Hello friendly Opeth fans and shitheads alike, I was wondering if more people have noticed that there is a sort of dividing line when it comes to the Opethian balladry.
For clarification, when I use the term "ballad" I am talking about those songs that are for the most part performed with acoustic guitars and Mikael's clean vocals. More specifically, I am talking about the following tracks:
"To Bid You Farewell", "Credence", "Benighted", "Face of Melinda", "Harvest", "A Fair Judgement", "Windowpane", "In My Time of Need", "Death Whispered a Lullaby", "Closure", "Hope Leaves", "To Rid the Disease", "Weakness", "Still Day Beneath the Sun", "Patterns in the Ivy II", "Hours of Wealth" and "Isolation Years" (not sure whether "Atonement" qualifies or not, leaning towards Nay).
Allright, here's my point. I feel that the ballads written and recorded during the first half of Opeth's discography are darker, more melancholic, more moody, than the other half. "To Bid You Farewell", "Credence" and "Face of Melinda" all use to certain extent sweet, sombre melodies woven into the overall track, have darker lyrics and are more interesting because they are more progressive (many of the Damnation-tracks by comparison repeat the same parts over and over).
While the early ballads convey the mystical, dark forestry of Opeth, the later tunes have become more introspective/seem more personal, and sound and feel differently.
I am not saying "new OPTH ballads suck" or anything here! I love many of the recent ballads (most notably, "In My Time of Need").
Agree? No? Thoughts?
For clarification, when I use the term "ballad" I am talking about those songs that are for the most part performed with acoustic guitars and Mikael's clean vocals. More specifically, I am talking about the following tracks:
"To Bid You Farewell", "Credence", "Benighted", "Face of Melinda", "Harvest", "A Fair Judgement", "Windowpane", "In My Time of Need", "Death Whispered a Lullaby", "Closure", "Hope Leaves", "To Rid the Disease", "Weakness", "Still Day Beneath the Sun", "Patterns in the Ivy II", "Hours of Wealth" and "Isolation Years" (not sure whether "Atonement" qualifies or not, leaning towards Nay).
Allright, here's my point. I feel that the ballads written and recorded during the first half of Opeth's discography are darker, more melancholic, more moody, than the other half. "To Bid You Farewell", "Credence" and "Face of Melinda" all use to certain extent sweet, sombre melodies woven into the overall track, have darker lyrics and are more interesting because they are more progressive (many of the Damnation-tracks by comparison repeat the same parts over and over).
While the early ballads convey the mystical, dark forestry of Opeth, the later tunes have become more introspective/seem more personal, and sound and feel differently.
I am not saying "new OPTH ballads suck" or anything here! I love many of the recent ballads (most notably, "In My Time of Need").
Agree? No? Thoughts?
