IAmEternal said:
they already got lazy, starting with BWP. read the studio diaries. they didnt devote the necessary time for lyrics or anything, it was all haphazardly created and thrown together quick in the studio. it doesn't bode well for the future, unless they take enough time off to get the spark back and be willing to devote time out of the studio to songwriting again. and i pray they will, cause they're lazy efforts are great, but they dont hold a black candle to ochid, morningrise, mayh or still life.
I see where you're coming from, but I don't think the idea was portrayed correctly.
True, they didn't put as much time into Blackwater Park, or the albums after as compared to the albums prior. But laziness isn't altogether the reason why. They had released Still Life, played a few gigs in the US and were finally picked up by a label that was willing to help promote them in the US. They [most likely hastily] recorded Blackwater Park, which is far from a disappointing album, and then toured with Nevermore. Since then they haven't had much time to do anything other than being Opeth.
From a third persons point of view, you have to recognise the differences between Opeth pre-Blackwater Park and post-Blackwater Park. Obviously, when starting a band, you have all the time in the world to compose and play music, but no one who will listen to it. You can't afford to take your act on the road and tour for the better part of a year. Opeth were no different. I'm sure they all either worked or went to school for quite some time after Opeth were releasing albums. Around the time of Blackwater Park, they were caught with a bit of a dilemma: Do they turn down a big touring deal, and make Opeth a full-time band, or do they stay [even more] largely unknown, staying in school, working in record stores, and coming together as Opeth at nights and weekends with their new ideas and compositions.
They made the decision to tour and promote themselves, sacrificing a lot of their personal lives, life experiences, and free time. It's easy to say that they've been lazy with Opeth, but they've really been just the opposite. With that said though, they have naturally had to neglect the future of Opeth. Peter's influence is getting less and less, relegating him to the best rhythm guitarist in music. Martin Mendez has just been Johan DeFarfella with different content. Mikael's compositions are getting a bit more predictable and flat. And Martin Lopez has..really impressed the hell out of everyone.
I do hear the call for them to end on top of their game, but that point is not yet. If I knew the band any better personally, I'd know how Mike felt. He may be keeping Opeth on tour as much as possible as to keep his bandmates income flowing. If so, it's a difficult situation. I doubt they have the resources to stop touring for long, but that's ultimately what they need to do.
