Opeth is probably my favorite band of all-time at the moment, and I don't see that changing any time soon. For those not in the loop, they are a Swedish progressive death metal band, which means they write a lot of really angry, really complicated music. That being said, they have an absolutely gorgeous soft side that is often contrasted against their heavier music.
One of the best examples of what I like to call the "Opeth dichotomy" is "For Absent Friends," a poignantly short duet for electric and acoustic guitar off their album Deliverance. This album is all about celebrating Opeth's death metal influence, and unsurprisingly "For Absent Friends" is sandwiched between some of their most brutal and lengthy songs. Yet it's arguably one of the quietest and simplest songs they've ever written, which I find captivating: it is the main reason I decided to arrange this song for piano. That being said, see if you can spot the reference to one of the other songs off Deliverance that I threw in!
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Arrangement: Wesley Thompson
Original Artist: Opeth
Composer: Mikael Åkerfeldt
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