Editing Opeth (section)

===''Still Life'' and ''Blackwater Park'' (1999–2001)===
{{Main|Still Life (Opeth album)|Blackwater Park}}
{{listen
| filename    = Opeth - Bleak.ogg
| title       = "Bleak"
| description = "Bleak" from ''Blackwater Park''. This clip features an acoustic breakdown, followed by a dynamic shift into distorted guitars, a common trait for the band.
}}
In 1999, the ownership of Candlelight Records changed hands, as owner and friend of the band Lee Barrett left the company. Opeth signed with UK label [[Peaceville Records]] in Europe, which was distributed by [[Music For Nations]]. Opeth reserved time at Studio Fredman to begin work on its next album, but recording was postponed while the studio was relocated. Due to time constraints, the band was able to rehearse only twice before entering the studio.<ref name="Chapter 4"/> Delays with the album's artwork pushed the release back an additional month and ''[[Still Life (Opeth album)|Still Life]]'' was released on 18 October 1999.<ref name="Chapter 4"/> Due to problems with the band's new distribution network, the album was not released in the United States until February 2001. ''Still Life'' was the first album recorded with Méndez, and also the first Opeth album to bear any kind of caption on the front cover upon its initial release, including the band's logo.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.opeth.com/biography/logo_01.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040221013513/http://www.opeth.com/biography/logo_01.html| archive-date=21 February 2004| title=Current logo | publisher=Opeth.com | access-date=25 January 2008}}</ref> Allmusic called ''Still Life'' a "formidable splicing of harsh, often jagged guitar riffs with graceful melodies."<ref>{{cite web| author=Eduardo Rivadavia|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r521354|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Still Life'' review |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> As explained by Åkerfeldt, ''Still Life'' is a [[concept album]]: "The main character is kind of banished from his hometown because he hasn't got the same faith as the rest of the inhabitants there. The album pretty much starts off when he is returning after several years to hook up with his old 'babe.' The big bosses of the town know that he's back... A lot of bad things start happening."<ref name="McCoe"/>

Following a few live dates in Europe, Opeth returned to [[Studio Fredman]] to begin work on its next album, with [[Porcupine Tree]]'s [[Steven Wilson]] producing. The band sought to recreate the recording experience of ''Still Life'', and again entered the studio with minimal rehearsals, and no lyrics written. "This time it was tough," Åkerfeldt said, "I feel pleasantly blown away by the immense result, though. It was indeed worth the effort."<ref name="Chapter 5">{{cite web| author=Mikael Åkerfeldt |url=http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205072409/http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter5.html |archive-date=5 February 2008 |title=Opeth Chapter 5 |publisher=Opeth.com |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> Wilson also pushed the band to expand its sound, incorporating new sounds and production techniques. "Steve guided us into the realms of 'strange' noises for guitars and voice", Åkerfeldt said.<ref name="Chapter 5"/>

Opeth released its fifth studio album, ''[[Blackwater Park]]'', on 21 February 2001. AllMusic has stated that the album "keeps with Opeth's tradition by transcending the limits of death/black metal and repeatedly shattering the foundations of conventional songwriting".<ref name="BWPR">{{cite web| author=Eduardo Rivadavia |title=''Blackwater Park'' review |website= [[AllMusic]] |url= {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r517973|pure_url=yes}} |access-date= 12 June 2007}}</ref> In support of ''Blackwater Park'', Opeth embarked on its first world tour, headlined Europe for the first time, and made an appearance at the 2001 [[Wacken Open Air]] festival in Germany, playing to a crowd of 60,000.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wacken.com/en/woa2008/main-history/woa-2001/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324192603/http://www.wacken.com/en/woa2008/main-history/woa-2001/| archive-date=24 March 2008|title=History of Wacken Open Air 2001 |publisher=Wacken.com |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>