Seriously, I used to own Blackwater Park but could never listen to it all the through, so I sold it. The first two tracks I liked, but the rest didn't do anything for me. Is there another Opeth record that anyone could reccomend?
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 1 February 2004 02:22 (twenty years ago) link
That's the album that made me give up on Opeth.
I guess it depends what you want from them, but I think Morningrise, My Arms Your Hearse and Still Life are all pretty good album. Almost AOR at times, but enjoyable listen.
That being said, it's a band I never listen to anymore, so I'm not entirely sure how I feel about these recordings.
I'd recommend Morningrise for more extended "Dissection light" compositions, the album has a very nice atmosphere that I haven't quite found anywhere else, except maybe In The Woods' "Omnio" (which is a pretty different album nonetheless)
My Arms Your Hearse is their most deathmetally one, so if that puts you off, go with Still Life.
That being said, there's been a huge Opeth backlash in recent years, at least in the metal milieu, so you're far from alone in not getting into them.
But I know many [former] Opeth fans who can't sit through Blackwater Park.
― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Sunday, 1 February 2004 02:28 (twenty years ago) link
Has there been a backlash? About the time I dropped out of the scene, everyone was still on their dick. I don't know, I always liked them, but never really loved them...definitely some nice riffs and melodies in those fucking LONG songs.
― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 1 February 2004 02:30 (twenty years ago) link
There's been a huge backlash. And like all backlashes, the ex-fans and long-time destractors overblow their disgust at them any chance they get. Opeth do what they do well, even if it is a bit limited. I think they've been on and off since "Still Life" in terms of quality. "Blackwater Park" is my least favorite, with only a handful of decent songs, and "Still Life" remains my favorite- it has an interesting "nineteenth century Mexico vibe" that I dig. They also released a mellow rock record recently ("Damnation", sister album of the inarguably metal "Deliverance") which is pretty nice if somewhat tiring; I can recommend it if you want a bit of a change. My personal recommendation is "Still Life" and "Morningrise".
― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Sunday, 1 February 2004 08:49 (twenty years ago) link
i kind of wish opeth would lose the stick up their ass, or at least move to one with a smaller diameter. they have all of these cute references to avant-rock & c. from the 70s but they still just sound like this finicky, tight-arsed bunch of wankers to me.
i've TRIED to like them, really.
― el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Sunday, 1 February 2004 09:03 (twenty years ago) link
it's really easy to understand why people wouldn't like Opeth. Lots of people are probably bored to tears by them. How many people want to listen to 15 minute progressive death metal songs? And i can see people really hating the jazz and prog elements. Their last two albums are a lot more accessible though. And Damnation is an album that i think almost any kind of music fan might like. it's really pretty.(I think they just get more and more popular here in the states with every release. maybe the metal fans are being replaced by Yes fans! I'm a metal fan who thinks that they just get better and better with every album.)
― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 1 February 2004 12:15 (twenty years ago) link
>Maybe the metal fans are being replaced by Yes fans!
Could you imagine if Opeth were tapped to open the upcoming Yes 35th anniversary tour? Shit, I'd be in heaven.
― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Sunday, 1 February 2004 17:13 (twenty years ago) link