Opeth: en albumguide [deliverance]

[Kakebakelate]

Haha! Jeg elsker det bildet. Jeg elsker også den tråden!

Merkelig at dette ikke er postet her, men:

 

""Watershed" is the name of Opeth´s 9th studio observation. The album has just been mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren with M. Åkerfeldt. The album consist of 7 songs and the titles are as follows:

 

1. Coil

2. Heir Apparent

3. The Lotus Eater

4. Burden

5. Porcelain Heart

6. Hessian Peel

7. Hex Omega

 

All the songs have been written by M. Åkerfeldt apart from "Porcelain Heart" which was co-written with Fredrik Åkesson. One additonal track, "Derelict Herds" has also been recorded and this was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Per Wiberg. On top of this, 3 cover songs has been recorded. "Bridge of sighs" from Robin Trower´s 1974 Lp with the same title, "Den ständiga resan" (sung in Swedish) by Marie Fredriksson as well as the classic Alice in Chains song, "Would?".

 

The album was recorded at Fascination street studios during November 1 and December 13. Some addtional recordings were done between January 3rd and 7th. Produced by Jens Bogren and Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth.

 

Says Mikael Åkerfeldt: "I´ve worked so hard with these songs for quite some time now, I´ve listened to 'em a zillion times. I don't hate them just yet! The album sounds great sonically and I think I can hear us evolving as the record plays on. It is taking us somewhere musically and I don't know where. It's very exciting to say the least! I can't remember having enjoyed a recording this much ever before."

 

The cover was (as usual) designed by Travis Smith in co-operation with Åkerfeldt. Release date is yet to be confirmed but Roadrunner worldwide will have it out sometime in the Springtime of this year."

Det er bare 2 ord som dekker hva jeg tenker akkurat nå, GLEDER MEG!

[Finzac]

...as well as the classic Alice in Chains song, "Would?".

 

Dæng! Hvis denne blir med på nye skiva må det blir bra!

[Programvare]

Så utrolig mye mer jeg setter pris på Black Rose Immortal i dag, enn jeg gjorde første gang jeg hørte den. Opeth har vokst på meg.

[AiKi]

Når kommer resten av platene?

 

Aldri. Og det irriterer en smule. Ikke at jeg vil skrive selv, men den kunne vel trengt å få slengt på de to siste platene også, samt at den eksisterende burde skrives om til å fungere med nytt forum.

 

 

For øvrig et band jeg etter hvert har blitt veldig glad i. Blackwater Park, Orchid, Damnation og My Arms, Your Hearse er vel det jeg har av personlige favoritter.

[Programvare]

Deliverance er min favoritt, men Damnation er en bombesikker andreplass. Morningrise er jævlig bra og.

[:utakt]

Fra mikeportnoy.com

 

These are big spoilers so don't say I ruined it for you, back out now.

 

Culled from posts on the Opeth forum, the first description is from Finnish metal forum from someone with the then untitiled album/song promo. The second is from a journalist interview/listening session for Aardshock magazine, which corroborates the first.

 

(Some promo script)

The as yet untitled album from Sweden's Opeth is a stunning piece of music that reaches deep into rock's history to create a sound that few can approach, let alone master. Helmed by guitarist/vocalist and music afficianado Mikael Åkerfeldt, Opeth can be described as a "genre of one". They're a band who's sound touches upon classic rock, modern metal, progressive rock, krautrock freakouts ands bits of European folk. And that's an oversimplification. Here's a track-by-track "cheat-sheet" to a record that you will undoubtly play many times, that will haunt you and will likely not be forgotten. I've said it many times. If you don't like Opeth, you don't like rock music.

 

1: (3:07) Zeppelin - Mostly acoustic driven with female vocals complementing Mike. These were done by Swedish vocalist Nathalie Lorichs. Completely different than anything Opeth have ever done before. A gorgeous moment that sets the tone for the record. You will listen to this track over and over again. Let's just call it a "panty-soaker"....

 

1. Coil: working title was "Zeppelin", revolving around an acoustic lead and is a very calm song that reminds vaguely of the folky side of Led Zeppelin. (it also states of course that it is quite daring to open a metal album with a song like this, in a positive sense).

 

 

 

2. (8:51) Metal - Brutal. Lots of musical twists and turns. Many quiet moments that verge on free jazz. Here we also get the first taste of both new guitarist Fredrik Akesson who shows lead chops at the three minute mark. There's also no question about Axenrot's abilities to handle the rhythmic demands of Opeth with the adroitness of his predecessor. This is the only song that has full-on heavy vocals all throughout, harkening back to the Opeth of old.

 

2. Heir Apparent: growls and heavy guitar playing, almost 9 minutes that goes all sorts of directions with a lot of remarkable jazz-fusion twists.

 

 

 

3. (8:48) Metal - Something that's never been tried before...sung vocals over blast beats. Toss in Per Wiberg's eerie keys and atmospheric guitars that melds into a pure Krautrock freakout that also reminisces Chic Corea at his most bombastic. Throughout the song it's riffs galore all slaked with both gorgeous singing and pure death metal growls. Listen for the "asylum murmuring" the end of the track.

 

3. The Lotus Eater: working title "Metal Something", even more jazz-fusion stuff. heavy opening, fusion interlude with a frizzle solo by Per. reference to jazzlegend Chic Corea as influence.

(here he talks shortly with Mikael about it, they talk about jazz influence which is strong on the album)

 

 

 

4. (7:42) Deep Floyd - A truly beautiful moment that sounds like John Lord playing keys for Pink Floyd. A ballad with a powerful chorus. Fantastic guitar playing trails out at the end of the song. Listen hard for Mikael's moment of guitar whimsy.

