Unfortunately, the extreme opeth is now dead. Will not probably listen to this record this year. I'd rather forget about modern opeth :'(

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 18:36

Unfortunately, the extreme opeth is now dead. Will not probably listen to this record this year. I'd rather forget about modern opeth :'(

Well Watershed was only two albums back, and that was on par with BwP as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not ready to count Opeth out just yet

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 18:39


Well Watershed was only two albums back, and that was on par with BwP as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not ready to count Opeth out just yet

Akerfeldt has said as much as that they won't go back to that sound. Because the current third rate 70s prog sound is where his heart's at.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 08.04.2014 at 18:42

Akerfeldt has said as much as that they won't go back to that sound. Because the current third rate 70s prog sound is where his heart's at.

Well I glanced at that song-by-song preview that was up and it sounded like it might not be as straight up as Snoritage. The total lack of death growls is a worry though.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 18:39

Well Watershed was only two albums back, and that was on par with BwP as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not ready to count Opeth out just yet

I should have clarified that I mean post-watershed and not post-BWP by modern opeth. During this few years I'v been convinced that watershed is indeed an excellent album but as Marcel said, they left their extreme side behind and their future stuff would probably just be one dimensional retro prog/hard rock.
Opeth could literary be the best band ever for me if they did not release heritage.

I'm hopeful.

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 18:49

I should have clarified that I mean post-watershed and not post-BWP by modern opeth. During this few years I'v been convinced that watershed is indeed an excellent album but as Marcel said, they left their extreme side behind and their future stuff would probably just be one dimensional retro prog/hard rock.
Opeth could literary be the best band ever for me if they did not release heritage.

Well have a look at this. It sounds at least more promising than Heritage ever could have.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 18:51

Well have a look at this. It sounds at least more promising than Heritage ever could have.

Yeah that review is promising, but the reviewer seems to be too fond of damnation.

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 19:04

Yeah that review is promising, but the reviewer seems to be too fond of damnation.

True, and also liked Ghost Reveries and not Watershed, which is the opposite of myself.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 19:07

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 19:04

Yeah that review is promising, but the reviewer seems to be too fond of damnation.

True, and also liked Ghost Reveries and not Watershed, which is the opposite of myself.

And once again Steven Wilson is there to unleash his reversed Midas touch

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 19:07

True, and also liked Ghost Reveries and not Watershed, which is the opposite of myself.

I really love GR, even more than watershed. It's probably my 2nd most favorite opeth album

I don't really mind the lack of growls, even if I know I'll miss it. If I want something that sounds like Opeth with growls, I'll go listen to Witherscape and that'll be good enough for me.
So this album is supposedly the best of Damnation and Ghost Reveries, minus the growls, plus the oldschool prog elements of Heritage?
He had me at "the best of Damnation and Ghost Reveries".

Posted this on the article, but may as well post it here too:

Steven Wilson's words on the album:

"The new Opeth album Pale Communion was mixed into stereo and 5.1 at my studio in February. I also sang harmony vocals. It's by no stretch of the imagination a metal record but it's still plenty heavy and a great piece of work - for me the epic orchestrated ballad "Faith in Others" that closes the album is Mikael Åkerfeldt's finest achievement to date."

Your thoughts?

I'm waiting for it to make my summer. i even liked heritage and totally ready for whatever may come

I would check it only because l like Mikael songwriting skills, but his style an direction he took is so unoriginal to me and it's sad for some one as innovative as him.

This should be cool.

I'm optimistic about this release...

Highly doubtful I will like this at all, although Opeth-wise I seem to be on a different wavelength than most people.

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 18:49

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 18:39

Well Watershed was only two albums back, and that was on par with BwP as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not ready to count Opeth out just yet

I should have clarified that I mean post-watershed and not post-BWP by modern opeth. During this few years I'v been convinced that watershed is indeed an excellent album but as Marcel said, they left their extreme side behind and their future stuff would probably just be one dimensional retro prog/hard rock.
Opeth could literary be the best band ever for me if they did not release heritage.

"Opeth could literary be the best band ever for me if they did not release heritage."

I completely agree - well said - that's exactly the way I feel about Opeth too.

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 18:36

Unfortunately, the extreme Opeth is now dead. Will not probably listen to this record this year. I'd rather forget about modern Opeth :'(

I'm still curious what they're gonna put out, Heritage had some good moments, though overall it was lacking. It can still be damned good if it's in the same style but just, well, better.
That said, what made Opeth interesting in the first place was the whole beauty and the beast approach, so I doubt it'll ever reach the high quality of the early records.
I stay cautiously optimistic though.

Written by mz on 08.04.2014 at 18:49

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.04.2014 at 18:39

Well Watershed was only two albums back, and that was on par with BwP as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not ready to count Opeth out just yet

I should have clarified that I mean post-watershed and not post-BWP by modern opeth. During this few years I'v been convinced that watershed is indeed an excellent album but as Marcel said, they left their extreme side behind and their future stuff would probably just be one dimensional retro prog/hard rock.
Opeth could literary be the best band ever for me if they did not release heritage.

