Opeth- Candlelight Years

[gorath23]

Well, I picked this up yesterday after seeing a copy in a local HMV (Surprisingly), despite warnings that it didn't work in most CD players. Just to let everyone know that it works fine in mine here in the UK (loving it too, haven't heard a lot of mid-period Opeth, my collection jumped from Orchid to BP previously). So UK peeps, it seems to work ok here, maybe it's a US CD-player issue? Oh, and hell MAYH is damn thrashy, I'd only heard Demon of the Fall before (one of my favs). My Opeth collection is nearly finished now, I just want the 5.1 version of Still Life.

 

[J the TyranT]

Still Life and MAYH is their best shit anyways, IMO. Take it and run.

In FACT, my Opeth run goes from Morningrise to Deliverance.... cuz I think its tailed heavily since then.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Still Life and MAYH is their best shit anyways, IMO. Take it and run.

In FACT, my Opeth run goes from Morningrise to Deliverance.... cuz I think its tailed heavily since then.

I politely but whole heartedly disagree. While I absolutely love "Blackwater Park" and "Damnation", "Ghost Reveries" and especially "Watershed" are fantastic albums IMO.

-Joe

 

[Machinated]

Yeah, too be honest I rate all their stuff from MAYH onwards in pretty much equal regard. They are one band that consistently churns out awesomeness.

 

[abyssofdreams]

Morningrise, MAYH, Still Life and Orchid are best IMHO, in that order.
The rest, while still good, doesn't even come close and Watershed is just boring.

 

[Metaltastic]

I politely but whole heartedly disagree. While I absolutely love "Blackwater Park" and "Damnation", "Ghost Reveries" and especially "Watershed" are fantastic albums IMO.

-Joe

Yep - Watershed's self-indulgence took awhile to grow on my, but it has some fantastic riffs and beautiful melodies (you just have to deal with tracks 2-4 having retardedly pointless ends for like 2 minutes that I just always skip), and GR is my favorite Opeth album

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Yep - Watershed's self-indulgence took awhile to grow on my, but it has some fantastic riffs and beautiful melodies (you just have to deal with tracks 2-4 having retardedly pointless ends for like 2 minutes that I just always skip), and GR is my favorite Opeth album

Amazing album man! I wasn't so much into "Ghost Reveries" at first, but man how it has grown on me.

I love everything about "Watershed" to be honest. I love so many of their albums and songs, but a friend and myself both agreed that "Watershed" was their "best." I say best in terms of mature song-writing, cohesive melodies and arrangements, and just overall and amazing album. I still hold BWP and Damnation, as well as Still Life, in a similar regard.

-Joe

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Also, this is their tightest line-up ever in my opinion.

sue me..

-Joe

 

[Metaltastic]

YES, THAT I will not dispute - honestly, I LOVE what Fred brings as a soloist to the band; I could never tell the difference between Peter and Mikael stylistically when they solo'ed, but Fredrik is a fucking amazing player who has WAY more shred chops than Mikael while still being incredibly tasteful; when that solo EXPLODES in the middle of Hessian Peel (at like 6 minutes in or so), holy shit, that's a new high for Opeth that they never could've reached without someone like him. Drums I've never really cared that much about (as a guitarist), but they sound great to me! And the main reason GR is my favorite is because of the keyboard/Mellotron/whatever parts, so Per has become invaluable to me as well

 

[J.DavisNJ]

YES, THAT I will not dispute - honestly, I LOVE what Fred brings as a soloist to the band; I could never tell the difference between Peter and Mikael stylistically when they solo'ed, but Fredrik is a fucking amazing player who has WAY more shred chops than Mikael while still being incredibly tasteful; when that solo EXPLODES in the middle of Hessian Peel (at like 6 minutes in or so), holy shit, that's a new high for Opeth that they never could've reached without someone like him. Drums I've never really cared that much about (as a guitarist), but they sound great to me! And the main reason GR is my favorite is because of the keyboard/Mellotron/whatever parts, so Per has become invaluable to me as well

I totally agree dude! Axe is really an excellent drummer though. Lopez was amazing as well, don't get me wrong, but I love how strong the band bounced back after he left. People had such little faith when he left.

Pete is great as well, but check out this video...pretty eye opening! I knew Mike was the main driving force of the band, but ouch!



-Joe

 

[Metaltastic]

Wow, that was an absolutely fantastic interview (or should I say therapy session? ) - I honestly always thought Mike had a bit of an ego/control freak thing (not from any interviews or personal experience, but just from the fact that he writes everything including vox as well as the fact that the music is often prone to bouts of what could be called pretentiousness), but here he really seems like a genuinely caring guy who is torn between being unable to deny his talent and abilities (which I of course as a huge fan can't deny) but also wanting to preserve the friendship with Peter and Peter's feelings and self-esteem. I really really connected with that, cuz I often do most of the writing for the bands I'm in, and while I'm of course no Mikael Akerfeldt, I'm pretty proud of my composing abilities and also consider myself a very caring and conscientious person, so I really try to give everyone a chance to have their input but not at the expense of the song. Thanks for sharing Joe, what a guy that Mike is!

 

[abyssofdreams]

+1 Mike is awesome

 

[J.DavisNJ]

No problem!

Mike is brutally honest and really cares about the product he puts out. Opeth are definitely in my top 3 favorite bands.

-Joe

 

[R-Stuur]

Haha its funny how you guys like Watershed so much. I'm a huge Opeth fan (or was, depending on how you look at it) but I thought Watershed was horrible. Coil is a gorgeous song though but I cant get over the fact they can't 'glue' the bits together as a song.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Haha its funny how you guys like Watershed so much. I'm a huge Opeth fan (or was, depending on how you look at it) but I thought Watershed was horrible. Coil is a gorgeous song though but I cant get over the fact they can't 'glue' the bits together as a song.

Different strokes...

-Joe

 

[R-Stuur]

Different strokes...

-Joe

Yeah but the weird thing I like everything from Orchid onwards. I'm a drummer too so I guess I probably pay a little more attention to the drums too. I thought Lopez was one of the big factors in their sound. Guy could power groove like madman. I mean Axe tries it but he doesn't have the pocket to come up with this stuff like Lopez did.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Yeah but the weird thing I like everything from Orchid onwards. I'm a drummer too so I guess I probably pay a little more attention to the drums too. I thought Lopez was one of the big factors in their sound. Guy could power groove like madman. I mean Axe tries it but he doesn't have the pocket to come up with this stuff like Lopez did.

I am definitely a fan of Lopez, and maybe I pay attention to the intricacies of the drums as well. Don't know how to put it, but I think Opeth constantly evolves for the better. I know you are entitled to your opinion, but man...to say "Watershed" is horrible, I'm really astounded dude!

And yes, the older albums are pretty special and tough to beat, but they are just a real solid band that keeps releasing great material in my opinion.

-Joe

 

[R-Stuur]

I like Axe in Bloodbath though . You know what, I'll give it another listen and check back but last time I listened I had to stop it halfway because it didnt work for me

 

[J.DavisNJ]

I like Axe in Bloodbath though . You know what, I'll give it another listen and check back but last time I listened I had to stop it halfway because it didnt work for me

ah ha! There we go! I really love Bloodbath too - the new album is awesome.

Listen all the way through, more than once, on headphones. I think you will feel differently bro!

Cheers

-Joe

 

[006]

Porcelain Heart has the longest drum fill of all time.

'nuff said.

~006