Opeth - why labeled as black metal?

[Maybe]

Who started this? Was it Candlelight records? Why did it continue when they were obviously never black metal and were never connected to that scene?

Was it just a marketing gimmick?

An unfortunate consequence, long lasting, of being on that rehearsal tape Samoth sent to Lee at Candlelight?

Have you met anyone who actually thought Opeth was black metal?

 

[DoReMi]

Black/death... link with the vocals. Not the music.

 

[Ermz]

It was probably the closest they could come to categorizing Orchid. The only similarities it shares with black metal is the single-note tremelo picked harmonies, the spacey acoustic passage and only to a slight extent, the vocals.

 

[hibernal_dream]

Its actually not that easy to define black metal. Some people haven't got a clue though, as you can tell from this statement from audiogalaxy I saw ages ago:

Black metal

Black Metal is a form of highly theatrical, dramatic, orchestrated metal that originated in Norway in the early nineties in reaction to the increasingly punk, street, non-theatrical bent of Death Metal. Black Metal Bands such as Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle of Filth integrate gloomy synthesizers, strings, and complex arrangements, sometimes going far enough to be called Progressive Metal. Mythology and religion are central to Black Metal, as most bands are vociferously anti-Christian, often grounding themselves in Nordic or Pagan beliefs.

 

[Staffan]

what the...

 

[Stormwatch]

Black metal is shite.
Opeth are not.
So I don;t think Opeth are black metal

 

[Dev]

Black Metal \m/ ^^

 

[Super Mahrio]

Heh..Opeth dont use synths...the usage of Mellotrons here and there is not a Black Metal influence...Thats a prog influence...
The idiots at Hot Topic said Opeth was a black metal band and i laughed at them...i said "you guys have obviously never heard Doom Metal.."
I dont know why Opeth was considered black metal..alot of bands from Sweden arent even black metal...Opeth has more similarities to Death Metal than black metal...tch!

 

[Tavaron]

Black metal is shite.
Opeth are not.
So I don;t think Opeth are black metal

Black Metal -

Opeth -

Thats enough of a explanation. But here's more.

Black metal is cheesy, usually satanic or anti-christian, metal with high pitched screams that are the supposed "vocals". Opeth IS death metal, just with progressive songs, and progressive influences. Simple as that.

 

[joshman]

Black Metal -

Opeth -

Thats enough of a explanation. But here's more.

Black metal is cheesy, usually satanic or anti-christian, metal with high pitched screams that are the supposed "vocals". Opeth IS death metal, just with progressive songs, and progressive influences. Simple as that.

How exactly are they deathmetal? I would just say they are metal. With the elements you mentioned. They really have nothing to do with deathmetal other than growling.

Deathmetal = blood, gore, right?

 

[no country for old wainds]

Opeth aren't black metal. Black metal isn't shite. Opeth aren't deathmetal.

 

[FretsAflame]

How exactly are they deathmetal? I would just say they are metal. With the elements you mentioned. They really have nothing to do with deathmetal other than growling.

Deathmetal = blood, gore, right?

Errr...they are totally death metal.

Opeth, by their own definition are "death metal with progressive influences" - Peter Lindgren + Mikael Akerfeldt

Death Metal is usually characterized by the vocal styling, but has more to do with the lyrics than anything else. Whereas bands like Cannibal Corpse, Mortal Decay, and Carcass are Death Metal, they may also be classed as gore-grind because of the explicitly morbid nature of their lyrics. Opeth's lyrics and song/album ideas center heavily around death and dying, and have since the beginning. Songs that exemplify this lyrically from each album are; (I'll pull one from each that I view to be the most self explanatory) The Twilight is my Robe, The Night and The Silent Water, To Bid You Farewell, The Amen Corner, Serenity Painted Death, The Funeral Portrait, Deliverance, In My Time of Need.

 

[Phrozenspite]

Errr...they are totally death metal.

