For getting into Opeth there is no better start than 'Blackwater Park'. That is a good mix of the ultra-progressiveness of the older Opeth songs and the better songwriting of the later albums. Once you finish with 'Blackwater Park' get the double-set 'Damnation' and 'Deliverance' to see the stark constrast in material on those albums. After this if you would like to get into Opeth's older albums, you should start with 'Morningrise' which most Opeth fans consider to be their masterpiece. Then go for the other albums like 'Still Life', 'My Arms, Your Hearse' and 'Orchid'. Also if you are keen on spending a little money I would very highly recommend the Lamentations DVD. It is completely worth the money.
Word. I havent got Lamentations yet. :cry1: Like Sid said, start with Blackwater Park. If you like it, get Damnation. But you might want to check out "My Arms, Your Hearse" before "Morning Rise". Because Morning Rise, could take some time to get into. All the albums rock. But you might not love them the first instant. It takes time.
Even Blackwater Park needs some time to grow on people i guess. I have it now, but it has to grow on me. And the singer is real good. He sounds like a voic'o schizophrenic.
Hmm... Depends what you call death metal. Corpsegrinder or lord Worm in my view. But this guy fits into a different category. Its funny how he was a bassist but not a singer.