Really hate seeing people saying "Opeth is back" as if they ever left and at least In Cauda Venenum wasn't fantastic, but damn this new one blows the last few out of the water. My copy showed up early and it's incredible. It's a really strong listen in one sitting experience of an album. The second half is the highlight for me, but it's made so much better by being the follow up to the also very solid first half.
i agree with you brother but you kinda contradicted yourself haha, by saying the last few weren't great and this is fantastic does in fact imply they left (last few releases) and have now come back (last will and testament). All in jest, much love 🤘
Perhaps, better than Watershed- or even more. Heritage and Pale communion, i can't stand easily, but i accepted that era ( in the end), Sorceress and especially ICV was a constantly improvement, back to metal- on half way. Now it's done, progressive metal again, not because growls- it's about the rythm- section, last but not least: the guitars and drums! Now, i'm sitting here, waiting for my parcel, prepared and ready to celebrate, one of the most wanted and possibly: best albums in 24'...
For a lot of people the guttural vocals added contrast to the clean sections and everything in between that opeth was doing in their songs. When that element changed to just cleanly sung vocals that was a big hit to what made Opeth Opeth. No matter if the pure clean albums were good or not something was missing from the formula for a lot of people. Like I didnt hate the clean albums or anything but that was not the albums I was listening over and over again. Like for me personally what made it click for me in the early albums was the constant switchups between the styles and how seamlessly they went from section to section. Like they were playing 3 different songs in one song and making it work effortlessly. Damnation is the only clean album I keep relistening, that album is so damn good. Also makes me emotional as hell on top of everything
I always felt bad because I listened to all of Opeth’s albums post Watershed and I never hated them for a change in style. It was just a style I wasn’t really a fan of. I’m glad they’re continuing with the sound they want to make and honestly the single that dropped made me super hyped. Can’t wait to jam it
Well if u like that single..in Canada venenum. It's literally soooo amazing. The other three are good opeth..but that's in cauda is one of their best albums
I really enjoyed Pale Comunion and some of Incaulda Veunaem. I have yet to hear this one sadly, but if we can mix thoes albums with Deliverance and watershed, we have an S teir album.
@@iwillspam5985It's probably my least favorite album from Thy Catafalque since the run that started with Meta. But also, holy hell what band had this many great-to-majestic albums in such a short while!?
I tier-listed in a comment in Metal Trenches´s recent Opeth ranking video the albums of Opeth, and let me tell you, I don´t think this band has any bad albums whatsoever, even their weakest outputs like Orchid, Heritage and Sorceress have KILLER tunes here and there. I seriously want to move time forward to tomorrow holy shit the wait has been killing me...
Just wait until you hear it. It’s surprisingly brutal and possibly the most beautiful album they’ve made. When it wraps up, you’re left stunned. Ian Anderson is AWESOME. Must listen all the way through in one sitting. Read the lyrics, keep up with story. It’s so worth it.
As an autistic Opeth fanboy, I've always defended their prog rock era. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely excited for the growls to return.
Though half the time I disagree with your reviews, I will say you've done a great job with this new "Thrashin Jackson" character. Quality evolution, I also quite enjoyed your in depth review.
Opeth for a looooooooooong time have been one of my favorite Prog/Metal bands of all time, and they still are. A band that is responsible alongside the likes of Children of Bodom, Slayer, Kreator, Morbid Angel and Death for getting me into More extreme forms of metal and also a band that slowly got me into bands/Artists like Gentle Giant, Yes, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Miles Davis, Nick Drake. No Doubt I dont develop a lot of my music taste without Opeth. Excited to give this a listen, from whst ive heard it sounds great. Like a return to Ghost Reveries/Watershed Opeth mixed with In Cauda Venenum
Come to think of it, I can credit Opeth with introducing me to more jazz and prog rock as well. I imagine a lot of others will feel the same. Thanks Opeth.
