Opeth sounded much different than the casual black or death metal bands at that time and it's the closest album that the band came to the black genre. It also contains influences from jazz and melodic passages played by a piano and acoustic guitars. The music in Orchid combines elements influenced by progressive rock and acoustics pieces of folk music to the black metal scream and the death metal growl, as well having clean vocals. The band has expressed regret for this, and said it was no fault of their own. Due to a mix-up in Orchid's mastering process, the end of 'Requiem' was placed at the beginning of 'The Apostle in Triumph'. 'Requiem' was then recorded in a studio in Stockholm with Pontus Norgren acting as co-producer. The song was first recorded at Unisound, but the band was unhappy with the result. However, the band regretted not having enough time to record the acoustic piece 'Requiem'. Дespite the nervousness of the band members, the recording sessions ran smoothly. For the recording they had asked Johan DeFarfalla to play session bass guitar. The album was produced and mixed by SwanГ¶ and the band, and engineered by SwanГ¶. The studio was located in the cellar of a small house situated in the middle of a field. Opeth moved from Stockholm to FinspГҐng, where Dan SwanГ¶ had rented an apartment for them. Orchid was recorded during March and April 1994 in FinspГҐng, where the old Unisound studio was located.

Later, Г…kerfeldt received a call from Barrett, who wanted to release a full-length album by Opeth. Barrett liked it so much he wanted to sign the band. It only had a few seconds of 'The Apostle in Triumph'. Samoth had sent out a tape of unsigned bands to Barrett at Candlelight. Г…kerfeldt found it 'quite weird.' Anders NystrГ¶m (of Katatonia) said Candlelight was interested, based on a rumor from Samoth (of Emperor). But the band received an offer from Lee Barrett to record an album. We didn't know where to go to record a demo.' Г…kerfeldt had sent out rehearsal tapes to several labels, but never received a reply. That would cost us, at least, a couple of hundred bucks. Г…kerfeldt explained, 'We didnвЂ™t have any money to spend on things like that. For them, to go into the studio to record a demo was as big a step as going in to record an album. Opeth were signed by Candlelight without a demo. Stefan Guteklint joined on bass, but left soon after the band signed its first record deal with Candlelight Records, in 1994. They rehearsed as a 3-piece for more than a year. He and Lindgren started writing material immediately. Isberg quit in 1992, due to creative differences. Pettersson later left the band, and Lindgren switched to guitar. He accepted the offer to play bass in Opeth because he wanted to do something more serious. He was replaced by Г…kerfeldt's friend Peter Lindgren, who was playing in a joke band called Sylt i krysset. After the show, DeFarfalla left Opeth to spend time with his girlfriend. Other bands playing the show were At the Gates, Therion, Desecrator, Megaslaughter and Sarcazm. DГ¶ring and Dimeo had quit the band since the first show, so Opeth contacted two members of the band Crimson Cat, Kim Pettersson and Johan DeFarfalla, and asked them to join them onstage. The band played a second show in Gothenburg. We were so fucking nervous that we all wanted to cancel the fucking gig and just go back home.' Г…kerfeldt commented about the show: 'I reckon it was probably the worst appearance one can have witnessed. Only two songs were performed for their set. Opeth played a show in February 1991, along with Therion, Excruciate and Authorise, in Stockholm. They rehearsed in a elementary school using old 60's equipment that they found there. Anders Nordin, Nick DГ¶ring, and Andreas Dimeo were brought in as replacements.

The other members of the band took exception to this, and quit Opeth, leaving only Isberg and Г…kerfeldt. Isberg invited Mikael Г…kerfeldt (of the recently disbanded band Eruption) to join Opeth. Opeth was formed in 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden, by David Isberg.

Orchid album cover hd