Just look at the definition of definitive... and not trying to be redundant but definitive means the defining characteristics of the band... In this case you would have to go with Still Life. Songs like Benighted and Face of Melinda show the mellow and acoustical side of the band, evident on Damnation and Morningrise (and a little Orchid).. Serenity Painted Death, White Cluster, and Godheads Lament showcase the brutality mixed with the progressive rock elements.. and The Moor and Moonlapse Vertigo are your epic metal tracks, evident later with The Drapery Falls and Dirge for November (also A Fair Judgement sorta). Thats my take on it at least.
Slay The Masses - which is the definitive Opeth album?
- Thread starter tominous
- Start date
AbsentFriend
Hail to the King
Kaberonie
PimpDaddyKABZ
Earlier Opeth = Still Life
Later Opeth = Black Water Park
I hate putting labels on shit, but if someone asked me 2 albums to get from the early and later era, thats what I would tell them.
Later Opeth = Black Water Park
I hate putting labels on shit, but if someone asked me 2 albums to get from the early and later era, thats what I would tell them.
kno talint
i am your mommy
Dark One
The Tainted Dogma
Morningrise, hands down.
Here's my review of Morningrise from www.royalcarnage.com:
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And so the journey begins. A disc that would change the way I look at music forever, expanding my horizons in so many unforgettable ways; showing me that a piece of music does not have to be simple to be memorable, nor formulaic to be magical.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sweden's OPETH are by no means strangers to the underground metal scene, having developed quite a cult following since their first release back in 1994. Their first two albums 1994's Orchid and 1996's Morningrise are quite different from their later works, the band having undergone both style and lineup changes beginning with 1998's My Arms, Your Hearse. But if Morningrise was to be the last testament to their original sound, it could not have been a more fitting one.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There really is no way to adequately categorize the style of music heard here, only that each song is a progressive, hypnotic musical journey of at least 10 minutes in length, utilizing both harsh and clean vocals, haunting acoustical passages, thunderous riffs, beautifully poetic lyrics and song structures that defy the very definition of the word "structure". There are no big choruses, no numbered verses, no catchy hooks or bridges, no boundaries of any kind; only 4 amazingly talented musicians playing from their soul from beginning to end. You simply never know what to expect. You can be standing alone on a hillside in the moonlight, desperate, agonizing and tormented over the loneliness, then suddenly be taken on a soft, majestic passage flying through wooded fields, a peaceful place now lost in a far faded memory. These types of transitions and imagery are seamless and occur the first note of the album to the last. Sometimes, if you are not familiar with the different songs, it's even hard to tell where one ends and the next one begins, and yet there are an infinite amount of emotions displayed in every passage. And each emotional journey is portrayed as vividly as the next; it's really up to the listener to discover them all.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The musicianship is top-notch, with each instrument (including the vocals) having a chance to wander in their own direction. In one sense, the songs are almost like "jam sessions" (albeit not nearly as raw) where everyone does their own thing and the final product isn't really meant to have any cohesion whatsoever. In another sense, the songs are woven together as if by some grand design where, after the final product is accomplished, the vision becomes clear with crystallized clarity. The vocals are incomparable and are perfect for the moods displayed on the album. Mikael Akerfeldt (main singer/songwriter/2nd guitar) is one of the best growlers on the planet no matter what pitch he chooses to sing in. On Morningrise, he utilizes a higher pitch than the more "traditional" death metal growls that would follow on later releases. And the clean vocals show just how versatile a singer he is. The bass work of Johan DeFarfalla is also phenomenal. As far as I'm concerned, this guy is a world class player. The bass isn't just about keeping the rhythms of the songs together here, it's about branching out and creating totally original, memorable lines that add to the uniqueness of the sound. It's such a shame that this album would prove to be his swansong with the band (taking nothing away from the talent of the current lineup), as the bass sound would also move to a more "traditional" style following this album. Of course, it would be a crime to not also give proper credit to Peter Lindgren (lead guitar) and Anders Nordin (Drums) for their contributions to this masterpiece. Dan Swano must also be mentioned for his wonderful production oversight and engineering efforts. His always steady guiding hand is clearly evident here.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The following three passages from the album are some of the greatest pieces of music I have ever heard in my entire life:[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- "Advent" - from the 8:11 mark to the 9:20 mark
- "Nectar" - from the beginning of the song to the 1:33 mark
