Well, I don;t know if anyone remembers, or even cares, but I told you guys a while back I was reviewing three opeth albums as a school project. Well, I did it (a nice wwhile ago,), but seem to have lost the actual word document after my computer got a virus. But I am starting to type it out again, and will post it ins ections for those who want to see it. It has a fairly detailed technical review of Morningrise, MAYH, and Still Life. For today, I present to you:
ADVENT
There may be mistakes, and things left out. If you want to add to things missing, go for it! We can create the ultimate textual opeth listening companion.
This is an overview of three of opeth's greatest works. opeth are a progressive Swedish metal band, who have released 5 albums this far. I will examine the middle three, their stylistic nuances, production techniques, and unique aspects. As you will see, the lack of structure in the songs often make for reviews which look very similar. Thus I have generally don a few songs in depth from each album, so that you can get a general idea of how the rest of the songs will be. from there, I go on to simply alert you to certain interesting techniques or highlights that make Opeth so unique from any other band in existence. It gets fairly detailed, and there are a few terms which should be clarified from the beginning.
Accent:When I refer to this, I refer to drums being hit along in exact (or near) time with a guitar or bass line. See accent.wav
Arpeggio:Refers to a guitar that picks notes in a chord, rather than strumming a chord. See arpeggio.wav
Distorted Vocals: Vocals that are growled.
Clean Vocals: the normal sounding vocals used on the albums.
Tritone: The interval of the devil. It is a chord interval often used in heavy metal to create a dark, evil atmosphere. Opeth often employ chords of this shape(also known as flat fifth chords) to create dissonant chord textures. See tritone.wav
Power Chord: Chords using two or three notes; the root, the fifth, and the octave. These are powerful, heavy sounding chords.
Octave chords: An open sounding chord comprising of the root note and the octave.
Diad/Triad: chords that are comprised of two or three notes, respectively.
Single note: When I refer to single note sections or riffs, I am referring to a guitar that is playing a figure that utilizes one note at a time. It acts like a melody line, but is based more in a rhythmic fashion.
So with these terms out of the way, let us jump into the albums.
Morningrise
Advent(Trac1.mp3)
The album begins with fading in clean guitars with delay. They are playing one chord repeatedly, but switching one note in the chord. In a way, it is constant, yet changing (hehe, DT reference here...). As you will see, this is very true of many of Opeths riffs. Following this we have a drum roll which leads us into a section of distorted guitars starting off playing crunchy power chords, then going into a single note pattern. This repeats a few times, and then everything holds its note and drones out as the bass bwegins a single note run that serves as a transition. It leads directly intoa short acoustic section with a jazzy/funky drum beat with a hypnotic bass line. Then we head back into a distorted guitar riff with one uitar playig rhythm and one playing a single note melody. The drums switch beat after a few repeats, but the harmony and the melody of the guitars both stay the same. Eventually, we reach the point where the guitars hold their last notes in harmony, and the drums roll into a simpler section.
This next section is very medieval sounding, and we get our first taste of singer Mikael Akerfeldts vocals, which are distorted here. They are produced quite dry, with little effects, save for a small amount of reverb. After this section, we have another medieval riff in which 2 distorted guitars play separate single note lines. this is followed by a similar riff that is played in a lower key for variation. After this, the last two sections repeat them,sevelees, and lead us into a sudden stop in everything. There is a brief moment of silence, and tehn we are taken to a totally new section.
This new section is an acoustic guitar playing a folkish arpeggiated riff by itself. Then bass and drums cut in and switch to another guitar riff which is similar in it's structure and dlivery, but is in a different key, and has another guitar which is playing ringing chords. The bass changes it's main function from that of a rhythm device to more of a lead instrument, playing an upfront weaving bassline. The section before this one repeats itself, and we head right back into the section with the weaving bassline, except this time it is played using distoreted electric guitars. It brings itself to an end at the end of one of the repeats of the section, stopping immediately. As soon as it stops, a clean electric guitar with delay begins playing another riff, which is based on the same chords but is in a different timing. Half of it is played cleanly, then it is colored with the sounds of distortion. This continues with two guitars emulating the one guitar by switching the notes they play, and byadding harmonies. It is interesting to note that this sounds nearly exactly ytthe same as the originalriff, though neither guitar is actually playing it. Vocals come in over this section again, but are the same as before interms of everything except lyrics. Even by now it is obvious that the vocal sections are few and far between, Then we have yet another repeat of this riff, but played on clean guitars while a distorted guitar adds atmosphere with volume sweels of notes over it, creating a semi-melody.
Opeth continue with this riff for another 3/4 of a repeat with clean guitars, and as soon as they hit the last 1/4, distorted guitars play it a few more times, and then go in to a new riff. Here, the beat is the same but they manage to switch key a little. But it is still mostly all single note melodies. It ends with heavy chords, which lead to a key in which two guitarts play a short harmonized lead with a backing acoustic(5:50). then guitars switch to acoustic and play around with that lead.
