BAND-OPETH (STOCKHOLM,SWEDEN)
GENRE-PROGRESSIVE/DEATH METAL, PROGRESSIVE ROCK
LABEL- (CURRENTLY-NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS) ("BLACK WATER PARK" UNLEASHED ON MUSIC FOR NATIONS)
RELEASE DATE: 7/16/2021 (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) , 3/12/2001 (ORIGINAL RELEASE)
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG):
IN CAUDA VENENUM 9/27/2019 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.
GARDEN OF THE TITANS: LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER 11/2/2018 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.
SORCERESS 9/30/2016 via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.
PALE COMMUNION-8/26/2014 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS.
HERITAGE-9/14/2011 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS
WATERSHED 5/30/2008 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS),
GHOST REVERIES 8/29/2005 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS),
DAMNATION 4/22/2003 via MUSIC FOR NATIONS),
DELIVERANCE 11/12/2002 via MUSIC FOR NATIONS),
BLACK WATER PARK 3/12/2001 via MUSIC FOR NATIONS),
STILL LIFE 10/18/1999 via PEACEVILLE RECORDS),
MY ARMS YOUR HEARSE 5/11 via 1998-CANDLELIGHT RECORDS),
MORNING RISE 1996-CANDLELIGHT RECORDS),
ORCHID 5/15/1995 via CANDLELIGHT RECORDS),
APOSTLE IN TRIUMPH (DEMO-1994)
DVD's and COMPILATIONS:
LIVE IN PLOVDIV-10/6/2017 via PROG MAGAZINE
DELIVERANCE and DAMNATION (COMPILATION), 10/30/2015 via MUSIC FOR NATIONS
OPETH IN LIVE CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 9/21/-2010 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS
THE WOODEN BOX (BOXED SET COMPILATION OF
ORCHID, MORNING RISE,
MY ARMS YOUR HEARSE- 3/27/2010 via VIVA HATE RECORDS,
THE ROUNDHOUSE TAPES (DVD-11/5/2007via -PEACEVILLE RECORDS),
THE CANDLELIGHT YEARS (BOXED SET COMPILATION OF ORCHID, MORNING RISE,MY ARMS YOUR HEARSE-2008-CANDLELIGHT RECORDS),
THE ROUNDHOUSE TAPES (LIVE CD 11/5/-2007 via-PEACEVILLE RECORDS),
COLLECTOR'S EDITION SLIP CASE (2006-KOCH RECORDS),
LAMENTATIONS: LIVE AT
SHEPARDS BUSH EMPIRE (DVD-2006-KOCH RECORDS).
.
BEST RELEASE(S): BLACK WATER PARK (2001), STILL LIFE (1999), MORNINGRISE (1996), MY ARMS YOUR HEARSE (1998),, DAMNATION (2003), DELIVERANCE (2002), GHOST REVELRIES (2005)
TRACK-LISTING: OPETH:"BLACKWATER PARK" (20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
1. "THE LEPER AFFINITY"
2. "BLEAK"
3. "HARVEST"
4. "THE DRAPERY FALLS"
5. "DIRGE FOR NOVEMBER"
6. "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT"
7. "PATTERNS IN THE IVY"
8. "BLACKWATER PARK"
9. "THE LEPER AFFINITY (LIVE) "
ITP RATING: ***** (five out five stars)
PRODUCTION:*****
SONGWRITING: *****
PERFORMANCE:*****
OPETH are a legendary progressive death metal (now progressive rock) band from Sweden.
During the last ten or so years OPETH have morphed into a progressive rock band with only clean vocals.
Here ITP V.021 has the 20th EDITION of OPETH'S classic release "BLACKWATER PARK" as the album features OPETH'S mid career lineup with PETER LINDGREN (GUITARS), MARTIN LOPEZ (DRUMS).
OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" opens with one of my favorite tracks "THE LEPER AFFINITY" as the track features a prominent riff backed with MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S intense death metal vocals. "THE LEPER AFFINITY proceeds into some raucous death and roll with shredding solos as OPETH ride riffs for a minute. At 4:46 "THE LEPER AFFINITY" segues into a beautiful acoustic break as MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S clean vocals soothes the soul. After a buildup of melodic solos, "THE LEPER AFFINITY" continues with a technical death metal riff into the tracks main riff and closes with melancholy piano. .
OPETH'S "BLEAK" opens with a excellent technical death metal riff into some excellent death metal vocals with great lyricism: "Moving. I am moving closer to your side. Luring, you are luring me into the night". . At 3:26, "BLEAK" segues into a duet with producer STEVEN WILSON (PORCUPINE TREE) as the song breaks into a jazzy acoustic interlude. AKERFELDT' switches to clean vocals "Help me show you", for a wondrous transition from soft to melodic heavy metal. As the duet with STEVEN WILSON continues it's impossible not to notice how the main riff in the track is both melodic and funky.BLEAK's beautiful vocal harmonies are truly intoxicating and well produced. At 8:18 "BLEAK" hits the tracks peak on a high note of vocal harmony as it gets HEAVY from there as the band speed up the tempo to end the track. .
