This was the first time I had seen Opeth live. Just to let you know.
So I came there at 9, and took a seat in the back. I was afraid I was gonna get my head bitten off and since I'm a wee 15 year old I didn't feel like moshing. Killswitch Engage started, and although I absolutely detest this band, they were pretty good as far as theatrical flair goes. But still, their music is too much on the hardcore side for me to like. Next was supposed to be Nevermore, but Shadows Fall came, for some reason. Again, I hate this band. But with every song I developed a stronger want for Opeth. So afterwards came Nevermore. And I have to be honest, I was afraid Opeth wouldn't be able to top this performance.
I'm not a big fan of thrash (yes, if you're wondering, I only went to see Opeth ), but Warrel Dane sure as hell knows how to put on a show. He was really into the music, and even let people on stage and a few sang along with him. ! If only I could do that with Opeth. For their last song, Warrel let as many people from the pit up on stage as possible, and everyone there was headbanging in unison for like 3 minutes, just a huge orgy of people, it was fucking awesome.
Then there was a break. And I was happy about that, because it meant people could forget how good Nevermore was and think of Opeth. After some 20 minutes of a sound crew fixing up the instruments, I was getting really edgy and I was shouting along "OPETH OPETH OPETH" for them to get on, and finally after another 10 minutes, Mikael, Peter, and the Martin's came on stage and yeah, the crowd went insane. Hehe. They hadn't even played yet and we were like "FUCK YEAH OPEEEEETH!!!!" They started off with The Leper Affinity, and that was pretty kickass. And then I believe it was the Moor but I'm not sure cuz I forgot (I got home at 4, I was tired =P). Afterwards came Deliverance, and everytime Opeth would cut out to a soft part from a heavy part the crowd went crazy. At the 10 minute mark with those insane guitar riffs, when Lopez started his drumming, I can honestly say 80% of the people there were drumming along with him on whatever surface they could find: chairs, floor, other people. Then, if I'm not mistaken came Godhead's Lament, and I was disappointed with it, but nevertheless it was nice. Afterwards was The Drapery Falls, and the crowd was happy about it, and finally they closed with A Fair Judgment. At the 7:30 minute mark in the song, when Mikael says "Heeere..." the band stopped playing, the crowd was silent, and Lopez did two slow, churning cymbal crashes and the band shook the building with those amazing riffs of theirs.
And yes, that was the lsat piece. Or was it? After they left, the crowd was like "WHAT OPETH OPETH OPETH OPETH" and in 10 minutes, they came back and played, you guessed it, Demon of the Fall. I don't like this piece, some of you know this already, but seeing it live was just... so amazing. I absolutely loved it!
Looking forward to next year's NE Metal and Hardcore Festival!
EDIT: I forgot Advent in there somewhere, before Deliverance I believe.