Then there is a switch to a toally different riff altogether. It is arpeggiated chords on a n acoustic guitar, with one guitar distorted and fading in with low long droning notes-adding atmosphere by using cinflcting tones. Clean vocals come in and the drones change notes to compliment the vocals, which are clean with slight reverb. There are no overdubs of the voice as of yet. Ten again we have a return to the clean vocal section heard at 5:50, and leqd back ino the arpegio section which followed it, though the volume swells become more intense until the distorted guitar is in full. At this point it sounds like everything is about to cut in with a really intense heavy section, but then it drones until it is no more, and the clean guitar continues with a lead coming in far back in the mix. Opeth proceed to play three unrelated chords which are accented by the drums, then chords are held, and the drums start up a jazzy beat underneath the ringing chords. In comes a distorted guitar riff, woth two guitars playing fast single note melodies panned left and right with drums accenting the downbeats only. The 2nd time through though, the drums kick into a rhythm rather than an accent mode. There are distorted vocals which come in, and there issome layering and panning of the voclas here as Mikael screams "shadows", we hear it in one speaker, then he screams it again into the other speaker. He continues to sing more distorted vox, and repeats the last line twice, the very last time with a clean vocal harmony with reverb. One vocal holds the note at the end, the other does a melodic run, and a new ruff begins inder that at the same tempo. They just switch up the notes being played.
Now the guitar leads cahnge, and the bassline changes. The lat repeat ends by changing the 3 ending chords of the original riff. These 3 ending chords are actually the end of a new riff that comes in, linking the two together in a strange way. Even though the riff is a different speed and has different chords (save for the last three). There is just guitar playing at fist, then in come drum fills, and the key swithces but plays the same progression. The bass begins to take over here, doing some wild lead runs, and is very up front in the mix. Then it switches back to the original key of the riff with the bass continuing the runs. Then there are chords hit with drum and bass accents. Vocals start screaming on the last accent, and everything kicks back in with a new riff. Again, it is a section of panned distorted guitars playing very different lines. After playing around witht his riff for a while, it just stops suddenly and a new arpeggiated acoustic section starts seamlessly. Clean reverbed vocals comein, and there are eerie volume swelled guitars over the top of it. The speed swithces to a little faster, and the acoustic riff changes, and has a clean lead over it. These two sections play off each otehr for a while, and then the drums start playing rhythm for the riffs, as does bass. They all end on the same note and hold it, as two new acoustics start playing a dueling jazzy.folkish acoustic riff in harmony. They just stop and let their notes ring, and before they have died out, a single acoustic guitar comes in and arpeggiates a minor chord and fades out. This part is quite odd, sounding as if it were stuck in for some odd reason.
ADVENT
There may be mistakes, and things left out. If you want to add to things missing, go for it! We can create the ultimate textual opeth listening companion.
This is an overview of three of opeth's greatest works. opeth are a progressive Swedish metal band, who have released 5 albums this far. I will examine the middle three, their stylistic nuances, production techniques, and unique aspects. As you will see, the lack of structure in the songs often make for reviews which look very similar. Thus I have generally don a few songs in depth from each album, so that you can get a general idea of how the rest of the songs will be. from there, I go on to simply alert you to certain interesting techniques or highlights that make Opeth so unique from any other band in existence. It gets fairly detailed, and there are a few terms which should be clarified from the beginning.
Accent:When I refer to this, I refer to drums being hit along in exact (or near) time with a guitar or bass line. See accent.wav
Arpeggio:Refers to a guitar that picks notes in a chord, rather than strumming a chord. See arpeggio.wav
Distorted Vocals: Vocals that are growled.
Clean Vocals: the normal sounding vocals used on the albums.
Tritone: The interval of the devil. It is a chord interval often used in heavy metal to create a dark, evil atmosphere. Opeth often employ chords of this shape(also known as flat fifth chords) to create dissonant chord textures. See tritone.wav
Power Chord: Chords using two or three notes; the root, the fifth, and the octave. These are powerful, heavy sounding chords.
Octave chords: An open sounding chord comprising of the root note and the octave.
Diad/Triad: chords that are comprised of two or three notes, respectively.
Single note: When I refer to single note sections or riffs, I am referring to a guitar that is playing a figure that utilizes one note at a time. It acts like a melody line, but is based more in a rhythmic fashion.
So with these terms out of the way, let us jump into the albums.
Morningrise
Advent(Trac1.mp3)
The album begins with fading in clean guitars with delay. They are playing one chord repeatedly, but switching one note in the chord. In a way, it is constant, yet changing (hehe, DT reference here...). As you will see, this is very true of many of Opeths riffs. Following this we have a drum roll which leads us into a section of distorted guitars starting off playing crunchy power chords, then going into a single note pattern. This repeats a few times, and then everything holds its note and drones out as the bass bwegins a single note run that serves as a transition. It leads directly intoa short acoustic section with a jazzy/funky drum beat with a hypnotic bass line. Then we head back into a distorted guitar riff with one uitar playig rhythm and one playing a single note melody. The drums switch beat after a few repeats, but the harmony and the melody of the guitars both stay the same. Eventually, we reach the point where the guitars hold their last notes in harmony, and the drums roll into a simpler section.
