends genres better than any other. Just sit back and let yourself get lost in the emotion this song evokes.”

8. Deliverance (Deliverance, 2002)

“The song is as quintessential Opeth as it gets; it is a lengthy track (almost 14 minutes long), and it features, among other things, multiple different segments (with their own distinct moods and narrative styles), some really catchy and brilliantly thought-out lyrics, a mix of pure melodic vocals and deep low-register death-growls, a multitude of really heavy solos and catchy riffs, and, of course, the necessary acoustic breakdown in the middle to spice it all up.”

7. Bleak (Blackwater Park, 2001)

“This song has it all. From sweet but haunted to cripplingly cold and brutal, Opeth delivers big time with Bleak. Steve Wilson’s vocals in the chorus are a huge plus; that man is a prog god. The song is a great showcase of everything Opeth does right: strong, full growls; melodic instrumental jams; lyrics that lure you in and then betray your trust. Akerfeldt says it best himself: “I am the Eros Ramazzotti of Sweden, and also a genius when it comes to music…””

See more: Wishbone Ash Songs Ranked

6. The Drapery Falls (Blackwater Park, 2001)

“As Opeth gradually transitioned from death metal to prog rock, the two genres converged into one of the greatest masterpieces ever- the Blackwater Park album. If I had to pick one quintessential Opeth song, it would either be this or Blackwater Park. They’re both perfectly representative of Opeth’s proficiency at any musical task they put their minds to. This somber, haunting masterpiece of a song is just a perfect blend of clean vocals and acoustic guitar with heavier and more powerful metal that somehow retains the mournful, brooding quality of the softer sections.”

5. The Moor (Still Life, 1999)

“For me, the very best part in this song was the transitioning from softer atmospheric melody to a raging emotional outburst…that’s very unique.. The band itself is very unique indeed, I’ve been digging up a lot of progressive metal bands but none of them are remotely as versatile (but are very good) as Opeth with seamless variations…The band is the quintessence of Progressive Metal and are currently in my opinion are the masters of it..”

4. Black Rose Immortal (Morningrise, 1996)

“This song really defines Opeth. They are a brilliant band, goes without saying. The basslines, the riffs, Mikeal’s voice, the way it has been put together and the transitions! Just way up there with one of the best progressive death metal songs ever written.”

3. Burden (Watershed, 2008)

“An absolute masterpiece of progressive metal. The union of songwriting and music composition is beyond the reach of any others now. Well done Opeth. This will be one of the most legendary tunes of all time.”

2. Blackwater Park (Blackwater Park, 2001)

“This song is packed front to back with some of the best riffs I have ever heard. It’s heavy, aggressive, and awesome, yet extremely intricate and well put together. This song is a real testament to Opeth’s incredible musicianship, especially their incredible guitarists. Mikael Åkerfeldt’s growls are also the greatest I have ever heard, in my opinion. Progressive death metal MASTERPIECE.”

1. Ghost of Perdition (Ghost Reveries, 2005)

“Opeth! All their songs are so good to select my favorite, however, Ghost of Perdition is really scintillating, the bass lines, drums, and rhythm coordination, all put together, The vocals dominate this song really, an excellent combination of growls and clean vocals! This band deserves more positive blogs and for those who haven’t heard this song, you don’t know Opeth really! Opeth you guys are gods of metal”