You can be sure that Opeth is the best. One who is familiar with professional music technigues and metal music can easily confirm this. The people like Mikael produce their composition within their own knowledge and originality borders. Because they think that art is for art's sake. If they listen enthusiasts and responds to demands of them, there wouldn't be a product that represents the artist's authenticity. Mikael wanted the Heritage to be in this way and It did. This is the reason I admire Mikael.

I enjoy Opeth but looking at their entire career they certainly don't deserve the "best band ever" award, with or without the existence of Heritage. Just not enough innovation or obvious and clever evolution over their 20 or so year long career.

Yes, lack of innovation is a good point. Their sound had not evolved for a long time. I think the main cause behind this is that they had already started in really high level. But although all of these, we can be sure that their music is evolving now.

Changing your band's sound doesn't necessarily mean said band is evolving. If anything their current direction could be considered derivative and unoriginal.

Hope I enjoy this album like other Opeth's albums, though lack of growl vocal really make me sad

Written by Zap on 09.04.2014 at 16:37

I'm still curious what they're gonna put out, Heritage had some good moments, though overall it was lacking. It can still be damned good if it's in the same style but just, well, better.
That said, what made Opeth interesting in the first place was the whole beauty and the beast approach, so I doubt it'll ever reach the high quality of the early records.
I stay cautiously optimistic though.

Beauty and the beast approach? They rarely have female vocals (Coil) in their music.

Anyway, I agree with what most people say. I dislike the lack of growls and the fact that it's not metal. Still, I'm pretty sure it's going to top Heritage, which is at least something. If the complexity and variety is present, there's still hope (for me liking this album). And yes, Opeth's glory days are long gone. They've become progressively worse ever since Ghost Reveries, which was their last brilliant effort.

Written by [user id=4365] on 09.04.2014 at 16:57

I enjoy Opeth but looking at their entire career they certainly don't deserve the "best band ever" award, with or without the existence of Heritage. Just not enough innovation or obvious and clever evolution over their 20 or so year long career.

Without Heritage and Watershed, they would easily be in the top 3 best and most consistent bands ever, for me. Though Watershed isn't that big of a deal in this case, but to me it's definitely one of the weakest albums. I'd say they're not a progressive band anymore, but rather a regressive one.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 09.04.2014 at 17:36

Changing your band's sound doesn't necessarily mean said band is evolving. If anything their current direction could be considered derivative and unoriginal.

Agreed completely. They're devolving, not evolving. Losing their variety and complexity in case of Hertige is by no means progressive, it's just a different sound. And a bad sort of sound at that.

Written by [user id=4365] on 09.04.2014 at 16:57

I enjoy Opeth but looking at their entire career they certainly don't deserve the "best band ever" award, with or without the existence of Heritage. Just not enough innovation or obvious and clever evolution over their 20 or so year long career.

It's true that their sound did not evolve much (except for the disaster that was heritage) but as stated by someone else, they start their career at a high point. I'm not much familiar with the history of metal but such a debut was probably too out of the box for an extreme metal band back in 1995. Moreover, note that from 1995 to 2001, they released 5 good+ to brilliant albums. This is quiet impressive considering the relative complexity of their songs. After all, it's not drone we are talking about and coming up with a high quality record every year is not easy. After that, they release those bastard twins, which, while being under-par, are still good. GR and Watershed are again brilliant. This ridiculousness level of consistency is something I have not seen in many bands, especially considering that they have in my opinion 7 great records.
Another thing is that opeth is copped by many bands. It's undeniable that they influenced many other bands. To say that they were not innovative is really underestimation.
Their earlier approach is in my opinion pretty daring. I've seen many reviews of their albums on, let's say, progarchives, containing something like "...although this is metal, but it's very good". On the other hand, many extreme metal fans disregarded them because of the lack of extremity. They literary put their asses on line form the beginning.

Written by [user id=132556] on 09.04.2014 at 16:47

You can be sure that Opeth is the best. One who is familiar with professional music technigues and metal music can easily confirm this. The people like Mikael produce their composition within their own knowledge and originality borders. Because they think that art is for art's sake. If they listen enthusiasts and responds to demands of them, there wouldn't be a product that represents the artist's authenticity. Mikael wanted the Heritage to be in this way and It did. This is the reason I admire Mikael.

There are far more interesting prog rock records out there. How could heritage be original when it was supposed to be somehow a tribute to old school progressive rock of 70s? Also, the fact that Mikel can produce anything he wants and lead the band to any direction he desires does not disqualifies me from havving opinion. He can make his music and I can dislike it, as simple as that. I respect the fact that he is following his own wishes, but those wishes are not good in my opinion.