Watershed

Fabulously heavy while ethereally beautiful at times.

I am still getting used to the radical departure in sound that this record has ushered in. Mikael's melodies are more Folk styled than previous releases. They will no doubt gain a lot of new fans with "The Lotus Eater", which is probably their most accessible song yet. "Porcelain Heart" is quite the opposite, though, and one of their least accessible tracks of all time.

After the underwhelming "Ghost Reveries" I thought that I was done with Opeth. Then comes "The Roundhouse Tapes" and gets my hopes up for the next studio release! Unfortunately "Watershed" was yet another disappointment. I'm sure that most people will find this album enjoyable, but that's because Opeth is going for a wider audience with this release and they tend to forget who their real fans are!

Four star songs:
Heir Apparent (8:50)
Three star songs:
Coil (3:10)
The Lotus Eater (8:50)
Burden (7:41)
Hessian Peel (11:25)
Hex Omega (7:00)
Two star songs:
Porcelain Heart (8:00)

Total rating: 3,02

Not as good as the other albums, I thought. Kind of got myself uber excited for this album for nothing.

A very good album; detracts from their other works quite a bit, in my eyes (or ears, should I say), but still a very impressionable listen.

Two and a half years I waited for this in eager anticipation and trepidation. Alot had happend in those years that signalled cause for concern, Martin Mendez (the best drummer of his generation) and Peter Lindgren (the 2nd/co-brain of Opeth) had left, leaving Mikael the task of carry forward Opeth. In their place stepped in Martin Axenrot, a touring musician and Fredrik Akesson. I was worried and scared that the musicianship and stellar orchestrations that had become an Opeth trademark were now under threat.

Then June 2008, every bit of anticipation, fear, doubt and disbelief was cast deep into the recesses, Opeth had released their next opus. And it is just a dazzling showing of everything that they'd learnt and experimented with in the last 14-15 years. From the dark folksy opening Coil to the smooth, beautiful (and dare I say it one of Opeth's greatest songs) Burden to the rip roaring Lotus Eater there are trademarks of classic Opeth and the "new one". There are differences and some of them quite notable, one being Per's keyboard role as not just an atmosphere setter but as a lead instrument as well, the next being Mikael's vocals are clean throughout most of this album and the hoarse whimper in which he does them in.

Best album of 2008 hands down. It is a must have.

even blend of growl and clean vocals to suit any metal taste.

No only the best album by Opeth, but best album I have heard by anyone in around 7 or 8 years. At times overly brutal, delicate, emotional, weird, complex yet simple. There isnt 1 thing I dont like about this album, pure brilliance. Cant wait to see them in 4 days,.

A good solid album by Opeth

Brilliant, surpasses Ghost Reveries. The song "Heit Apparent" is absolute brilliant.