2:53 - 3:05 well said. You have a funny way of reviewing it and adding humor. I appreciate that. I subbed. Thanks for the video man 💪 This album is just amazing, absolutely on fire 🔥
I’m currently listening to this album (towards the end) and it’s so exciting that not only are the gutturals back but the album is such a breath of fresh air to listen to. While admittedly I’m not the biggest fan of the prog era, I know they are fantastic albums and would occasionally listen to it. This album is on my best of the year list. Article/Paragraph 2 has one tasty guitar riff that tickles the back of my brain in a groovy way. For me, if newer Opeth sounded more in line to what Damnation sounded like, I would be all over that. Damnation is one of my personal favorite albums. Great review! I agree with you and you hit the nail on the head.
In Cauda is one of Opeths best..which he knew, IIII knew lol, that it was the perfected album of the prog era, and he moved on. I literally knew it, and then he actually stated that recently, so. Mike Portnoy knows, He knows how dank In Cauda is...if anyones sleeping on that album, literally its pure Opeth..the other 3 i like and enjoy but In Cauda Ranks as well as teh DM stuff..and then this album is just perhaps Opeths best work as its everything rolled in one and its so cool sounding
To hell with the Opeth fans that say "Opeth is back!" simply because Mikael has returned to growling again. Those are unappreciated and hypothetical assholes that if it's not their way, it sucks (cough, cough Thrash N Jackson).
Pale Communion and In Cauda Venenum are top 4 Opeth albums for me (along with Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries), so I’ve found the discourse strange, to say the least. And after listening to The Last Will and Testament, it has a solid chance of being a top 5 Opeth record. It combines everything I love about newer Opeth, and brings back some of the heaviness of their older works. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be my album of the year, next to Dvne’s Voidkind and Sungazer’s Against the Fall of Night.
I like every single opeth album also you should review the new marlin Manson album one I 1 assassination under one I 1 god chapter one I 1 which is coming out on the same day as the new opeth the last will and testament
I've listened to it a few times, and just like all the rest they've done since Ghost Reveries, it's just sliding right over me. I think I perhaps just never liked Opeth for the same reasons a lot of other people did. From MAYH, Still Life, Blackwater, Deliverance, Damnation and Ghost Reveries, they're all permeated with a sense of consuming sorrow. All Opeth albums are dark, but these ones were a different brand of it. With Watershed I immediately noticed the music no longer felt "sad" dark and instead "spooky" dark, and I can no longer connect with it. The music's always very clever but I just bounce off of it like I do listening to neo-classical shred music. The argument about growls being there or not is a red herring imo. Compare with a band like Paradise Lost, that I love all the time whether they're doing death-doom or synth-pop, because it's consistently miserable no matter what instruments they're using.
To each their own, I mean their earlier albums evoke much more emotion/soul and moves my heart in a different way than the later ones so I agree. They are also my favorite band, so I love all their music. I can see what you mean though. I love this album. It’s so trippy and crazy. The story is awesome. 👏🏼
This album is pretty much exactly what I wanted from Opeth for years. Might even be my AOTY, as basic as that sounds. I like how they incorporated a lot of the stuff they've picked up over the years instead of just trying to make "Still Life pt. 2" even though I'd probably still eat that up because I'm a simp. I also agree on the point that Opeth was always more of a prog band with death metal elements than vice versa, and i think more people need to hear that. Similar thoughts for a band like Cynic. Doesn't make them any less awesome.
Discazo en la misma sintonía de ghost reveries con un aporte brutal de Ian Anderson leyenda y uno de mis artistas favoritos de todos los tiempos , gran disco 💿
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Oh, I wholeheartedly agree. I always struggle to fill my big top 30 lists, but this year especially, despite the slow start, has offered some tricky decisions as to what to cut.
I consider myself a huge Opeth fan and I can definitely say, this thing fucking DELIVERED, I can't stop listing to it, S5 and S6 may top some of my favorite songs off of Watershed or Ghost Reveries, amazing album.
