Share This Thread The New Opeth Album - Watershed Ryan Sequeira (7526) Artists Forum 4/27/2008 6:49:11 PM · 16 Views [Respond to this Message] Damn. I've been a fan of this band for at least 5 or 6 years now, I very much enjoy all their albums, they're all classics in their own right, they all show a different side of Opeth. and then there's Watershed. I swear, this is the best Opeth I've heard yet (and that's a tough thing to say, considering the amazingness of Blackwater Park, Still Life and My Arms Your Hearse). The production is CRYSTAL CLEAR, you can hear every little thing, every detail, it sounds absolutely wonderful, alive, and warm! The songs are way different than Ghost Reveries as well, but a natural progression. With new drummer Martin Axenrot and new guitarist Fredrik Akesson, it sounds like a different band kinda, still distinctly Opeth though. I wish I could describe the sound of the album in words that do it justice. The soft songs/parts in songs are some of the most beautiful I've heard Mikael write, the heavy parts are phenomenal (they've gone and written one of the heaviest of all their songs, probably heavier than Demon of The Fall, I kid you not) and Axenrot has even pitched in a few bonafide blastbeats!! Who would've thunk?! Mike's vocals have gotten way better, he's doing more interesting things with them, the keyboards are used in such a perfect 70's prog rock kinda way...just awesome. I loved Opeth before this album... and now...holy crap, what an amazing band...I can't get enough!!! -Ryan

Responses

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/27/2008 6:56:03 PM Greg Johnson (2721) wrote: Hey Ryan. I didn't even know the new album came out yet. It's good to hear the good review--I was a little worried with Lopez and Lindgren gone they might start going downhill. Now I really need to go check it out.

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/27/2008 7:11:12 PM Ryan Sequeira (7526) wrote: it's not actually out yet, leaked on the interweb though. I'm still gonna buy it and seem them on tour regardless. I was worred about the lopez/lindgren split as well. Lopez is undoubtedly one of my favourite drummers of all time, the amount of finesse and groove he has in unparalleled! but no, instead of going downhill, they've collectively stepped it up a notch or five... they're more proggy, more death metal, more kickass all around hehe. I don't think anyone really expected them to do such amazing work after the departure of one of the founding members and such a solid drummer. That they managed to do this is just a testament to what a great band they are. -Ryan

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 10:11:54 AM Bryan Morrison (9694) wrote: I've heard the leak as well and anxiously anticipating the final release. I'm kind of mixed on this album.. You know when you are listening to something that sounds so amazing that the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? Didn't happen. I don't know how to explain the basis of my opinion but will give it a try. The new drummer is awesome.. but... he doesn't have something that Lopez had man. You can hear what's missing on the slower parts of the songs.. in the parts where lopez would normally be doing some amazing stuff with the toms and highhat..(that tribal kind of sound) all you hear from the new drummer is (snare)(bass)(snare)(base)(snare)(base)... I always liked Lopez.. but on their release before this one(Ghost Reveries) I think Lopez's work put him at legendary status as a drummer for me. Man, his drumming is freakin amazing on that album.. and now it's all gone. The heavy stuff on the album.. is freakin awesome though.. Aside from the little nintendo style keyboard part in the middle of the lotus eater(that ruins the whole song for me) Heir apparent is probably the best heavy song I've heard from them.. Now to the slow stuff.. I love Opeth's slower songs.. I Love the singing and clean guitar tones. On this album, the clean stuff didn't really get to me like the song 'Harvest" or "A Fair Judgement" did. I don't deny that it's good.. it's some damn good stuff. Was going to write some more but I'm going to be late for school.

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 10:23:37 AM Ryan Sequeira (7526) wrote: yeah, the whole feel of the album is different than anything else they've done. Lopez is definitely irreplaceable, but I think Axenrot has done a great job at honoring the progressive/psychedelic roots and influences of Opeth. It might not be exactly what Lopez would've done but still, Axe is a damn good drummer, and his power really shows on songs like heir apparent and lotus eater. Maybe you just need to let it grow on ya Bryan...after you've finished mourning Lopez's departure lol (took me a while, but I've been a fan of Axe since long before he joined opeth so it's pretty cool to see him relax a bit sometimes and groove instead of all guns blazing all the time) To me, this is where Opeth needs to be if they're gonna have any hope of having a long progressive career -Ryn

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 11:28:31 PM Bryan Morrison (9694) wrote: I think you're right. It will most likely grow on me. After burning the tracks to a cd and having a few listens in my car I've decided to put it away until it's officially released. The quality of the leak sounds fine in my computer, but in my car speakers you can hear the shallowness of the mp3. I want to get the cd and hear it in it's fullest glory before I can really form any more opinion of it. I was kind of hoping for something like a mix between still life, blackwater park and ghost reveries.. ehh and throw in deliverance as well. heheh. But they went all out on it with something completely different. I'll probably be listening to it a week from now and something will click.. and I'll be like 'what the hell was I thinking?!!! this is awesome!' Don't get me wrong.. I like it.. I'm just not warmed up to it yet or something.

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 10:23:43 AM Ryan Sequeira (7526) wrote: yeah, the whole feel of the album is different than anything else they've done. Lopez is definitely irreplaceable, but I think Axenrot has done a great job at honoring the progressive/psychedelic roots and influences of Opeth. It might not be exactly what Lopez would've done but still, Axe is a damn good drummer, and his power really shows on songs like heir apparent and lotus eater. Maybe you just need to let it grow on ya Bryan...after you've finished mourning Lopez's departure lol (took me a while, but I've been a fan of Axe since long before he joined opeth so it's pretty cool to see him relax a bit sometimes and groove instead of all guns blazing all the time) To me, this is where Opeth needs to be if they're gonna have any hope of having a long progressive career -Ryan

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 11:47:42 AM Dale Lindsey (7849) wrote: it sounds like a different band kinda Isn't it? Are there any original members left? Anyway, where can you hear it? -Dale

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/28/2008 2:29:38 PM Ryan Sequeira (7526) wrote: Mikael is still there, Martin Mendez is still there. Per (keyboardist) isn't so new...he and Axenrot (drummer) have been touring with them for a couple years now. Fredrik Akesson (new guitarist) is really the only brand new member. I guess Mike is the only original member, but I consider Mendez the quintessential Opeth bassist, way better than Johan deFarfalla was, and Per is just a natural addition. but this is Axenrot's and Akesson's first time recording new stuff with Opeth. if you use torrents, try isohunt -R

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 4/29/2008 10:43:49 AM Greg Johnson (2721) wrote: Hm, just checked out the video to Porcelain Heart. Now I really don't know what to expect. Pretty anxious, though.

• Respond to this Re: The New Opeth Album - Watershed 5/1/2008 3:54:00 PM Chris Pinto (22325) wrote: OH YEAH! I'm buyin' this album!!! Chris

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