What do you dislike about Opeth's music?

[koolboee cdmo87]

BTW, it really depends for me when you're talking about the repeating riffs. Deliverance seems to be brought up the most, and I don't mind it at all, for the most part.

"Wreath" has a few repeats... but I think the song in general is rather cheap, I think that that's the least of its problems.

"Deliverance" has such an AMAZING riff at the end, it deserves to loop like that.

"Master's Apprentices" is very repetitive, but the riffs are so insane and addictive, it almost HAS to be that way.

 

[anonymousnick2001]

I dislike how Opeth lacks that timelessness I find in my absolute favorite bands. I will never forget the impression I had when I unknowingly brought BWP home so long ago and became spellbound by the band's sound. Exploring their other releases only diminished the epic nature of the band rather than expanding it.

In comparison, U2 will never get old. They never lose that deeper quality that makes their songs really hit home, whether it be through experimentation or songwriting or whatever.

Yeah, and they repeat a lot, too...

 

[[KOTNO]Narrot]

mhh...i really cant think of many dislikes. i dislike both wreath and dirge for november but i cant tell why.

When i compare the 'old' rythm section to the new one i gotta say that i liked DeFarfalla's bassplaying (i know that mike wrote most of the bass parts anyway) better; especially DeFarfalla's tone is amazing...tho it's really different on the first to records both of them have an amating basstone. that doesnt mean i am unhappy with mendez, it'S just what i critize when i am asked...

 

[Demilich]

Why are we being such critics, we should enjoy this marvelous band!!

The point of this thread is that they ARE marvelous, we DO enjoy them, but we aren't above open-minded criticism of the band. We're not sitting here saying "man, Opeth sucks!", we're being specific and intelligent with our points. This board's really turned around lately, there are lots of diverse opinions flying around on real issues

 

[Episteme]

Why are we being such critics, we should enjoy this marvelous band!!

Because there's really nothing else to talk about, plus this is a pretty good departure from the fanboy threads...Apart from that here's my list:

The repetition kinda gets me, which is why I tend to like their older releases much more.

Opeth's lyrical content also seem to get me, while the lyrics are good and invoke strong imagery, alot of it still seems kinda "insert random interesting word".

Opeth may also play on different styles of music, but they don't really incoporate much apart from death metal and prog and folk. It'd be interesting to see some really good jazz acoustic passages and maybe even a flamenco sounding acoustic passage with a flamenco solo. Maybe a play around with ambience the way In the Woods... does.

More technical riffs with more twin melodies or disharmonies would make it even more awesome than before. Though, the melodies don't have to sound anything like most Swedish metal though.

 

[Nico]

"Deliverance" has such an AMAZING riff at the end, it deserves to loop like that.

What the fuck are you smoking?

 

[mot-]

What the fuck are you smoking?

Please forgive us that our taste does not match yours.

 

[Nico]

Give it a break. Nothing in that outro resembles what could be considered an 'amazing riff'. It's just chugging. The drums MAKE that outro.

 

[Demilich]

Give it a break. Nothing in that outro resembles what could be considered an 'amazing riff'. It's just chugging. The drums MAKE that outro.

Everything in that riff contributes to it in a way, it is pretty sweet, but I don't think it should have been looped for so long without a bit more subtle variation every time to keep it interesting.

 

[koolboee cdmo87]

What the fuck are you smoking?

Obviously something a lot milder than you are, ass.

Chill out, it's not like we're debating politics... I just think it's a cool outro. The weird timing, the drums, the weird synth, just everything about it is really nice to hear.

 

[Leper_/-\ffinity]

I dislike how Opeth lacks that timelessness I find in my absolute favorite bands. I will never forget the impression I had when I unknowingly brought BWP home so long ago and became spellbound by the band's sound. Exploring their other releases only diminished the epic nature of the band rather than expanding it.

In comparison, U2 will never get old. They never lose that deeper quality that makes their songs really hit home, whether it be through experimentation or songwriting or whatever.

Yeah, and they repeat a lot, too...

I disagree, I also brought home BWP, and fell in love with their sound on songs like The Leper Affinity and Bleak, but exploring their catalogue further only made them more timeless. I believe that Morningrise, MAYH, BWP, and Still Life are in my top 10 timeless albums, especially the two concept albums.

 

[diebritney.org]

Give it a break. Nothing in that outro resembles what could be considered an 'amazing riff'. It's just chugging. The drums MAKE that outro.

yeah but it really pulls the whole song together- I find it's a very powerful wall of sound that anyone can bop their head to in praise of Opeth.

I'm still a Deliverance fan I guess..

but yeah if it wasn't for Martin Lopez and his double bass pedal insanity it would be meh..

 

[Demoke]

If anything, Opeth are timeless. And THIS is someting I really love, that I can get chills everytime I listen to their albums (no exception here) from the very first day till now.

