Brought together in Stockholm by guitarists Peter Lindgren and Mikael Åkerfeldt in 1990, Opeth added progressive influences and acoustic instrumentation to their brand of Swedish death metal. As the group progressed, it was very common for an Opeth live set to fly in several different musical directions, on top of an average song lasting no less than ten minutes. They released their debut full-length, ‘Orchid’ in 1995, featuring a rhythm section of bassist Johan de Farfalla and drummer Anders Nordin. Edge of Sanity mastermind Dan Swano produced the band's ambitious second album ‘’Morningrise’ in 1996, after which they embarked on a brief tour with Morbid Angel.

It wasn’t long before the band started making an impression on the US market. Third album ‘My Arms, Your Hearse’ was released in 1998 to glowing reviews, establishing the band as a leading force in progressive metal with death roots. 1999's ‘Still Life’ displayed even more of the band's prog rock influences, and the following year the band played its first US concert at the Milwaukee Metalfest. ‘Blackwater Park’, titled after an obscure psychedelic prog outfit from the 70s, was released in early 2001. The album created a huge buzz among progressive metal fans.

The band released ‘Deliverance’ in 2002, and took a well-earned break after the long touring to promote the album was complete. They then signed to Roadrunner Records and released ‘Ghost Reveries’ in 2005. Between May 2006 and May 2007, Opeth saw the departure of two members. Martin Lopez left the band due to illness and anxiety attacks and was soon replaced by Martin Axenrot, also long-time guitarist Peter Lindgren left the band to be replaced by Fredrik Akesson of Arch Enemy Fame.

After nearly two hundred live performances in support of ‘Ghost Reveries’, Opeth returned to the studio in November 2007. By January this year they had recorded thirteen tracks, including three cover songs. The completed album, titled ‘Watershed’ is scheduled for release on 3rd June 2008. Akerfeldt described the songs on the album as “a bit more energetic” and also spoke of the new material saying “I’ve never written lyrics remotely as personal as this”.

Opeth will be performing live at Manchester Academy on Sunday 23rd November.