 

4. Burden: working title "Deep Floyd", Mikael describes it as when Jon Lord of Deep Purple would have been a member of Pink Floyd. a ballad with a guitar solo by Mikael in which he gives himself completely (so he says).

 

 

 

5. Porcelain Heart (8:01) Tool/Sabbath/Tull - Heaviness merges with nearly medieval balladeering into lurching Sabbath riffs. The first two verses are repetitive and memorable - something that wouldn't feel out of place on a Tool record. Then the Sabbath riffs come along rolling in like a friggin' tsunami of doom.

 

5. Porcelain Heart: folk elements (reminding of Jethro Tull) with complex parts reminding of Tool and heavy guitar work in the vein of Black Sabbath.

 

 

 

6. (11:26) The Epic-Jazz fusion melds into gentle renaissance melodies. Just as the song hits its most quiet and beautiful moment complemented by spare piano, a pulsing keyboard ushers in the ferocity and grandeur that only Opeth can muster. Then, about halfway in, the fucker gets real heavy...replete with the usual Opeth-ian twists and turns.

 

6. Hessian Peel: 11 minutes (longest song), lots of influences and styles jammed into it. starts relatively calm with epic pieces and touches of fusion, but culminates in one of the heaviest parts of the album.

 

 

 

7. (6:59) Middle Eastern Introspection: An oceanic riff settles into a gentle keyboard while vocals lap against the shore - only to rise into unexpected and beautiful Middle Eastern guitar melodies. The rhythm section Bassist Martin Mendez and Martin Axenrot build and build only for vocals drift in and out of as the record gently trails off.

 

7. Hex Omega: eastern influences especially in the melody.

Furthermore some talk about this album being a turning point (a Watershed) and a transition album after which all doors will be open for Opeth to go far beyond everything they have ever done.

 

Furthermore some talk about this album being a turning point (a Watershed) and a transition album after which all doors will be open for Opeth to go far beyond everything they have ever done.Overall impression of the journalist: very very positive, but the statements by Mikael that it would be insanely complex and cause lots of confusion is somewhat exagerated.

[Azagrath]

^ Kjenner orgasmen er nær bare av å lese beskrivelsen av låtene. Er rimelig sikker på at denne skiva blir årets høydepunkt for min del

[Programvare]

^ Kjenner orgasmen er nær bare av å lese beskrivelsen av låtene. Er rimelig sikker på at denne skiva blir årets høydepunkt for min del

 

Så jævla enig. Sitter å koser meg bare ved beskrivelsene.

[Lauk]

^ Kjenner orgasmen er nær bare av å lese beskrivelsen av låtene. Er rimelig sikker på at denne skiva blir årets høydepunkt for min del

Kunne ikke sagt det bedre selv Det kan fort bli noen lange måneder nå...

Endret 12. mars 2008 av Charamelo

[Anathema]

Sang fra det kommende albummet, hvis ikke alle har fått det med seg:

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3...h&plindex=0

[Joachricar]

Høres herlig ut^^

Gleder meg som bare det til albumet kommer ut

[svinepelz]

Har ikke hørt noe Opeth før jeg, men trodde det var death metal... antar at denne nye låta ikke er representativ for deres tidligere låter? Bortsett fra growlinga så hørtes dette mer ut som en slags progressiv lettmetall

[Kakebakelate]

Har ikke hørt noe Opeth før jeg, men trodde det var death metal... antar at denne nye låta ikke er representativ for deres tidligere låter? Bortsett fra growlinga så hørtes dette mer ut som en slags progressiv lettmetall

hvis du ikke liker growlvokalen ka du sjekke ut Damnation plata.

[svinepelz]

Har ikke noe prinsipielt imot growling, trodde bare at bandet skulle være hardere, men de har vel sikkert "utviklet seg fra sine røtter". Litt kjedelig låt også, men det er nå så.

 

Anyway, litt usikker på hvorfor jeg postet her, hadde ikke akkurat så mye å bidra med

[Programvare]

Start med skiva Deliverance du Hvis du ikke liker den, så sjekker du ut Damnation.

[Kakebakelate]

Start med skiva Deliverance du Hvis du ikke liker den, så sjekker du ut Damnation.

Damnation kan man sjekke ut uansett. Gjerne hvis man er glad i prog. Jeg ville nok heller ha startet med Blackwatper Park enn Deliverance. Personlig synes jeg at BP er et bedre album, deres beste.

[Lauk]

Har ikke noe prinsipielt imot growling, trodde bare at bandet skulle være hardere, men de har vel sikkert "utviklet seg fra sine røtter". Litt kjedelig låt også, men det er nå så.

Opeth har lenge kjørt en stil som har vel så mye inspirasjon fra band som f.eks. Pink Floyd som fra dødsmetall. Som nevnt tidligere her, er albumet Damnation fullt og helt akustisk, uten growling. Det er også et ordentlig knallalbum

[gard.]

Er det noen grunn til ikke å kjøpe Ghost Reveries (Special Edition) hvis den er billigere enn den normale versjonen bortsett fra det diggbare album coveret til originalen?

[ersa]

Nei. Special Edition har bedre booklet, pappcover, dvd med dokumentar (helt ok) og albumet i 5.1 DTS.

 

Dersom du savner cover arten fra originalen kan du kjøpe en plakat eller albumet på LP.

[Kakebakelate]

Når kommer de to siste platene Damnation og Ghost Reveries?