 

[Hondo]

Well, if they didn't write music the way that they do (10 minute progressive metal songs with acoustic passages)...what else would they sound like? their music would be even more of a cliche when compared to all other music...plus, they did go away from that on damnation....okay, enough of my bitching...

Well, you can point to a certain type of "typical" Opeth song, which is just a general way of mixing the metal/mellow stuff which covers most of their songs. What I like is when they focus the structure a little. Songs like Demon of the Fall, Dirge for November, BWP, Under the Weeping Moon, and maybe Master's Apprentices too. One big sweep instead of a few smaller changes everywhere. And, of course, I like "special" songs like Face of Melinda and Epilogue and A Fair Judgement that just don't sound like any others. Also, I like solos that last forever like at the end of Apostle in Triumph.

I guess by deduction, you could say my complaint is there isn't enough of those things.

 

[KennonKun]

My problem with Opeth is the fact that, as they apply new things to their music, they're losing the old things that made their old music so great. As musicians, they're getting more and more skilled, and with the exception of Dirge For November (which I still like parts of), are becoming better and better songwriters, that write more fluid music, but I think they're losing something. It's really just a change in style, but they stopped writing those amazing timeless songs like the ones on Orchid and Morningrise. Now it seems like they're TRYING to be "experimental." I dont think the band shows much passion when they play Damnation live, and I don't think the songs, while pleasant, have the chills-down-your-spine quality that the rest of the albums had. Mike said, "This is how things may change for Opeth in the future." I don't want Opeth to lose their great songwriting abilities and their passion for what they do, 'cause neither of those were very apparent on Damnation, in my opinion.

I don't have a problem with Deliverance. The album may not have had much to it, but honestly, I think they did the most they could with what they had. I don't think it was strained (someone said that in an older topic), I think it had energy. Like I said, it seems as though Opeth loses a good quality right after they demonstrate it. I want the timeless music of Orchid and Morningrise, the quality songwriting of Still Life, and the amazing production on Deliverance.

And that short film sounds awesome. That would be cool if it was on the second disc. If there is a second disc.

 

[Nico]

^Well said, for the most part. Personaly I dont get what everyone's problem with the production is, as it's apparent as a black metal fan, lower production values = more atmosphere. I realy like the 'feeling' that the production creates on Orchid and Morningrise.

 

[Nico]

Obviously something a lot milder than you are, ass.

Chill out, it's not like we're debating politics... I just think it's a cool outro. The weird timing, the drums, the weird synth, just everything about it is really nice to hear.

Well we lost Vindicate but we gained you... brilliant. At least you can spell.

I dont have a problem with you liking the outro to Deliverance... lots of people do. What I strongly disagree with is you calling it an 'awsome riff', when it hardly even resembles a riff. "Passage", "segment", any other word but riff. If you want 'awsome riffs' listen to Destroyer 666 or Psycroptic.

 

[Episteme]

Psycroptic kicks a whole lot of ass

 

[Julian Zembrowski]

If Mikael is reading (/has read) this I'm sure he got some insight on what we thought they could do to improve their already unique sound even more so.

All I can lust for is more orgasmic interludes. They still do some pretty kickass ones.

I don't mind the repitivity at all. Sometimes (only rarely) if the riff is bland it gets boring. But the length of the riffage and the songs themselves are good to me, (besides its not like I have no time to sit and listen to music anyway).

Basically I'm awaiting the next album, I'm really anticipating something great. I bet this one will kick bootay!!

 

[spigot]

Well... for me the things are;
1. The lyrics are mostly too abstract and poetic to make any sense to me(except in parts of Still Life alone). Lyrics can be easily understandable but still great you know; like with The Decemberists

2. While I don't have too much of a problem with somewhat similar dynamics of songs(which I think is a terrible overused argument against Opeth) they have exact same atmosphere in all their albums, i.e grief, loss, longing, rage... and never ever happiness, warm and fuzzy, cuteness or even no holds barred aggression(like in Circle of Tyrants) or stuff of Bloodbath. This is my main problem with them; they seem totally incapable of doing a happy song.

3. Did have a unique sound, but lack innovativeness ten years and at least 20 clones(rather loosely though, except with Farmakon) after...

4. Mikael Akerfeldt can't sing. Now before you all start hating on me, what I am saying is that he can growl, he can read through a few lines in his angelic clean voice and he can have great clean choruses(like the ...searching my way to preplexion... line in Godhead's Lament) but he can't really hold up against a normal singer, and he really can't sing in falsetto( remember Remember Tommorow?).

5. Steven Wilson as well as the last two Opeth albums weren't really necessary, in my opinion. Deliverance especially was overkill(I'm quite sure we wouldn't have this type of threads if the last Opeth album out was BWP). They should only release really memorable stuff, rather than put out albums every other year.