Tag: opeth (Page 1 of 2)

This is album number three from Sweden’s finest exponents of Prog metal, although at this point melodic death metal would have been more accurate as Michael’s deathly screams far outweigh the cleans at this point in the band’s progression.

This album first appeared in ’98 but this version is a 2021 reissue and I guess Candlelight will keep doing these reissues for as long as they can, like Relapse do with the early Mastodon catalogue. Quite simply, this album is superb. I love every note on this record and you forget how good “old” Opeth were and how melodic and dramatic some death metal music can be.

It’s hard to look past Demon Of The Fall as my favourite track because it’s such a total beast of a song that they thankfully still play today. April Ethereal and Circle Of The Tyrant are equally as epic, and just for shits and giggles April Ethereal gets todays vote.

I know this is not everyone’s slice of pie, but man it’s so good.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

One of my favourite Opeth albums, and the music on this album bares little or no resemblance to what the band release today. That’s not to say I don’t like modern Opeth, I do, it’s just this and Blackwater Park we’re so impactful for me.

The opening and title track is what made Opeth so great for me. It’s like an epic movie, musically laid out for you on one track. The highs and lows, the change from clean to scream vocals, and the change of grooves and riffs, plus the solos within this song alone is wondrous. It doesn’t end there however, as Baying Of The Hounds continues where the last track left off with more of the same, and the middle section is just sublime. Beneath The Mire starts with fat huge chords and a mellotron for added prog credibility. Atonement has a very Beatles feel to the intro, and has the most proggy vibe of the whole album. That huge cinematic feel returns with Reverie/ Harlequin Forest. Hours Of Wealth is a very delicate, almost folk vibe with just vocal, keys, and guitar. The Grand Conjuration is one of my favourite Opeth tracks. Again, a huge epic piece with killer riffs and grooves all the way through, and the ending is epic. The LP version ends with Isolation Years, a prog/folk vibe with a great Mikael vocal. A masterpiece album (and they have done a few of those) and every home should have one.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the fourth studio album by Opeth, and features the line up that a lot of fans wish was still with us. The whole gothic horror vibe for this album is just awesome. The death metal vocals are heavy on this release, but I always had a problem with calling Opeth death metal as there was always heaps of melody in the music.

The opening track, The Moor, which takes up the whole of Side 1 is one of my favourite Opeth tracks, as the dynamics and the gothic vibe are superb. This was also Martin Mendes first outing as bassist for Opeth, and I think at the time he did not speak much Swedish – so big up to Martin for killer playing on the album. The acoustic driven tracks like Benighted, and the classic Face Of Melinda, are just superb as that folky medieval element is so much a part of the band’s sound that you immediately know it’s them. The stunningly awesome White Cluster closes out the whole album, and Martin Lopez’s drumming skills are at the forefront. You can say this was the template for Blackwater Park, which would come next as they are very similar in structure. I love this album, as I do the majority of the band’s catalogue.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Opeth are truly one of the best bands playing and recording today. They are not afraid to take risks and change their style. No matter what they do, it’s just superb.

Don’t get confused by the picture as this is not a four disc edition, just two separate copies with just one cover showing. I also have the Blu-Ray of this show and it’s really good. I was worried that the vinyl would not be as good sound wise, but they seem to have done a vinyl mix.

The band were touring on the back of the Sorceress album and that’s the track that’s opens up the show. It’s a killer track – the perfect mix of metal and Prog. Ghost Of Perdition from Ghost Reveries is up next and it’s one of my favourite Opeth tracks, and one where screams were still part of their musical landscape. Next up we go way back in the catalogue for Demon Of The Fall from My Arms Your Hearse. Epic track and I do miss the dynamic change in vocal with the screams. Back to Sorceress with Wilde Flowers, and you can see and hear the new Opeth and the direction they were moving in. Next up is In My Time Of Need from Deliverance, which I think is a beautiful piece. The Devils Orchard from the Heritage album is next and that is my favourite track from that album. It’s just superb and again showcases their new direction.

The only track played from Pale Communion is next with Cusp Of Eternity, and again it’s one of my favourite Opeth tracks. Everything about this track is just superb. A great melody and vocal from Mikael, and the music is epic. The only track from Watershed is next with the absolutely evil sounding Heir Apparent, and this track could be the basis for a horror movie of its own. Another Sorceress track Era follows, and it’s Prog Heaven as we are transported back to the mid-seventies – well that’s the vibe it gives off to me.

The concert and album closes out with the mighty Deliverance, and this is definitely a fan favourite – everyone goes bananas when the band play this. The band have made four live albums so far and you can go and pick your favourite era. This is a great representation of where the band are at now. I really love this album, but I am a huge Opeth fan.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.