{{Short description|Swedish black metal band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ophthalamia | image = | caption = | background = group_or_band | origin = Stockholm, Sweden | genre = Melodic black metal, doom metal | years_active = 1989–1998 | label = No Fashion | current_members = | past_members = * IT * Night * Bone * All * Mist * Shadow * Legion * Winter * Mourning }}
'''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 members of the bands Abruptum and Vondur. The band was named Ophthalamia after a fantasy-world created by IT, with its own geography, creatures, language and a demon woman Goddess called Elishia. A majority of the band's songs are connected in some way to this fantasy-world. The band's debut album, ''A Journey in Darkness'', was released in 1994. Ophthalamia sophomore album, ''Via Dolorosa'', was released in 1995. In 1997, the band's first compilation album, ''To Elishia'', was released. The following year, both a re-recorded version of the band's debut album titled ''A Long Journey'' and their third studio album, ''Dominion'', were released. In contrast to prior albums which had fantasy-inspired songs, the lyrics on the latter album was inspired by ''Macbeth''. Ophthalamia split up in 1998. Former vocalist Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) died by suicide in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=18 August 2006 |title=Exclusive: DISSECTION Frontman JON NÖDTVEIDT Commits Suicide |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exclusive-dissection-frontman-jon-n-dtveidt-commits-suicide/ |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> Founder and guitarist IT died in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartmann |first=Graham Hartmann |date=15 February 2017 |title=Prolific Black Metal Musician Tony 'IT' Sarkka Dead at 45 |url=https://loudwire.com/prolific-black-metal-musician-tony-it-sarkka-dead-45/ |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=15 February 2017 |title=Swedish Black Metal Musician TONY 'IT' SÄRKKÄ Dead At 45 |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/swedish-black-metal-musician-tony-it-sarkka-dead-at-45/ |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> 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 == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://ophth.free.fr/music/ophthalamia.html Official website] *{{allmusic}}
{{Ophthalamia}}
{{Authority control}} Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998 Category:Swedish black metal musical groups Category:Swedish doom metal musical groups Category:1989 establishments in Sweden Category:1998 disestablishments in Sweden Category:Musical groups from Stockholm