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Wikipedia / Ophthalamia

Ophthalamia was a Swedish black metal/doom metal band formed in Stockholm in 1989. The band released three studio albums before splitting up in 1998. Members of the band included guitarist IT (Tony Särkkä), guitarist and bassist Night (Emil Nödtveidt), drummer Bone (Ole Öhman) and vocalist Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt).

History

Ophthalamia was formed in 1989 by singer All (Jim Berger) and guitarist IT (Tony Särkkä), both of whom were also members of Abruptum and Vondur. The band took its name from a fantasy world created by IT, complete with its own geography, creatures, language, and a female demon goddess named Elishia. Most of the band's songs are connected in some way to this fictional world.

Their debut album, A Journey in Darkness, was released in 1994, followed by their sophomore album, Via Dolorosa, in 1995. In 1997, the band released their first compilation album, To Elishia. The following year saw the release of both A Long Journey, a re-recorded version of their debut album, and their third studio album, Dominion. Unlike the band's earlier fantasy-inspired material, the lyrics on Dominion were inspired by Macbeth. Ophthalamia split up in 1998.

Former vocalist Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) died by suicide in 2006. Founder and guitarist IT died in 2017. A compilation album titled II Elishia II was released in 2019.

Members

Final line-up

  • IT (Tony Särkkä) – guitar, vocals (1989–1998; died 2017)

  • All (Jim Berger) – vocals (1989–1994, 1996–1998)

  • Night (Emil Nödtveidt) – guitar, additional vocals (1995–1998), bass (1995–1996)

  • Mist (Mikael Schelén) – bass (1996–1998)

  • Bone (Ole Öhman) – drums, percussion (1997–1998)

Former members

  • Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) – vocals (1992–1994; died 2006)

  • Legion (Erik Hagstedt) – vocals (1994–1995)

  • Mourning (Robert Ivarsson) – bass, additional vocals (1991–1994), guitar (1989–1991)

  • Winter (Benny Larsson) – drums, vocals (1989–1996)

Live members

  • Mäbe (Mattias Johansson) – guitar

Session members

  • Day Disyraah (Dan Swanö) – guitars, vocals (1994)

  • Axa (Alexandra Balogh) – piano, vocals (1994, 1995)

Discography

Studio albums

  • A Journey in Darkness (1994)

  • Via Dolorosa (1995)

  • A Long Journey (1998)

  • Dominion (1998)

Compilation albums

  • To Elishia (1997)

  • II Elishia II (2019)

References