Orchid (album)

Untitled

Orchid is Opeth's debut album. Even so, it shows signs of Opeth's signature sound that can be found in all of their releases: the combination of heavy melodic death metal elements, as well as softer progressive elements such as acoustic guitars and clean vocals. Most of the songs on this album run for at least ten minutes, with the exception of "Silhouette", a three-minute piano interlude (played by Anders Nordin), "Requiem", a short acoustic interlude, and "Under the Weeping Moon" which clocks in at just under ten minutes. Due to a mix-up in the mastering process, the end of "Requiem" was placed at the beginning of "The Apostle in Triumph". The band has expressed regret for this, and says it was of no fault of their own.

The album was released in Europe under Candlelight Records in 1995 and in the United States two years later under Century Media Records. It was reissued by Candlelight Records in 2000. It was also re-released in a limited edition tin box in 2003, containing the same bonus track "Into the Frost of Winter".

Track listing

1. "In Mist She Was Standing" (Mikael Åkerfeldt, Peter Lindgren) – 14:09
2. "Under the Weeping Moon" (Åkerfeldt) – 9:52
3. "Silhouette" (Anders Nordin) – 3:07
4. "Forest of October" (Åkerfeldt, Lindgren) – 13:04
5. "The Twilight Is My Robe" (Åkerfeldt, Lindgren) – 11:03
6. "Requiem" (Åkerfeldt, Nordin) – 1:11
7. "The Apostle in Triumph" (Åkerfeldt, Lindgren) – 13:01

2000 reissue

The reissue of the album added an early demo of the band recorded during a 1992 rehearsal. Parts of this track would later evolve into the track "Advent", which appears on Opeth's second album, Morningrise.

1. "Into the Frost of Winter" – 6:20

Credits

• Mikael Åkerfeldt – lead vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar
• Peter Lindgren – guitar, acoustic guitar
• Johan DeFarfalla – bass, backing vocals
• Anders Nordin – drums, percussion, piano