OPETH'S "HARVEST" is an acoustic, progressive rock track showcasing MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S amazing clean vocals.. OPETH'S "HARVEST" evokes a .melancholy mood, perfect for a rainy day...
With foundations in acoustic prog rock, . OPETH'S "THE DRAPERY FALLS" features melodic electric, acoustic guitars and both death and clean vocals. Slide guitar soaks "THE DRAPERY FALLS" melody. I love the "telephone" sounding production on MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S clean vocals. At 6:04 "THE DRAPERY FALLS" evokes a dose of heavy as MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S employs death metal vocals backed by full electric band performance of technical segued into a funky melodic guitar riff..At 7:48 "THE DRAPERY FALLS" battles back and forth with soft and loud dynamics into the main riff for amazing journey. . I wouldn't be surprised if "THE DRAPERY FALLS" was perhaps a hit single in Europe.
OPETH'S "DIRGE FOR NOVEMBER" opens softly with an acoustic soundscape backed with jazz lead guitar. At 1:43, OPETH'S "DIRGE FOR NOVEMBER" segues into full band and death metal vocals for a heavy musical journey. At 5:55 "DIRGE FOR NOVEMBER" breaks from the heaviness for a mellow jazz, acoustic guitar solo to close out the track..
OPETH'S "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT" fades in with a beautiful acoustic riff as the track segues into a driving, prominent riff... "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT" continues with a fun and death and roll riff backed by MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S death metal vox. OPETH'S "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT" features a myriad of excellent riffs and solos rolled into a well written track sure to get those fists pumping and metal horns... At 6:47 AKERFELDT' switches to clean vocals as "THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT" to close out this magnificent track. .
OPETH'S "PATTERNS IN THE IVY" is a short acoustic, instrumental track backed by light piano, a breather before the epic title track.
The title track of OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" opens mid pace featuring a melodic, funky guitar riff.. At 1:15 "BLACKWATER PARK" morphs into a tech riff and at 1:49 an acoustic guitar performs the main riff. OPETH segue in with MIKAEL AKERFELDT'S death vocals: "CONFESSOR OF THE TRAGEDIES OF MAN, LURKING IN THE CORE OF ALL". At 2:48 "BLACKWATER PARK" segues into a well produced, mellow bluesy, acoustic folk interlude. At 6:13 OPETH offer the other half of the dynamic as the band get heavy with the return of the main riff a MIKE'S death vox.
At 8:07 you can feel (and hear) "BLACKWATER PARK" taking flight as at 8:52 the track switches to a quicker pace: "Sick liaisons raised this monumental mark, the sun sets forever over Blackwater Park". The title track of OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" closes with a beautiful acoustic interlude. .
:shivers and goosebumps". OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" is so well written and amazing the track takes you on a enduring musical journey of epic triumph.
The 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of OPETH'S : "BLACKWATER PARK" closes with a live version of "THE LEPER AFFINITY (LIVE) as MIKAEL AKERFELDT states "I'm also a genius when it comes to music."
OPETH truly are genius. OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" is a pefect blend of heavy and mellow with superb songwriting, excellent musicianship and a great clean and death metal vocal performance via rhythm guitarist MIKAEL AKERFELDT.
OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" features heavy and soft dynamics accentuated with melancholy acoustic passages and full acoustic tunes. OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK"feature tracks with both sides of the heavy soft dynamic "BLEAK, "THE LEPER AFFINITY" and the tttle track.
OPETH had experimented with heavy soft dynamics and acoustic tracks on the bands 1999 release "STILL LIFE". However, STEVEN WILSON of British progressive rock legends PORCUPINE TREE brought out the best in OPETH in both production and performance.
.STEVEN WILSON'S atmospheric production of OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" brings a breath of fresh air to both vocal harmonies and diversity of instrumentation.
OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" features tracks that range from 7 to over 12 minutes. However, , due to the epic songwriting and variety of different riffs, OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" tracks don't feel that long and have replay value. The songwriting in epic.
. OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" sounds as fresh and dynamic as it did 20 years ago and within the diversity of songwriting, there's a little something for everyone on this release.
If you yearn for the days when OPETH employed clean AND death metal vocals, or you haven't checked out the progressive DEATH METAL era of OPETH, "BLACKWATER PARK" is the record for cross over fans..
.
Twenty years later OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" still stands as both a classic and popular release in extreme metal, ground breaking, unique and genre bending..
The sun has NOT set over OPETH'S "BLACKWATER PARK" as I can listen to this release forever.
.ITP RATING: ***** (five out five stars)
PRODUCTION:*****
SONGWRITING: *****
PERFORMANCE:***** .
.
OPETH: "BLACKWATER PARK" (20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) : .
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-
Posts
![[Valid RSS]](http://www.blogger.com/valid-rss-rogers.png "Validate my RSS feed")
