I have to say I wouldn't have tried so hard to get into it if it wasn't Opeth. I've listened to it a lot lately and it might have grown on me slightly, but still I think its my least favorite album by them.
I like the new album a lot but as with most Opeth albums for me though I get bored listening to the whole album... Opeth is more a single tracking band for me, and I have to be in certain moods for them.
I fucking love the first 3 tracks more than anything off the last album.. but then the album fizzles out for me... Shoulda made it heavier.
The later half of the album starting with Porcelain Heart just gets weaker and weaker. The heavy part of Hessian Peel is good but nothing great, Hex Omega just fails. I feel like this album is a step toward Opeth becoming grounded in prog rock instead of death metal. A few more quick gripes with the new album:
1. Death vocals are far 'quieter' and screamy, not as deep and evil sounding. Sound low in the mix to me
2. Drums are way too loud
I agree with Larry here, I really do miss Lopez. But thats not to say anything bad about Axe at all, he is a phenomenal drummer. I think Axe is technically the better drummer, but Lopez just had a certain feel to his drumming with Opeth that no one can beat. If you listen to Watershed you will also see that Lopez never did a fill every half second like Axe does. Some people like that stuff and I guess it keeps the drumming interesting but I don't like showboating drummers and prefer Lopez's style, when he did do fills they were at the right time and they were awesome.
