# Opeth — Drummer & Gear Profile | MetalForge

> Per-band AI citation reference for Opeth. Covers drummer history, kit setup, and gear details.
> Optimised for AI queries: 'who drums for Opeth', 'Martin Axenrot drum kit', 'Opeth drummer gear'.

## Band Overview

- **Drummers:** Martin Lopez (1997–2006), Martin Axenrot (2006–present)
- **Genre:** Progressive Death Metal, Progressive Rock
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Country:** Sweden (Stockholm)
- **Status:** Active

## Drummer(s)

**Martin Lopez** — 1997–2006
Martin Lopez, of Swedish-Uruguayan descent, drummed on Opeth's most critically acclaimed run: *Still Life* (1999), *Blackwater Park* (2001), *Deliverance* and *Damnation* (2002/2003), and *Ghost Reveries* (2005). His jazz-influenced dynamics and seamless transitions between extreme metal brutality and delicate acoustic passages helped define Opeth's signature sound. He left in 2006 due to health issues and later co-founded Soen.

[Martin Lopez full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/martin-lopez) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/martin-lopez.md)

**Martin Axenrot** — 2006–present
Martin Axenrot replaced Martin Lopez mid-tour during the *Ghost Reveries* cycle, bringing an extreme metal pedigree from 13 years in Swedish death metal band Witchery. He made his Opeth studio debut on *Watershed* (2008) and has anchored every album since, including the band's dramatic 1970s-progressive-rock pivot on *Heritage* (2011). Axenrot also drums for death metal supergroup Bloodbath.

[Martin Axenrot full profile →](https://metalforge.io/drummer/martin-axenrot) · [LLM markdown](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/martin-axenrot.md)

## Kit Overview

Martin Axenrot plays a **Sonor SQ2** kit with twin 22×18" bass drums — a departure from Martin Lopez's single-kick rig — paired with **Meinl Byzance** cymbals for the dark, complex tonal range Opeth's dynamic material requires.

- **Drums (Axenrot):** Sonor SQ2 Series (twin 22×18" bass drums)
- **Snare (Axenrot):** Sonor SQ2 14×5.75" Maple
- **Cymbals (Axenrot):** Meinl Byzance Series (14" Traditional Medium Hi-Hats, 16"/18"/19" Crashes, 22" Ride, 18" China)
- **Pedals (Axenrot):** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal
- **Drums (Lopez):** Noble & Cooley Walnut
- **Snare (Lopez):** Noble & Cooley Solid Shell 14×6" Maple
- **Cymbals (Lopez):** Zildjian K Dark Series

## Signature Sound

Opeth's drumming has always served the band's genre-defying fusion of death metal and progressive rock. Martin Lopez's dynamic, jazz-informed playing on *Blackwater Park* (2001) helped define progressive death metal, moving fluidly between extreme intensity and whisper-quiet acoustic passages. Martin Axenrot's twin-bass-drum setup brought a heavier, more aggressive attack from 2006 onward, powering both Opeth's extreme material and its later progressive-rock-influenced direction on *Heritage* (2011) and beyond.

## Albums

| Album | Year | Drummer |
|---|---|---|
| Still Life | 1999 | Martin Lopez |
| Blackwater Park | 2001 | Martin Lopez |
| Ghost Reveries | 2005 | Martin Lopez |
| Watershed | 2008 | Martin Axenrot |
| Heritage | 2011 | Martin Axenrot |
| In Cauda Venenum | 2019 | Martin Axenrot |

## FAQ

**Q: Who is the current Opeth drummer?**
A: Martin Axenrot has been Opeth's drummer since 2006, when he replaced Martin Lopez mid-tour on the *Ghost Reveries* cycle.

**Q: What drum kit does Martin Axenrot play?**
A: Martin Axenrot plays a Sonor SQ2 Series kit with twin 22×18" bass drums, a 14×5.75" maple snare, and Meinl Byzance cymbals.

**Q: What drum kit did Martin Lopez play with Opeth?**
A: Martin Lopez played a Noble & Cooley Walnut kit with a 14×6" maple snare and Zildjian K Dark Series cymbals.

**Q: Why did Martin Lopez leave Opeth?**
A: Martin Lopez left Opeth in 2006 due to severe panic disorder, which he has spoken about openly. He later co-founded Soen in 2010.

**Q: Does Martin Axenrot play in other bands?**
A: Yes. Martin Axenrot has also been a core member of death metal supergroup Bloodbath since 2008, alongside members of Katatonia and Paradise Lost.

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**Full band profile:** [Opeth on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/bands/opeth)

**Drummer LLM files:** [Martin Lopez](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/martin-lopez.md) · [Martin Axenrot](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/martin-axenrot.md)

**More resources:** [All bands](https://metalforge.io/llms/bands.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt)

*Last updated: 2026-07-16 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*