I've heard a CUNT of a lot of great rock/metal songs over the past 15 years or so ("Time's Up" by Love/Hate, "Can't Hold Me Back" by AC/DC, "Kathaarian Life Code" by Darkthrone, "Stonewall" by Annihilator, "Cadillac Rock Box" by Anthrax, "Dechristianize" by Vital Remains etc etc) , but I think the title track from Blackwater Park is possibly the pinnacle of metal. It has at LEAST three classic riffs that a band like Status Quo would have made a fucking career out of; it has tasteful mellow moments; it has incredible guitar leads; there's Mikaels fucking inhuman growl halfway through the track (spine shivering? You bet!) and it's just pretty much a perfect metal song overall.
Opeth aren't one of my top 5 bands any more (what a difference a year makes!) - AC/DC, Jethro Tull and Vader are well ahead of them - but it has to be said, Mikael has the best voice in death metal.
Opeth aren't one of my top 5 bands any more (what a difference a year makes!) - AC/DC, Jethro Tull and Vader are well ahead of them - but it has to be said, Mikael has the best voice in death metal.