Swedish progressive metal rockers Opeth are all about keeping listeners on their toes. The band's technically virtuosic jams are a study in contrast, juxtaposing brutal guitar riffing with soft acoustic passages and blood-curdling death growls with melodic choruses. Their live shows play up these opposing elements perfectly, hitting fans with a maelstrom of moods and textures that run the gamut from heart-pounding to serene. At the center of it all is frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, a magnetic performer whose dynamic voice and wild-eyed intensity is the driving force behind ambitious compositions like "Sorceress" and "Will O The Wisp." He's joined on stage by a motley crew of shredders who keep the energy cranked to the max on guitar, bass, drums, and Mellotron – a unique keyboard instrument that lends an eerie, otherworldly vibe to the band's songs. Metal fans looking to have their minds blown continue to turn out in droves to see Opeth play, and they're never disappointed by the band's hard-hitting, adventurous sounds.

BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:

Opeth formed in Stockholm in 1990 and spent their early years playing a straight-ahead brand of death metal featuring blast beats and aggressive vocals. By mid-decade the band had begun incorporating elements of jazz, blues, and even classical, and their 1995 debut album Orchid was roundly hailed by critics for its unique blend of styles. The band released three more albums in the '90s but didn't start touring until the release of 2001's Blackwater Park. That album sold nearly 100,000 copies in the US alone, a major feat that drew the band out on their first world tour. By the end of the '00s Opeth was a fixture on the Swedish charts, and American audiences weren't far behind – both 2011's Heritage and 2014's Pale Communion cracked the Top 20 on the US Billboard 200. The band released their 12th studio album Sorceress to another round of critical acclaim in 2016, and followed up with more face-melting sets on their Sorceress World Tour.