Ok, hear me out. I'm all aboard the f*ck yeah, growling-wagon, but I don’t see it quite the same way as you. The Opeth I got into back in the mid-2000s was a progressive band. Progressive. I know it’s a genre, but I expect actual progression from progressive bands. I enjoy all their stuff, but can we really call their retro-prog albums progressive? Not really. Was it necessary to carve the path to this new album? Probably. But hey, I’m just glad to see some progress again!
I expected something that would just top In Cauda Venenum, which wasn't incredible but still solid listen, but holy shit this may end up on my AOTY list
I think it's less about the growls and more about the full range of music that only opeth can master the way they do. We missed the full range. But i agree that all of their releases are great and anything this band releases has my full attention. So stoked.
Ok lemme break it down real quick, I have been a part of a band that absolutely deep throats Opeth, and I have listened to their whole discography including this one, and from someone intimately familiar with their music and output I can tell you for certain this is their best album since Watershed, Not just for being heavy and having death vocals again (which admittedly helps a great deal) but because the whole album balances the heavy and the melodic prog stuff just as good as every album up to watershed, if this album came out right after watershed it would have actually made the transition to the melodic 70s prog stuff more natural. As far as the last 4 albums go I've listened to them all several times and I enjoy them (pale communion is the best) but this new album is so much better than all of them its not even funny.
I really liked it! I stopped paying attention after Heritage, not because they weren't "metal" anymore, I just legitimately did not like the album. But everyone was talking this one up so much that I thought I should check it out. I'm glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The problem with this album is the fact that I have a hard time finding memorable moments, which I did find on their two previous albums. Regarding the guttural voices, I personally didn't care if they were going to return or not since I am a great enthusiast of the new era of Opeth (Heritage this way).
TLWAT seems like really good album after couple of listens. Not so great like "In Cauda.." but on the same level with "Ghost Reveries" and "Watershed".
Man, you resemble and sorta even act like a real good friend of mine who sadly passed away several years back. RIP Eli. Sorry to be a bummer but trust me its a compliment! Also you got a little Will Forte thrown in, but so did he!
There is very little death metal, if any on this album. It's a prog metal album with guttural vocals, and a damn fine one. It may be their finest hour, but not because of the vocals clean or guttural. It's a masterful step foward and a masterpiece.
I cringe when I hear people say "Opeth is back". Opeth has never been bigger than now, with a lot of new listeners, all due to Mikael's decisions the last decade.
When mikael removed growls from opeths sound it changed the bands sonic outputs for the negative. I’m not a metal purist or anything . I don’t care about that stuff. Mikael removing a pivotal element of dynamics from his band made the music good just not as distinctive though. Which is why this album is getting praise. The prog era Opeth just felt like mikael was doing what all musicians do and that’s try something different when u get bored. The problem is he was so perfect at this one aspect of music that his craft suffered slightly for his when he took away that aspect. Doesn’t mean the prog wasn’t good. It’s great imo as someone who’s a prog connoisseur. It’s not as good as the death metal era. The old albums rarely have moments that are uninteresting or bad. The prog era has lots of moments and songs that are what I’d say are uninteresting or water treading. Mikael has always had this thing about his songwriting where he wears his influences on his sleeve. A lot like Jimmy page did with his love of blues. When mikael writes death metal the riffs and instrumental sections have obvious influence from a lot of these prog bands he likes. Or you can really hear the morbid Angel inspiration which always annoys me. The thing about that when it’s in a death metal context it really sounds fresh but when it’s in a prog rock context it sounds a little too familiar. So I’ve always liked the prog era. Just not loved. I thought wow these prog riffs that are inspired mahavishnu orchestra, yes, deep purple, etc. would sound great if they were in that death metal context. It’s great to know that’s where he’s went with this. Super excited to hear the rest of it.
FINALLY..AND THE GROWLS ARE BACK!! FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY (Last 4 albums didn't count...sorry) Let the Death Metal reign Thank you Mikael!!! If I wanted to listen to Jethro Tull and Camel, I'll listen to Jethro Tull and Camel. Yep, I'm one of those guys. (again, sorry) Aren't you glad music is always subjective and never objective? Welcome back MY Opeth.
