Nice, another "Steven Wilson Jazz Fusion with some extra gain" album.

After a few spins, I still consider Opeth dead to me. This Opeth 2.0, after "Watershed" at least, is not my cup of tea. I don't really get why well-established bands with a very successful trademark sound choose to make such big a change and still use their "big name" tag. Just call it quits, change name and start anew. But yeah, probably money. What made them unique for me was the perfectly balanced mix of Death Metal with prog-jazz-70's vibes. They aged like milk, at least for me.

It's a good progressive album for what it is, very well executed and high quality bla bla bla but yeah...meh. That's not what my ears expect when they see "Opeth", even after a decade of this stuff.

A few listens in, yes, I'll absolutely agree with Åkerfeldt's assesment of this as a "restless" album. There are echoes of earlier albums in the motifs that the band are playing, but they are combined in a way that owes much more to their most recent albums, and they do not linger over any particular motif for long.

There is a compositional logic to the music, but it is driven by the story, not by the slow development of musical ideas. May be a bit of Åkerfeldt's soundtrack work rubbing off on the process.

I'm not in love with the story, but then there are very few concept albums that I am fully satisfied with on that level. (I feel the same way about Operation Mindcrime.) One of the side effects of having an advanced degree in literature. But I don't think there is anything wrong with the story, it's just the sort of story that a person more engaged with music than with literature would produce.

Still not ready to settle on a rating, though.

Written by Bad English on 23.11.2024 at 15:11

Just listen to this first N last time. I even don't listen to old albums. Only how I do listen
Opeth now is new albums once and then burry them forever. Still Life and maybe Blackwater Park are last album from band i can listen to.
This had small funeral vibes, here, one song had growls, but band even did failure to make good funeral music.

I am happy Anathema went on hiatus, it's same story, fw bands really needs split up or change name. That band died after Serenades.

Multiple songs on this album have growls, not just one song. It's not their intention to make "funeral music". Where did you get that idea?

Anathema's best album to me is still The Silent Enigma, which is definitely better than Serenades. And the albums after those are also praised (although I never got into those).

Only in extreme cases, like with Tristania, I think a band should change their name. Certainly not when the most important members (who write the music/vocalists) are still part of the band, like in Opeth's case. Any band can make the music they want to make.

It's interesting that, even though §2 starts strong and with even more punch than §1, it just doesn't feel heavy enough to be sincere. It feels like trickery of sorts.
And I suspect that the reason might be the guitar sound. Like, if you compare guitar sound from Ghost Reveries and this side by side, even the supposedly heavy stuff sounds different. It's like it's filed down. It lacks some of the frequencies, particularly in the higher range. And because it lacks something, suddenly other things become very visible and upfront. Which makes for this overly proggy feeling. Not saying that's all of it, but it's a component to this. I'd imagine if they'd use the same hardware they've used on Ghost Reveries, it would leave a different impression, it would seem like a build up over GR instead of their prog era. Maybe, I'm not sure, need to listen more

Written by Tuonelan on 28.11.2024 at 19:54

A few listens in, yes, I'll absolutely agree with Åkerfeldt's assesment of this as a "restless" album. There are echoes of earlier albums in the motifs that the band are playing, but they are combined in a way that owes much more to their most recent albums, and they do not linger over any particular motif for long.

There is a compositional logic to the music, but it is driven by the story, not by the slow development of musical ideas. May be a bit of Åkerfeldt's soundtrack work rubbing off on the process.

I'll hand it to you. Out of all the comments I've read here, yours is the one I agree with the most. More specifically, how you describe the anatomy of the record.

Darn it, songs aren't just called 'track...', but they sound it too. Ok, track 4, titled exactly 4 has flute and growls. On every darned "track" there's 7 variations. Verdict: boring, uninspired, unengaging. Probably the worst Opeth album in the discography. Also the gents in the promo suit the music. They look like a bunch of tsarists and bolsheviks meeting at the winter palace to record a testament on tape. I am too young for this shit.

Written by ivulv on 01.12.2024 at 11:01

Darn it, songs aren't just called 'track...', but they sound it too. Ok, track 4, titled exactly 4 has flute and growls. On every darned "track" there's 7 variations. Verdict: boring, uninspired, unengaging. Probably the worst Opeth album in the discography. Also the gents in the promo suit the music. They look like a bunch of tsarists and bolsheviks meeting at the winter palace to record a testament on tape. I am too young for this shit.

