 Opeth returned home in 2004 to start writing new material for its eighth album , and by the end of the year , they had finished writing it . Opeth 's European label , Music for Nations , closed its doors in 2005 , and after negotiations with various labels , the band signed with Roadrunner Records . Åkerfeldt said the primary reason for signing with Roadrunner was the label 's wide distribution , ensuring the album would be available at larger @-@ chain retailers . When news leaked that the band was signed to Roadrunner , who predominantly worked with trend @-@ oriented rock and metal , some fans accused the band of selling out . " To be honest , " Åkerfeldt said , " that 's such an insult after 15 years as a band and 8 records . I can 't believe we haven 't earned each and every Opeth fan 's credibility after all these years . I mean , our songs are 10 minutes long ! " The band rehearsed for three weeks before entering the studio , the first time the band rehearsed since the 1998 album , My Arms , Your Hearse . During rehearsal , keyboardist Wiberg joined Opeth as a full @-@ time member . Opeth recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro , Sweden , from March 18 to June 1 , 2005 , and released the resulting Ghost Reveries on August 30 , 2005 , to critical acclaim and commercial success . The album debuted at number 64 in the US , and number nine in Sweden , higher than any previous Opeth release . Keith Bergman of Blabbermouth.net gave the album ten out of ten , one of only 21 albums to achieve a perfect rating from the site . Rod Smith of Decibel magazine called Ghost Reveries " achingly beautiful , sometimes unabashedly brutal , often a combination of both . " 
