Editing Opeth (section)

===''Deliverance'' and ''Damnation'' (2002–2004)===
{{Main|Deliverance (Opeth album)|Damnation (album)}}
{{listen
| filename    = Opeth - Deliverance.ogg
| title       = "Deliverance"
| description = "Deliverance" from the album of the same name. The song is nearly 14&nbsp;minutes long, which is not uncommon for an Opeth song. The clip features Åkerfeldt's growling vocal style.
}}
Opeth returned to Sweden after touring in support of ''Blackwater Park'', and began writing for the next album. At first, Åkerfeldt had trouble putting together new material: "I wanted to write something heavier than we'd ever done, still I had all these great mellow parts and arrangements which I didn't want to go to waste."<ref name="Chapter 7">{{cite web| author=Mikael Åkerfeldt  |url=http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter7.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231032512/http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter7.html |archive-date=31 December 2007 |title=Opeth Chapter 7 |publisher=Opeth.com |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> [[Jonas Renkse]] of [[Katatonia]], a long-time friend of Åkerfeldt, suggested writing music for two separate albums—one heavy and one soft.<ref name="Metal Hammer"/>

Excited at the prospect, Åkerfeldt agreed without consulting his bandmates or record label. While his bandmates liked the idea of recording two separate albums, Åkerfeldt had to convince the label: "I had to lie somewhat&nbsp;... saying that we could do this recording very soon, it won't cost more than a regular single album."<ref name="Chapter 7"/> With most of the material written, the band rehearsed just once before entering Nacksving Studios in 2002, and again with producer Steven Wilson in Studio Fredman. Under pressure to complete both albums simultaneously, Åkerfeldt said the recording process was "the toughest test of our history."<ref name="Chapter 8">{{cite web| author=Mikael Åkerfeldt |url=http://opeth.com/biography/chapter8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205072419/http://opeth.com/biography/chapter8.html |archive-date=5 February 2008 |title=Opeth Chapter 8 |publisher=Opeth.com |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> After recording basic tracks, the band moved production to England to first mix the heavy album, ''[[Deliverance (Opeth album)|Deliverance]]'', with Andy Sneap at Backstage Studios. "''Deliverance'' was so poorly recorded, without any organisation whatsoever," Åkerfeldt claimed, that Sneap "is credited as a 'saviour' in the sleeve, as he surely saved much of the recording."<ref name="Chapter 8" />

''Deliverance'' was released on 4 November 2002, and debuted at number&nbsp;19 on the US Top Independent Albums chart, marking the band's first US chart appearance.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=opeth|chart=Independent Albums}} |title=Artist Chart History – Opeth |publisher=[[Billboard charts|Billboard.com]] |access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref> AllMusic stated, "''Deliverance'' is altogether more subtle than any of its predecessors, approaching listeners with haunting nuances and masterful dynamics rather than overwhelming them with sheer mass and complexity."<ref>{{cite web| author=Eduardo Rivadavia |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r614742|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Deliverance'' review |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref>

Opeth performed a one-off concert in Stockholm, then returned to the UK to finish recording vocals for the second of the two albums, ''[[Damnation (album)|Damnation]]'', at Steven Wilson's No Man's Land Studios.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=6471 |title=Opeth finalize track listing, cover artwork for ''Deliverance'' |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=29 September 2002 |access-date=8 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021027114126/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=6471|archive-date=27 October 2002}}</ref> Although Åkerfeldt believed the band could not finish both albums, Opeth completed ''Deliverance'' and ''Damnation'' in just seven weeks of studio time, which was the same amount spent on ''Blackwater Park'' alone.<ref name="Chapter 7"/> ''Damnation'' was released on 14 April 2003, and garnered the band its first appearance on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number 192.<ref name="Billboard"/> The album also won the 2003 [[Grammis|Swedish Grammy Award]] for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/opeth-win-swedish-grammy/ |title=Opeth win Swedish Grammy! |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=6 March 2008 |date=19 February 2003 |archive-date=23 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123134930/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/opeth-win-swedish-grammy |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 January 2016, Opeth re-released both ''Deliverance'' and ''Damnation'' in one package, containing CD and DVD versions, along with new mixing.

The band embarked on its biggest tour yet, playing nearly 200&nbsp;shows in 2003 and 2004.<ref name="Chapter 8"/> Opeth performed three special shows in Europe with two song lists each—one acoustic set and one heavy set. The band recorded its first DVD, ''[[Lamentations (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003)]]'', at [[Shepherd's Bush Empire]] in London, England. The DVD features a two-hour performance, including the entire ''Damnation'' album, several songs from ''Deliverance'' and ''Blackwater Park'', and a one-hour documentary about the recording of ''Deliverance'' and ''Damnation''. ''Lamentations'' was certified Gold (over 50,000 sales) by the [[Music Canada|Canadian Recording Industry Association]].<ref name="CRIA">{{cite web|title=CRIA Searchable Database |url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412081617/http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |archive-date=12 April 2009 }}</ref>

Opeth was scheduled to perform in [[Jordan]] without a crew due to the fear of terrorist attacks in the Middle East.{{fact|date=May 2023}} Opeth's tour manager distributed 6,000 tickets for the concert,{{fact|date=May 2023}} but before the band left for Jordan, drummer Lopez called Åkerfeldt stating he was having an [[anxiety attack]] and could not perform, forcing the band to cancel the show.<ref name="OPETH Mainman Talks About Drummer's Anxiety Attacks">{{cite news|title=Opeth Mainman Talks About Drummer's Anxiety Attacks |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=10 March 2005 |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/opeth-mainman-talks-about-drummer-s-anxiety-attacks-devildriver-controversy |access-date=12 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101093559/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20205 |archive-date=1 January 2009}}</ref><ref name="Chapter 9">{{cite web| author=Mikael Åkerfeldt |url=http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter9.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116165815/http://www.opeth.com/biography/chapter9.html |archive-date=16 January 2008 |title=Opeth Chapter 9 |publisher=Opeth.com |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref> In early 2004, Lopez was sent home from Canada after more anxiety attacks on tour. Opeth decided against cancelling the remainder of the tour, with Lopez's drum technician filling in for two concerts.<ref>{{cite web| author=Ty Brookmam|date=9 March 2004 |url=http://www.metalreview.com/Interviews/30067/Mikael-%C3%85kerfeldt-of-Opeth.aspx |title=Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth |publisher=Metalreview.com |access-date=8 February 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080507150247/http://www.metalreview.com/Interviews/30067/Mikael-%C3%85kerfeldt-of-Opeth.aspx| archive-date = 7 May 2008}}</ref> Lopez promised that he would return to the tour as soon as he could, but two shows later Opeth asked [[Strapping Young Lad]] drummer [[Gene Hoglan]] to fill in. Lopez returned to Opeth for the Seattle show on the final leg of the ''Deliverance'' and ''Damnation'' tour.