This next section is very medieval sounding, and we get our first taste of singer Mikael Akerfeldts vocals, which are distorted here. They are produced quite dry, with little effects, save for a small amount of reverb. After this section, we have another medieval riff in which 2 distorted guitars play separate single note lines. this is followed by a similar riff that is played in a lower key for variation. After this, the last two sections repeat them,sevelees, and lead us into a sudden stop in everything. There is a brief moment of silence, and tehn we are taken to a totally new section.
This new section is an acoustic guitar playing a folkish arpeggiated riff by itself. Then bass and drums cut in and switch to another guitar riff which is similar in it's structure and dlivery, but is in a different key, and has another guitar which is playing ringing chords. The bass changes it's main function from that of a rhythm device to more of a lead instrument, playing an upfront weaving bassline. The section before this one repeats itself, and we head right back into the section with the weaving bassline, except this time it is played using distoreted electric guitars. It brings itself to an end at the end of one of the repeats of the section, stopping immediately. As soon as it stops, a clean electric guitar with delay begins playing another riff, which is based on the same chords but is in a different timing. Half of it is played cleanly, then it is colored with the sounds of distortion. This continues with two guitars emulating the one guitar by switching the notes they play, and byadding harmonies. It is interesting to note that this sounds nearly exactly ytthe same as the originalriff, though neither guitar is actually playing it. Vocals come in over this section again, but are the same as before interms of everything except lyrics. Even by now it is obvious that the vocal sections are few and far between, Then we have yet another repeat of this riff, but played on clean guitars while a distorted guitar adds atmosphere with volume sweels of notes over it, creating a semi-melody.
Opeth continue with this riff for another 3/4 of a repeat with clean guitars, and as soon as they hit the last 1/4, distorted guitars play it a few more times, and then go in to a new riff. Here, the beat is the same but they manage to switch key a little. But it is still mostly all single note melodies. It ends with heavy chords, which lead to a key in which two guitarts play a short harmonized lead with a backing acoustic(5:50). then guitars switch to acoustic and play around with that lead.
Then there is a switch to a toally different riff altogether. It is arpeggiated chords on a n acoustic guitar, with one guitar distorted and fading in with low long droning notes-adding atmosphere by using cinflcting tones. Clean vocals come in and the drones change notes to compliment the vocals, which are clean with slight reverb. There are no overdubs of the voice as of yet. Ten again we have a return to the clean vocal section heard at 5:50, and leqd back ino the arpegio section which followed it, though the volume swells become more intense until the distorted guitar is in full. At this point it sounds like everything is about to cut in with a really intense heavy section, but then it drones until it is no more, and the clean guitar continues with a lead coming in far back in the mix. Opeth proceed to play three unrelated chords which are accented by the drums, then chords are held, and the drums start up a jazzy beat underneath the ringing chords. In comes a distorted guitar riff, woth two guitars playing fast single note melodies panned left and right with drums accenting the downbeats only. The 2nd time through though, the drums kick into a rhythm rather than an accent mode. There are distorted vocals which come in, and there issome layering and panning of the voclas here as Mikael screams "shadows", we hear it in one speaker, then he screams it again into the other speaker. He continues to sing more distorted vox, and repeats the last line twice, the very last time with a clean vocal harmony with reverb. One vocal holds the note at the end, the other does a melodic run, and a new ruff begins inder that at the same tempo. They just switch up the notes being played.
Now the guitar leads cahnge, and the bassline changes. The lat repeat ends by changing the 3 ending chords of the original riff. These 3 ending chords are actually the end of a new riff that comes in, linking the two together in a strange way. Even though the riff is a different speed and has different chords (save for the last three). There is just guitar playing at fist, then in come drum fills, and the key swithces but plays the same progression. The bass begins to take over here, doing some wild lead runs, and is very up front in the mix. Then it switches back to the original key of the riff with the bass continuing the runs. Then there are chords hit with drum and bass accents. Vocals start screaming on the last accent, and everything kicks back in with a new riff. Again, it is a section of panned distorted guitars playing very different lines. After playing around witht his riff for a while, it just stops suddenly and a new arpeggiated acoustic section starts seamlessly. Clean reverbed vocals comein, and there are eerie volume swelled guitars over the top of it. The speed swithces to a little faster, and the acoustic riff changes, and has a clean lead over it. These two sections play off each otehr for a while, and then the drums start playing rhythm for the riffs, as does bass. They all end on the same note and hold it, as two new acoustics start playing a dueling jazzy.folkish acoustic riff in harmony. They just stop and let their notes ring, and before they have died out, a single acoustic guitar comes in and arpeggiates a minor chord and fades out. This part is quite odd, sounding as if it were stuck in for some odd reason.
