Editing Opeth (section)

===''Orchid'', ''Morningrise'', and ''My Arms, Your Hearse'' (1994–1998)===
{{Main|Orchid (album)|Morningrise|My Arms, Your Hearse}}
{{listen
| filename    = InMistSheWasStanding.ogg
| title       = "In Mist She Was Standing"
| description = "In Mist She Was Standing", from ''Orchid''. This clip highlights the twin harmony guitar style featured on the band's early releases.
}}
Opeth recorded its debut album, ''[[Orchid (album)|Orchid]]'', with producer [[Dan Swanö]] in April 1994. Because of distribution problems with the newly formed Candlelight Records, the album was not released until 15 May 1995, and only in Europe.<ref name=AllMusic/> ''Orchid'' tested the boundaries of traditional death metal, featuring acoustic guitars, piano, and clean vocals.<ref>{{cite web| author=John Serba|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r277899|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Orchid'' review |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref>

After a few live shows in the United Kingdom, Opeth returned to the studio in March 1996 to begin work on a second album, again produced by Dan Swanö.<ref>{{cite AV media notes| others=Opeth |title=My Arms, Your Hearse |year=1995 |publisher=[[Candlelight Records]] |author=Mikael Åkerfeldt}}</ref> The album, titled ''[[Morningrise]]'', was released in Europe on 24 June 1996. With only five songs, but lasting 66&nbsp;minutes, it features Opeth's longest song, the 20-minute "Black Rose Immortal".<ref>{{cite web| author=William York|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r650264|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Morningrise'' review |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=5 March 2008}}</ref> Opeth toured the UK in support of ''Morningrise'', followed by a 26-date Scandinavian tour with [[Cradle of Filth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.komodorock.com/tour-news/tour-dates/opeth-and-arch-enemy-to-headline-metal-hammer's-defenders-of-the-faith-tour-200711162643/ |title=Opeth And Arch Enemy To Headline Metal Hammer's Defenders Of The Faith Tour |publisher=Komodorock.com |date=16 November 2007 |access-date=8 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505121940/http://www.komodorock.com/tour-news/tour-dates/opeth-and-arch-enemy-to-headline-metal-hammer%27s-defenders-of-the-faith-tour-200711162643/ |archive-date=5 May 2008 }}</ref> While on tour, Opeth attracted the attention of [[Century Media Records]], who signed the band and released the first two albums in the United States in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000005HN6|title=Orchid Opeth|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon]]|access-date=26 August 2011|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413062111/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000005HN6|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000005HNA|title=Morningrise Opeth|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon]]|access-date=26 August 2011|archive-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106191232/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000005HNA|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997, after the tour, Åkerfeldt and Lindgren dismissed De Farfalla for personal reasons, without the consent of Nordin. When Åkerfeldt informed Nordin, who was on a vacation in Brazil, Nordin left the band and remained in Brazil for personal reasons.<ref name="Chapter 4">{{cite web| author=Mikael Åkerfeldt|url=http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205072405/http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter4.html |archive-date=5 February 2008 |title=Opeth Chapter 4 |publisher=Opeth.com |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> Former ''Eternal'' members, drummer [[Martin Lopez|Martín López]] (formerly of [[Amon Amarth]]) and bassist [[Martín Méndez]], responded to an ad at a music shop placed by Åkerfeldt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm2eQ7XftM|title=Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|date=7 May 2014 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=25 October 2015|archive-date=8 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708010804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm2eQ7XftM|url-status=live}}</ref> López and Méndez were fans of the band and took the ads down themselves so no other musicians could apply for the job. Åkerfeldt and Lindgren did not want the Martíns to join at first, due to them already knowing each other; they felt that they wanted two strangers so that there wouldn't be two camps in the band, but eventually hired both.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm2eQ7XftM#t=527|title=Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|work=YouTube|date=7 May 2014 |access-date=18 October 2014|archive-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927102421/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm2eQ7XftM&gl=US&hl=en#t=527|url-status=live}}</ref> López made his debut with Opeth playing on a cover version of [[Iron Maiden]]'s "Remember Tomorrow", which was included on the album ''[[A Call to Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden]]''.<ref name="AMG Call to Irons">{{cite web| author=Jason Hundey |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r346670|pure_url=yes}} |title=All Music ''A Call to Irons'' Review |website=Allmusic.com |access-date=11 March 2008}}</ref>

With a larger recording budget from Century Media, Opeth began work on its third album, with noted Swedish producer [[Fredrik Nordström]], at [[Studio Fredman]] in August 1997. Although Opeth had Méndez, due to time constraints Åkerfeldt played bass on the album.<ref name="McCoe">{{cite web |author=Scott McCoe|url=http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewopeth.html |title=Interview with Mikael Åkerfeldt |publisher=Metalupdate.com |access-date=12 January 2008 |archive-date=14 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114085217/http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewopeth.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[My Arms, Your Hearse]]'' was released to critical acclaim on 18 August 1998.<ref name=AllMusic/>