Opeth has a large discography, spanning across 14 unique albums, throughout their evolution. For a new listener, where should you start? These three songs are great places to start, showcasing the many faces of Opeth.

Ghost of Perdition

This song is one of the most well-known Opeth songs, and is a great introduction to their heavier yet progressive sound. The song has both harsh and clean vocals, and perfectly shows their contrast between heavy guitar riffs and soft acoustic portions. Ghost of Perdition truly encapsulates Opeth’s sound.

It is also a great example of their progressive metal and rock influence. It progresses through multiple sections, each having a unique feel and rhythm, yet it is all connected as one song.

Windowpane

Windowpane shows another side of Opeth, not being a heavy song at all. It only features clean vocals, and the song focuses on immersion, atmosphere, emotion, and softer instrumentals.

The song is calm and melancholic, showing Opeth’s ability to make the listener feel certain emotions and their ability to control the mood of their music. It features softer guitar melodies, and shows Opeth’s sound at its core.

Deliverance

This is one of Opeth’s most technically impressive songs. It leans heavily into traditional death metal, with harsh vocals, rhythmic complexity, and heavy riffs. Deliverance, in contrast to Windowpane, shows Opeth’s heavier side, and their roots in the Swedish death metal scene.

The end of the song repeats rhythm that continues to build on itself, almost progressing within itself without changing the composition much. The song itself shows how Opeth can create long tracks that engage the listener the whole time, and is the perfect representation of their heavier works.