So this album is the "worst thing ever"?! Questionable rating, this album is far from the worst rating ever. A vote of 4 or 5 sums up your description better.

Written by John doe on 01.12.2024 at 11:29

Written by ivulv on 01.12.2024 at 11:01

Darn it, songs aren't just called 'track...', but they sound it too. Ok, track 4, titled exactly 4 has flute and growls. On every darned "track" there's 7 variations. Verdict: boring, uninspired, unengaging. Probably the worst Opeth album in the discography. Also the gents in the promo suit the music. They look like a bunch of tsarists and bolsheviks meeting at the winter palace to record a testament on tape. I am too young for this shit.

So this album is the "worst thing ever"?! Questionable rating, this album is far from the worst rating ever. A vote of 4 or 5 sums up your description better.

I've increased to 3. No way this gets a passing grade.

Written by ivulv on 01.12.2024 at 11:44

I've increased to 3. No way this gets a passing grade.

A rating of 4 means "bad" and 5 means "not good". I'd rate a 5 an album i find mediocre. Oh well...

Ok, I just cannot keep silent here anymore here. I'm a big Opeth fan, of 2001-2006 era, early albums not that much, Watershed and 'jazzy' era - some good songs here and there, but nothing close to early 2000th for me. I didn't expect anything from this album, but after a few spins I find it very enjoyable. Starting from Heritage I can select some songs on each record to compile an excellent Opeth album, but TLWAT is more complete and nicely summarize for me the last 17 years of Opeth. Great job.

PS. So I agree with the guy with unpopular opinion that this is better than Watershed for me

Written by John doe on 01.12.2024 at 12:23

Written by ivulv on 01.12.2024 at 11:44

I've increased to 3. No way this gets a passing grade.

A rating of 4 means "bad" and 5 means "not good". I'd rate a 5 an album i find mediocre. Oh well...

I rate new Avatarium singles higher than Opeth's last album. Disprove me.

Written by ivulv on 02.12.2024 at 16:44

Written by John doe on 01.12.2024 at 12:23

Written by ivulv on 01.12.2024 at 11:44

I've increased to 3. No way this gets a passing grade.

A rating of 4 means "bad" and 5 means "not good". I'd rate a 5 an album i find mediocre. Oh well...

I rate new Avatarium singles higher than Opeth's last album. Disprove me.

I don't have to disprove you. I also have not heard the new Avatarium singles, I will express an opinion once I listen.

Written by ivulv on 02.12.2024 at 16:44

I rate new Avatarium singles higher than Opeth's last album. Disprove me.

It is both impossible and pointless to try to disprove someone's opinions about something as subjective as music. That being said "The Long Black Waves" is a straight 10.

Still deciding my thoughts, but noticed something with my Opeth preferences.

If I want to sit down with vinyl and intentionally listen, without distractions, then I much prefer releases from "Oldpeth" (GR or before). It's the emotional element that elevates them. They just hit so hard.

I don't hate listening to "Newpeth" albums this way, but I find it hard to do so because I just end up wanting to switch to an earlier release.

However, I've found that the newer albums are enjoyable in other situations, like when I'm listening with less attention. I've enjoyed listening to ICV and PC while I'm working, for example. There are enough cool moments to grab my attention randomly, but the compositions also work nicely to blend into the background when needed.

Haven't spent enough time with the new album to place it in either category. Not saying I only listen to them like this, but I've found that's how the difference in emotional impact has presented itself for me personally.

Written by Daniell on 02.12.2024 at 18:44

Written by ivulv on 02.12.2024 at 16:44

I rate new Avatarium singles higher than Opeth's last album. Disprove me.

...That being said "The Long Black Waves" is a straight 10.

Hell yeah

I miss the Martin Lopez, Peter Lindgren days.

Written by ivulv on 02.12.2024 at 16:44


I rate new Avatarium singles higher than Opeth's last album. Disprove me.

Well, that's easy to disprove since you haven't rated any Avatarium releases.

Solid record, but the fact the growls are back doesn't help that I still can't take much of this too proggy vibe.