Written By Braddon S. Williams

Opeth: Damnation

Opeth has been my favorite band for many years, and they have managed to remain in my top spot by constantly challenging themselves and allowing their sound to evolve.

Damnation (2003) was recorded simultaneously with the album Deliverance (which I reviewed earlier in this series, and which was released the previous year).

Damnation was the first Opeth album to feature only clean vocals and guitar tones, forsaking Opeth’s previous death metal status.

Damnation is full of lush and lovely melodies, a gorgeous production by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, and some of Mikael Akerfeldt’s best songwriting.

Wilson contributed keyboards, mellotron, backing vocals, and engineered, mixed, and mastered the recording as well.

Opeth have shifted to this progressive rock style more and more in recent years, and if you don’t like the harsher vocals of their more extreme work, Damnation is a fine introduction to this incredible band.

Songs like Windowpane, In My Time Of Need, To Rid The Disease, Closure, and Death Whispered a Lullaby are flawless works of sonic art.

Opeth is also a band that delivers an iconic live show. I may be biased, but I’m not wrong!