Opeth - Watershed

[73h Nils]

I must say, this album is quite amazing. It's been in constant rotation in my DVD player and CD player. Coil is a great way to start off this album...There are, get this, MAJOR chords in it!

Favourite tracks so far are...Coil, The Lotus Eater, Burden, Porcelain Heart, Heir Apparent, Hex Om....Nevermind. I like all of them!

For anyone who hasn't taken the Opeth plunge yet, but is a fan of Dream Theater; I highly suggest this album. It even has some A.D.D moments in the instrumentals ala Dark Eternal Night. Also, there are a lot less moments of growling vocals than before. Heir Apparent being the standout for those. (That track also has an epic-sounding section near the end reminiscent of The Ministry of Lost Souls only in a minor key)

Some cons; no lyrics in the booklet, mispelt "Lotus Eater" on the interior CD case. (Says Louts Eater )

Pros: Nearly everything. The 5.1 and CD mixes are amazing all around. Killer guitar tones and the acoustic "squeaks" are all there in high-fidelity glory!

Pick this up! You won't be disappointed!

[leftyguitarblue]

I'm gonna pick it up this week. I freakin love that band. More people need to know about them.

[MysticDreamer]

Love the band

[Jamie]

I like the Ghost Reveries album, not heard the new one, will need to give it a go!

The only problem is the growling and barking... nah not my stuff! but they can sing. In Hours of wealth There is some amazing harmonies.

[pjc812]

I have Blackwater Park which is a great album. I've been trying to learn "The Drapery Falls" which has a bizarre breakdown section.

[robelinda2]

I have Blackwater Park too, slowly becoming a fan of these guys. Less cookie monster impressions the better though!

[pjc812]

Haha! Funny you should mention that. My wife's 1st labor (our daughter) was rather traumatic for reasons I won't go into, and she sounded almost exactly like the "cookie monster" on track 2 of Blackwater Park.

I was quite impressed. She's 5' 1" and 100lbs on a good day. I can't even fathom...

[beachjammer]

My wife calls it "the burping vocals" ! HA HA!

I saw them on the Progressive Nation tour and I can't make up my mind about them yet. It was one of those things where when they finished playing I was like, "do I like them or not?" I still haven't made my mind up yet so maybe this new album will do it for me.

[papazach]

Incredible album, great tunes one thing is for sure ... these guys don't lack inspiration.

[73h Nils]

Haha! Funny you should mention that. My wife's 1st labor (our daughter) was rather traumatic for reasons I won't go into, and she sounded almost exactly like the "cookie monster" on track 2 of Blackwater Park.

I was quite impressed. She's 5' 1" and 100lbs on a good day. I can't even fathom...

If anything, wouldn't she sound more like the growling on Deliverance?!?!?! Eh? Eh?!

Ah, forget it...

[k.gormley]

not a big fan....had a hard time getting in to it. It may grow on me

[73h Nils]

Opeth took me about a year to like, no joke. I went and picked up 4 albums in one shot, listened to Blackwater Park when I went home, pressed STOP about 1 minute in the Leper Affinity because I couldn't stand it...Then one day, I think I went "Might as well try these guys again" (didn't want to let 80$ worth of CDs go to waste).

I'm glad I did, now I can't get enough.

[Zaarin]

Damnation is a good way to ease into Opeth.

Watershed is awesome, every song kicks ass.

When I went to Progressive Nation, Michael was talking about comparing themselves to Dream Theater. He said something along the lines of "Ok we can't touch them musically but we do have something they don't have." And he lets out a growl.

[Meedleyx10]

no lyrics in the booklet

Not true

Anyway...fantastic album. Definitely album of the year for me so far (and this is coming from an avid listener and player of just about everything but rap/hip-hop).

[chriseb]

Brilliant album.. totally agree. Some really tasty stuff in this album also (hessian peel.. phwoooar)