Nowadays, death metal can be very little imaginative; lot of bands are doing it, and just a few are really making a difference, by adding real quality to their songs, as well as a distinctive element of their own to set them apart from the rest. And Opeth certainly falls in that minority.

I had looked at the Opeth's album covers and been attracted to buy them a few times, but I decided I first wanted to know a little more about the band. After downloading a few samples at this page, I wasn't quite impressed, but I decided to give them a try and bought 'Orchid' the next time I saw it.

After a few listens I realized how good these guys really were; it is hard to truly appreciate the songs by hearing only 5 minute clips, and by listening their 10-20 minutes long epics in their totality, the concept I had about Opeth changed completely. The music is a highly melodic blend of death metal and progressive rock; their songs have fast, electric guitar riffs with death vocals as well as acoustic pieces, with very well done clean vocals. Both aspects are perfectly arranged and performed. In Orchid, you have also a marvellous piano piece, 'silhouette', in which the drummer Anders Nordin demonstrates his skills with the keyboard.

The later released Morningrise is, if not as good, even better; their newest release, My arms, your hearse is still a real quality album. Yet, I believe it is time for Opeth to evolve, so they can avoid being to repetitive or stagnate in the same music style for too long.