Watershed Mikael's best vocal performance to date?

[batmura]

The more I listen to it the more I feel this may be Mike's best vocal performance ever. Any thoughts?

 

[Hox]

Agreed.

 

[Nehebkau]

He's definitely improved every album.

 

[HemeHaci]

Agreed, seems like he advances a level in about 2-3 years.

 

[guitarrero]

Absolutely! The first time i've been listening to Burden i really couldn't believe HOW good he was singing! Totally amazing...

 

[Albert R]

He is definitely a much better singer now than the old days. As an example, just listen to the clean singing on When from the Roundhouse Tapes, especially the end bit from "When can I take you from this place". Way better that the album version.

 

[dwoakee]

full ack

 

[grey knight]

Absolutely no! His vocals were perfect on Orchid.









Just like in all other albums too.

 

[Luann]

I love his vocals on GR.

 

[Ninfix]

I love his voice on MAYH! Oh my God!(That's referred to Mikael)

Especially the looooong growl at the beginning of the second theme on April Etheral. (2:09)

Is voice has evolved alot over the years, and I can't decide what kind of growl I like the most!!

 

[Bleakh]

I think his clean vocals are the best on this one, yes. And for me that´s also because of "Bridge Of Sighs". He has developed a new facet of his voice in there, which I hope he is going to use also in Opeth songs.
As for growling, that´s more a matter of taste...especially for me, as I´m very picky with death growling. I liked his growls on "Deliverance" and on "Still Life" best, even if the latter is one of my least favourite albums.

 

[Jackehh]

I've always thought roughly the same as OT but I am also worried how much it is edited in studio because now his vocals, especially on burden, are almost too good heh.

Also on the subject of older vs newer vocals; His "new clean" vocals are indeed much "better" technically and from and objective point of view but I also have an enormous respect for the emotion and genuity of the older cleans, especially still life/MAYH and sometimes I prefer them over the new cleans he is singing. Also agreed on what above poster said about the When ending.

Tbh I think this is one of opeth's (yes, per is included here) best vocal performances:



skip to 3:40 and enjoy the clean guitars and then listen carefully at 04:35!

simply amazing

 

[mexicola]

I think his clean vocals are the best on this one, yes. And for me that´s also because of "Bridge Of Sighs". He has developed a new facet of his voice in there, which I hope he is going to use also in Opeth songs.

Agrees 100%.

 

[hexwind]

Yeah in both type of vocals !! It's really amazing coz he doesn't rehearse or train (as he said) !

 

[NicholasDWolfwood]

His growls have come a long way from the black metal-ish rasps found on Orchid and Morningrise, to the deep growls he does on Heir Apparent. But I'm not a big fan of his cleans. Technically he's improved a lot from Orchid/MR but they don't sit with me on Watershed. Some of the melodies he wrote pushed his boundaries too far and I think it sounds almost parodyish at some points (like on Burden or PH).

 

[Iki-ilkkuja]

I prefer the performance on Ghost Reveries. I don't like the effects used with the growls in songs like Heir Apparent. The clean vocals are great, but somehow I prefer the "cleaner" mix on GR.

 

[DEMIgOD]

i really like mikes bluesy style tone hes been using lately. Overall i liked his vocals more on GR, but technically hes much better on watershed. Mike has always been an amazing clean singer, hes just adding new singing styles. Its great.

 

[Silent Dance With Death]

Mikael's vocal work on Burden definitely wins.

 

[Slaydon]

Mikael's vocal work on Burden definitely wins.

Yes, definitely! It is his maybe strongest performance so far. Hessian Peel also has some great vocals.

 

[amarkonthedoor]

I'm partial to Still Life and BWP's vocals. Still Life just sounds different, but in a good way... and BWP is evocative. Watershed is good too, but it doesn't stand out to me.

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