Confessions of an Opeth Fan...Ghost Reveries and Faceculture interview...

[Confessor of Tragedy]

Bands that have the ability to put out 8 records over a span of time SHOULD sound different. I wouldn't want to hear 8 identical albums, as that would be too redundant. Opeth has changed over the years, but to me undeniably is still Opeth, and that's all that counts.

well said. i enjoy listening to each opeth album, each is great on its own, but it also chronicles the progression of the band. its like watching them grow.

 

[Shadius]

I personally think Ghost Reveries is possibly their 2nd best effort to date. under Still Life, which I think is their very best. The production and energy and having more time to edit songs and get things sounding really good on Ghost Reveries is what makes me like it so much. The riffs arn't quite as complex for the most part, but that dosn't bother me; the songwriting is great, apart from possibly Atonement, which is stretched too thin, but that's the albums only flaw in my eyes. I fail to see how Isolation Years is worse than things off Damnation, it's an amazingly emotional song.

Favourite Opeth albums are really just about taste, I mean, so many people can consider Morningrise Opeths masterpiece and greatest album, yet many others don't even like the style all that much. I'd rate it as a great album (parts of it even gave me shivers), myself, but lacking some of the things that made Opeth great later on.

Yet more people will say Blackwater Park is their magnum opus, which again I would say has some structural flaws in a couple of the songs but is otherwise amazing. Some people would disagree with me and say that Dirge dosn't lack anything in structure and is an amazing song. As I say; it's all about taste.

Opeth's prpgressive element appeals to people in different ways, sufficiantly enough to mean anyone could rate any Opeth album as being the best, based on what style/production/whatever appeals to them the most.

 

[TonysApprentices]

Well, i kind of agree. HOR and Isolation Years are definitely two songs i like. And isolation years is just beautifull...just listen...But that would be my musical opinion. I had times that i listened to isolation years over and over again. And i REALLY would like that song played live. And that solo in HOR...ow man. Cant get enough of it. I like those solos! Just like the solos in A Fair Judgement, Windowpane, Hope Leaves and more...But im a guitarist as you may see.

Opeth cant produce 20 MAYH's, that would be lame as shit like LadyValerie said here before. I appreciate that opeths moving on. Theyre new and way different than other bands i listen to. And like Mikael said severel times, They are unpredictable! And thats what i really like about Opeth.

 

[TonysApprentices]

sorry, hadnt read the whole tread

 

[worldwide_suicide]

what song is HOR?!

 

[Valerie]

I'm sure Mikael felt something like (to quote Lopez)"a punch in da face" when reading most of the posts, which is why he replied. I know how he feels about this issue. I've written many songs and when someone says something bad about what I put all of my energy and emotions into, I get upset. No matter what your stance is on any Opeth song or album, you can not take away the fact that every song they've written and released on their albums is of good musical quality. When some of you guys come and say Isolation Years or Hours of Wealth or whatever song they've written sucks and is not up to "Opeth's standards," it is like a punch in the face. Opeth writes music, they don't construct buildings. They don't have standards that they feel they must always write songs up to.

In conclusion, just have respect. You may not like a certain song or album, but you don't have to berate it to the world. Especially on the band's own forum. If you don't like the direction Opeth has gone, then stop listening to them, go write your own album of what you want to hear.

 

[TonysApprentices]

Sorry, HOR should be HOW, 'Hours of Wealth'
I agree ladyvalerie :]

 

[xXBraveMurderDay]

I don't know, I personally think they get better with each CD.

 

[Mr Samsara]

what song is HOR?!

"Hours of Realth"..... Scooby Doo wrote it.


Out.

 

[all_sins_undone]

I hear the baying of the Scoob.

 

[worldwide_suicide]

in the distance , i hear him devouring schooby snacks

 

[Jude]

I don't really have anything to add to this thread except that I give another vote of support to GR. It isn't my favorite album, but I really respect that Opeth have progressed and gone on to explore new musical territory instead of just stagnating and making the same hits over and over again to please fans. Would you rather them be another KISS or ACDC?

I also am not a real big fan of Hours of Wealth, although the instrumental section at the beginning is incredible. I decided to give it another listen right now.

 

[annt]

Hahhahahaha!
PEAC EOUT!

BTW: Waz, you're getting really popular man. Everyone remember that it was I who initially imitated him in outside threads!

Sorry to break it to you, but people were already doing that when I joined...

 

[all_sins_undone]

Sorry to break it to you, but people were already doing that when I joined...

No no I assure you sir, that you are wrong!

 

[annt]

Oh, ok, my bad.