Opeth, by their own definition are "death metal with progressive influences" - Peter Lindgren + Mikael Akerfeldt

Death Metal is usually characterized by the vocal styling, but has more to do with the lyrics than anything else. Whereas bands like Cannibal Corpse, Mortal Decay, and Carcass are Death Metal, they may also be classed as gore-grind because of the explicitly morbid nature of their lyrics. Opeth's lyrics and song/album ideas center heavily around death and dying, and have since the beginning. Songs that exemplify this lyrically from each album are; (I'll pull one from each that I view to be the most self explanatory) The Twilight is my Robe, The Night and The Silent Water, To Bid You Farewell, The Amen Corner, Serenity Painted Death, The Funeral Portrait, Deliverance, In My Time of Need.

well theres a good explanation

 

[Super Mahrio]

Errr...they are totally death metal.

Opeth, by their own definition are "death metal with progressive influences" - Peter Lindgren + Mikael Akerfeldt

Death Metal is usually characterized by the vocal styling, but has more to do with the lyrics than anything else. Whereas bands like Cannibal Corpse, Mortal Decay, and Carcass are Death Metal, they may also be classed as gore-grind because of the explicitly morbid nature of their lyrics. Opeth's lyrics and song/album ideas center heavily around death and dying, and have since the beginning. Songs that exemplify this lyrically from each album are; (I'll pull one from each that I view to be the most self explanatory) The Twilight is my Robe, The Night and The Silent Water, To Bid You Farewell, The Amen Corner, Serenity Painted Death, The Funeral Portrait, Deliverance, In My Time of Need.

Sorta...i have to agree to some extent however i always saw them as Doom Metal...Serenity Painted Death is without a doubt a Death metal song but others like WHen the Drapery Falls and Harvest are pretty doomy

 

[Katatonic]

HAVENT ANY OF YOU SEEN THiS?!??!?!

SEE???

 

[The intruder88 (v2.0)]

I don't care what they label them, as long as their music is good.

 

[FretsAflame]

Sorta...i have to agree to some extent however i always saw them as Doom Metal...Serenity Painted Death is without a doubt a Death metal song but others like WHen the Drapery Falls and Harvest are pretty doomy

Well the mood can get kind of doomy, but only because they focus on the sorrow and what not, the result being that the tone of the songs come out lugubrious and mournful. Buuuut, labels get annoying sometimes, so let's just listen and be happy, or sad lol!

 

[Tavaron]

Ok now these labels are confusing me. Doom metal = about death and sorrow, Death metal = death and gore, Grindcore = gore and horror AND death. Uhh...

Let me see if I can do it with bands

Katatonia = Doom metal ?
Children of Bodom = Death Metal ?
Cannibal Corpse = Grindcore ?

Opeth = Death metal + progressive

And I don't think labels are that bad, its the easiest way to describe a band to someone who hasn't heard it.

 

[FretsAflame]

Ok now these labels are confusing me. Doom metal = about death and sorrow, Death metal = death and gore, Grindcore = gore and horror AND death. Uhh...

Let me see if I can do it with bands

Katatonia = Doom metal ?
Children of Bodom = Death Metal ?
Cannibal Corpse = Grindcore ?

Opeth = Death metal + progressive

And I don't think labels are that bad, its the easiest way to describe a band to someone who hasn't heard it.

Roger that, but it's annoying when people argue

 

[FretsAflame]

Ok now these labels are confusing me. Doom metal = about death and sorrow, Death metal = death and gore, Grindcore = gore and horror AND death. Uhh...

Let me see if I can do it with bands

Katatonia = Doom metal ?
Children of Bodom = Death Metal ?
Cannibal Corpse = Grindcore ?

Opeth = Death metal + progressive

And I don't think labels are that bad, its the easiest way to describe a band to someone who hasn't heard it.

you were right by the way. Important thing to remember is that there can be many labels for one band.