Opeth: Which is album is best and why?

Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park are the proggiest to my ear, but don't discount their "softer side of Opeth" album, Damnation, on that score, either.

Blackwater Park and Damnation were produced by Porcupine Tree leader Steven Wilson.

Deliverance is by far my favorite song of theirs so I'll go with that.

'still life' is a masterpiece and i don't imagine they'll be able to top it. interestingly, it's perhaps the least heavy of their records (aside from 'damnation' obviously). but everything really came together - the songwriting, the dynamics, uniformity of tone, fusion of louder and quieter elements. and every track in fantastic.

'blackwater park' is perhaps the most proggy with some overtly prog moments in tracks like 'the drapery falls' and the title track. it's also another excellent record.

i also give a very high recommendation to 'my arms, your hearse'. 'when' is definitely up there amongst the band's finest tracks.

It's hard for me to find fault with any Opeth album, but as mentioned above, Still Life ("White Cluster" is amazing), Blackwater Park, and My Arms, Your Hearse are three of the best.

I still really enjoy Ghost Reveries, too...

Orchid isn't too bad. Mind you, I really dislike this band.

morningrise is still my favorite. but i heard it before orchid, so maybe that's why. and i still dig damnation/deliverance a bunch. that's all i really need ultimately. those three.

New one is kinda interesting...have I missed a thread on it somewhere?

Some discussion of it here:
Rolling Metal Thread 2008

Ah I see, it was lost in the comments not displayed part which I always forget to expand!

Kind of ought to have a thread of its own for us non metal (mostly) people. I like it much more than everything since Deliverance.

I just picked up the double vinyl, so I'm still processing.

They always add new elements that make me cringe a little at first. It usually settles in nicely though. Ghost Reveries ended up being one of my favorites, and I would not have expected that after the first listen...

So I'm thinking of seeing Opeth in Birmingham in November, but I haven't heard much since Blackwater Park. What is essential?

I'd say skip the Deliverance/Damnation thing (they just split their heavy/mellow sides into two records one year and it works in places but material isn't as good as BWP) and go for Ghost Reveries which is great.

Oh, but the song "Deliverance" just might be the best thing Opeth has ever done.

maybe i need to relisten, its been a while...

Deliverance is a motherfucker. I've never been a fan of Ghost Reveries and so never much listened to Watershed, but I'm excited for the new one.

My stock answer to this question is My Arms, Your Hearse and Still Life. Both of them.

My mates who were into Opeth at the time all hated Still Life - said it was their "sellout" album. They did like Blackwater Park though.