PEAC EOUT

 

[ChrisEmerson]

I know i'm a bit late, but i wanna throw in my thoughts:

GR is one of my favourite albums, and I love all the songs on it for different reasons. Some are great listening songs for the heaviness (GoP, Baying of the Hounds, Harlequin Forest), some are good for listening to in a relaxed mood (Isolation years is probably now my all time favourite Opeth track - the melodies on it are GORGEOUS), and some of them are amazing live tracks (eg TGC). I was extremely relieved and happy when this album totally met and exceeded my expectations, it will keep me as an Opeth for for many more years to come i'm sure. It is still my genuine opinion there that is not a SINGLE bad Opeth song out there. The band just seem incapable of making bad songs, and Opeth are the only band I have come across so far for which this holds true.

Decided to give HoW another listen because of all the fuss over it - i still love it. I can't see how anyone can pick at the song, nothing wrong with it that i can hear.

Edit: Then TGC came on, and i realised... I dont think I have ever listened to this song once i knew it, without drumming along to it with fingers on my desk. It has a very catchy rhythm to it! There is also a bit i never noticed in it before, the whispering voices around 8 minute mark. It seems kind of obvious now.. but woah! Adds so much to the song! I'll be the first to admit that i really didnt like TGC when i first heard it, but it really has got better and better with every listen, and now I think its an incredible song with a lot of atmosphere, some great rhythms and is a lot better than I originally gave it credit for.

 

[waz416c]

I will not mention anything about taste or your devotion to the earlier stuff we've done, but for me it's clear some of you guys simply are not on the same wavelength as us in the band and me in particular writing the songs, and you need to move on. "Hours of wealth" is a song I was particulary proud of and it is actually not the fruit of many hours of rehearsals (that comment that we shouldn't rehearse was bordering to stupid, sorry!) but was actually done in the studio. The vocals done in one take and I have a certain connection with this song and if you don't get "it" I won't even bother trying to hype it. We're a phase of "your" musical evolution but maybe your journey ends here and you need to move into new territories?

I never reply to stuff like people don't like us, cause believe me, I hear more complaints and how "opeth suck" these days that I can't be bothered, but coming down on "HOW" is an attack that I feel the need to comment on. And "Isolation years"...man, that's on of my personal fave opeth song ever and I was literally in tears singing it. I feel gutted that somebody can take the piss out of GR so completely that I actually feel the need to respond and I feel angry. Plain and simple, your opinion is noted but by no means will I contemplate what you said because you're there and I am here, simple as that...

Best regards
Mike

I think at any level of songwriting.....every musician does it for himself...!!!.......songwriting is always a very private experience but ends up being the most public....!!!......so somethign that is so dear and close to you...some idiots might not grasp them....ok that doesnt relaly make sence....does it...??........but I guess what Im tryina say is....do ure thign man...!!!.....I know there are millions who love ure music.........even Beatles has haters u know...so no one can please everyone.....!!!!.....u guys rock my man........u have ure very own Genre....!!!....its unique and fekcin amazing..........I remember the first time I heard To bid u farewell.........that was like I died and went to musician heaven.........ure music fekcin rox...!!!!.......and I thnak u mybrother for puttin up with this BS and stil makin awesome music.,.....Keep rockin....!!!......PEAC EOUT

 

[Innbydelse]

I'm not getting at you man, but how the fuck do you figure that one out?

yes do tell. what the FUCK. that is one of thier best!

 

[Stormwatch]

Ehm... Damnation aint the worst album. You guys really have to get into the
music.
Buy the Lamentations-DVD and watch Opeth play the mellow tracks
of Damnation. Notice the details, the effort and dedication. Appreciate their
great variation! OK, you may not like the album, but to call an album "the worst"
is not right in my opinion.
This is not just any random band with common songs - this is your favourite
band! (If it isn't, what are you doing on the forum?) - Show some respect for
the artists for Christ's sake. I mean everyone, not just you Stormwatch!

Don't talk shit. I DID buy Lamentations - then I sold it on eBay, because the slow stuff bored me senseless. I don't like Damnation, IMO it's not a good album. I love acoustic rock, mellow and progressive stuff - that's why Jethro Tull are my favourite band. Don't talk to me about "great variation" - Opeth are pretty much a one trick pony, as much as I enjoy them. Heavy part, slow part, heavy part, slow part. Oversimplified perhaps, but it's NOT exactly great variation.
Damnation is just a boring album IMO, I DO NOT ENJOY it. So...to my ears, it's Opeth's worst album.
I'm on the forum because I am an Opeth fan, that doesn't mean I have to like everything they record (although apart from Damnation, I pretty much DO).

 

[Stormwatch]

I don't really have anything to add to this thread except that I give another vote of support to GR. It isn't my favorite album, but I really respect that Opeth have progressed and gone on to explore new musical territory instead of just stagnating and making the same hits over and over again to please fans. Would you rather them be another KISS or ACDC?

.

Keep AC/DC out of it, please. AC/DC are legends for a reason. Anyway, apart from Damnation, Opeth albums DO all follow pretty similar structures. The only difference is, GR is slightly less heavy and has keyboards (rather more commercial if you like).
AC/DC stuck to their guns and play the same rock and roll year in year out, without bowing to trends. Can all bands say that?