From Dave Ling's (British journalist) blog:
Tuesday 8th April
I've just heard heard what's likely to be the best 55 minutes of music to released in 2008. Yesterday's playback of Opeth's ninth release, 'Watershed', left me almost speechless. Mayfair Studios in London's Chalk Farm had been set up for a 5.1 mix that even guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson (both of whom were present) had yet to hear, and it really did the job, sucking everyone in the room into their own private state of silently stunned appreciation.
Just seven songs long, 'Watershed's combination of death metal, prog-rock and psychedelia is as beautifully seamless. With the magnificent 'Porcelain Heart', Åkerfeldt has achieved the most effective combination of haunting, clean vocals and bowel-loosening screams so far, though the album is consistently absorbing. As everyone picked up their gear to leave I asked Mikael whether my ears had deceived me or if the last track, 'Hex Omega', really featured a Mellotron? "Oh yes," he beamed proudly. "There's Mellotrons and all sorts of great stuff all over this record." You won't believe your ears on June 2.
http://www.daveling.co.uk/diary.htm
Tuesday 8th April
I've just heard heard what's likely to be the best 55 minutes of music to released in 2008. Yesterday's playback of Opeth's ninth release, 'Watershed', left me almost speechless. Mayfair Studios in London's Chalk Farm had been set up for a 5.1 mix that even guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson (both of whom were present) had yet to hear, and it really did the job, sucking everyone in the room into their own private state of silently stunned appreciation.
Just seven songs long, 'Watershed's combination of death metal, prog-rock and psychedelia is as beautifully seamless. With the magnificent 'Porcelain Heart', Åkerfeldt has achieved the most effective combination of haunting, clean vocals and bowel-loosening screams so far, though the album is consistently absorbing. As everyone picked up their gear to leave I asked Mikael whether my ears had deceived me or if the last track, 'Hex Omega', really featured a Mellotron? "Oh yes," he beamed proudly. "There's Mellotrons and all sorts of great stuff all over this record." You won't believe your ears on June 2.
http://www.daveling.co.uk/diary.htm