- "Black Rose Immortal" - from the 12:21 mark to the 14:48 mark[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In closing, this is an album that took every conventional idea I had of what makes great music and cast those notions aside forever. The true power behind the greatest music comes from within; from the power of originality, where you are limited not by tradition or by someone else's idea of what will sell, but by the boundaries of your own imagination. This is an essential and timeless classic. This is my favorite album of all time.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rating - [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10/10[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reviewer - [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dark One [/font]
Here's my review of Morningrise from www.royalcarnage.com:
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And so the journey begins. A disc that would change the way I look at music forever, expanding my horizons in so many unforgettable ways; showing me that a piece of music does not have to be simple to be memorable, nor formulaic to be magical.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sweden's OPETH are by no means strangers to the underground metal scene, having developed quite a cult following since their first release back in 1994. Their first two albums 1994's Orchid and 1996's Morningrise are quite different from their later works, the band having undergone both style and lineup changes beginning with 1998's My Arms, Your Hearse. But if Morningrise was to be the last testament to their original sound, it could not have been a more fitting one.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There really is no way to adequately categorize the style of music heard here, only that each song is a progressive, hypnotic musical journey of at least 10 minutes in length, utilizing both harsh and clean vocals, haunting acoustical passages, thunderous riffs, beautifully poetic lyrics and song structures that defy the very definition of the word "structure". There are no big choruses, no numbered verses, no catchy hooks or bridges, no boundaries of any kind; only 4 amazingly talented musicians playing from their soul from beginning to end. You simply never know what to expect. You can be standing alone on a hillside in the moonlight, desperate, agonizing and tormented over the loneliness, then suddenly be taken on a soft, majestic passage flying through wooded fields, a peaceful place now lost in a far faded memory. These types of transitions and imagery are seamless and occur the first note of the album to the last. Sometimes, if you are not familiar with the different songs, it's even hard to tell where one ends and the next one begins, and yet there are an infinite amount of emotions displayed in every passage. And each emotional journey is portrayed as vividly as the next; it's really up to the listener to discover them all.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The musicianship is top-notch, with each instrument (including the vocals) having a chance to wander in their own direction. In one sense, the songs are almost like "jam sessions" (albeit not nearly as raw) where everyone does their own thing and the final product isn't really meant to have any cohesion whatsoever. In another sense, the songs are woven together as if by some grand design where, after the final product is accomplished, the vision becomes clear with crystallized clarity. The vocals are incomparable and are perfect for the moods displayed on the album. Mikael Akerfeldt (main singer/songwriter/2nd guitar) is one of the best growlers on the planet no matter what pitch he chooses to sing in. On Morningrise, he utilizes a higher pitch than the more "traditional" death metal growls that would follow on later releases. And the clean vocals show just how versatile a singer he is. The bass work of Johan DeFarfalla is also phenomenal. As far as I'm concerned, this guy is a world class player. The bass isn't just about keeping the rhythms of the songs together here, it's about branching out and creating totally original, memorable lines that add to the uniqueness of the sound. It's such a shame that this album would prove to be his swansong with the band (taking nothing away from the talent of the current lineup), as the bass sound would also move to a more "traditional" style following this album. Of course, it would be a crime to not also give proper credit to Peter Lindgren (lead guitar) and Anders Nordin (Drums) for their contributions to this masterpiece. Dan Swano must also be mentioned for his wonderful production oversight and engineering efforts. His always steady guiding hand is clearly evident here.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The following three passages from the album are some of the greatest pieces of music I have ever heard in my entire life:[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- "Advent" - from the 8:11 mark to the 9:20 mark
- "Nectar" - from the beginning of the song to the 1:33 mark
- "Black Rose Immortal" - from the 12:21 mark to the 14:48 mark[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In closing, this is an album that took every conventional idea I had of what makes great music and cast those notions aside forever. The true power behind the greatest music comes from within; from the power of originality, where you are limited not by tradition or by someone else's idea of what will sell, but by the boundaries of your own imagination. This is an essential and timeless classic. This is my favorite album of all time.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rating - [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10/10[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reviewer - [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dark One [/font]
One Winged Angel
Tägtgren Follower
I thought everyone would be saying My Arms, Your Hearse for some reason... becasue to me that was their first step into what they are today. But then again I guess that's not really what definitive means... So I guess the one album that shows you best who Opeth are is Blackwater Park.
