Opium is the self-released debut studio album by British actor and musician Matt Berry. Originally released in 2005, the album is a concept record featuring spoken-word storytelling set against a backdrop of psychedelic rock, lo-fi pop, and experimental arrangements. It serves as an early blueprint for Berry's musical career, introducing themes and melodies that would later appear in his television work, most notably the theme for the dark comedy series Snuffbox. Background and Release The album was first released in limited quantities in 2005 on Berry's own label, Rillington Players (a reference to the film 10 Rillington Place). It remained obscure until Berry gained wider fame for his roles in The IT Crowd and Toast of London. Opium was reissued on vinyl for the first time in 2013 as part of the Kill the Wolf box set, featuring alternate artwork depicting an eyeball inside a poppy. A standalone reissue on CD and vinyl followed in 2015. However, the album has since been removed from digital streaming platforms, reportedly due to Berry's desire to distance himself from the work, which he views as an early experiment rather than a polished entry in his discography. Concept and Themes Berry has described Opium as a semi-autobiographical "spoken word concept album about the horrors of the city." It explores the transition from rural life to the degradation of London, touching on themes of addiction, debauchery, isolation, and the fleeting nature of fame. Stylistically, the