Only Human
Rider on the Bonez
Blackwater Park is their Definitive album, I guess, but My Arms, Your Hearse is my favorite by leaps and bounds. Probably the best album I've ever heard, and Opeth isn't my favorite band either (though in the top 10).
SeaOfNames
New Metal Member
For me i would say Still Life then probably BWP. BUt Orchid is up there, so is MAYH, and well, everything freakin rocks 
Demilich
Remember
Still Life for sure! A more developed sound than the earlier ones, but it doesn't have the one major pitfall i see in the later albums: they started to feel as if the heavy/mellow transitions were kinda forced into the songs at certain points because that was what was expected of them. On songs like "The Moor", the flow feels much more natural. That's why I'd say Still Life is the definitive Opeth album. It's also, incidentally, my favourite by far, followed by Morningrise, then probably, dare i say, Damnation!
JoeVice
Member
Nico
Onward!
Still Life is the definitive... it doesnt sacrifice and talent for production (raises fist... 'curse you Steven Wilson')
But Morningrise seems to push the boundries of whats possible... Advent was the hook thats still got me by the short and curly.
But Morningrise seems to push the boundries of whats possible... Advent was the hook thats still got me by the short and curly.
Demilich
Remember
Anti-Everything
tell me the fuck
foulwing
Baphomet's Messiah
- Jan 31, 2004
- 281
- 0
- 16
Anti-Everything said:
stop this steve wilson crap.. opeth is not a corporate slut like other band.. opeth decided to work with steven wilson and trusted in him and created something with help with him and not under his control.
i really like Still Life alot and my arms your hearse is the first one i got and really liked it but didnt really made me a fan of opeth. i think deliverance after listening to it really made me a fan.. and all this praise coming from anti-everything made me check em out even more.. cause i liked em but wasnt a big fan and only owned my arms your hearse.. and had some songs downloaded from still life mostly but i had song from different other albums.. so after listening to pretty much most of their stuff.. and becoming a really big fan.. since i was a big fan of black metal and morbid angel i have come to the conclusion that my favorite is still life... and blackwaterpark and deliverance.. wait.. i cant choose i like em all too much
Anti-Everything
tell me the fuck
I was being 200% sarcastic, I love what Opeth does with Wilson. At the least I want him to produce a concept album.
ramses
Member
- Jan 19, 2004
- 1,103
- 0
- 36
Been a fan since the beginning, and I agree with you. My favorite is MAYH, but definitive album would be BP, because that's what finally got them noticed by everyone in the metal community. Of course they were already well respected, and known of by us, the fans, but BP was the first Opeth album that got the promotion and attention it deserved. BP has a little of Still Life, MAYH, and small touches of Morningrise and Orchid, at the same time progressing, and not putting out a clone of their previous work. The album that sells the best does not alone make it definitive, but look at all the casual Opeth fans...when asked if they like Opeth, most casual fans will say "yeah Blackwater Park!!! It's Incredible." And all of us longtime fans, when asked by a newcomer, which they should start with, mostly we say BP. Even though MAYH is my personal favorite, I couldn't be without the other 6!! And I've said it before..with every new album, we think the previous is better at first, but that's what is remarkable about this band....the new one grows on you, the more you listen. And after 7 albums, it's amazing that they can still do that with their music!One Winged Angel said:
I don't like to be patronised. I know the meaning of definitive as I'm guessing this was directed at me. I know it wasn't much of an excuse but I already elucidated that I was tired, thus causing my brain to work at less than 100%. Anyway, enough of being pedantic and such, I do agree with you so don't flame me so much for being a bastard. I can't help it.BurningSky said:
The Poona of Peshwa
Blood Glutton