I listened to the album today. Unfortunately I would only give it a 3.5/5 myself. It’s good like all Opeth is but somehow the music doesn’t flow as well as on previous records and the keyboards are slightly overdone.
@TheSPACEDIEVEST1 I reserve 5/5 scores for next level albums, something TRULY special and perfect. An amazing album still no doubt, definitely check it out.
Opeth isn't back. They never left and except for Lotus, their debut, they didn't make a bad album. Out of 14 studio albums, at least 11 are way above average albums. People who didn't like the non black growl albums should take their metalheads out of their backside. Opeth is the best (progressive-, metal-, rock-)band of the last 30 years! No discussion!
I just got done listening to the new album and i unfortunately disagree. I don’t see what the hype is. You said it perfectly in your video.. they’re growling again, but growling over the same music they’ve been doing for a decade. The music prior to that decade is the Opeth I fell in love with. Seems like their goal now is to see how many random prog notes they can hit in every song. Their albums used to take me on an emotional roller coaster and I felt nothing on this one. RIP Opeth.
With their classic albums I always found that my enjoyment was brought down by too much bloat. Songs would have great moments but could also be victims of too much repetition, dynamic tone shifts that don’t serve the songs as well as other parts do. Almost as if there was a no riff or idea left behind mentality in place. Could have been mikaels ego at work or perhaps limited time in the studio And trying to stay within a budget got in the way of refinement. Songs easily coulda carved 2-3 min off. Later albums did show songwriting improvement which I think probably peaked with ghost reveries. I do enjoy some of there more current material but also find some of it pretty ho hum and skippable. I did find the first release off this new album pretty interesting though so I’m hoping for a good album. Always loved mikaels clean vocals but he was always such a top tier growler that to just leave that element behind felt so wrong
I actually thought it was a breath of fresh air when they stopped using so much guttural vox. The dude can sing, so go for it. A billion bands do the Rah Rah Roar BLEAARRGHHH!!!! To the point its meaningless anymore. Ive been listening to that since 19fn90!! So I welcome clean vocals when done great without sounding like wimpy emo or radio butt rock. But, I do still enjoy my heavy vox too. Just not boring redundant bands that do it either for the sake of doing it, or they cant carry a tune in a bucket with extra handles and flex fit rubber gloves with an equally bad back up singer carrying it in a wheelbarrow.
This album i liked it but it's honestly pretty overrated in my opinion there's some great parts but it's more like 3/5 for decent for me. And i know this sounds unpopular for you all but still comparing albums like new Blood Incantation and new Anciients album not even close for me like those 2 albums were awesome as hell.
The last album disappointed me because it was too jazzy and nervous for my taste. And what I'm hearing now... Well... basically the same thing. It's a shame because it has really good passages, but the slightest touch of jazz just makes me want to 🤮 That's it for me with Opeth! I prefer to listen to In Mourning, Plateau Sigma etc...
I like cleen vocals opeth is just 2 boring with out the screaming 2 i like the mix, rather lisen 2 black sabbath led zeppelin metalica johany cash snop dog, for clen vocals
It seems like it was AI generated. Terrible! Watershed was the last great record. This new one is NOT metal. If you are looking for a metal record you might want to look elsewhere.
Purina Thrashin' Jackson chow for this week from ENTOMOPHTHORA, PANZERFAUST, HEAVEN-GEMINI, CARNAL SAVAGERY, GOLGOTHAN REMAINS, CYCLOPS CATARACT, DISTANT, CRIMSON DREAMS, TIGER BATTALION, SCARLATTAMUSIC, PURGATORIAL, POISONED SPEED, HAIL OF BULLETS. So he can run these on his blakdethrash.
i disagree, The new album is very problematic. If this was the bands only album, you wouldnt be their fan. There is not any memorable moment, the are no significant melodies, transitions, simply not good composition that was remarkable for Opeth in their whole carrier. The lbum is very drums oriented, you just listen to overkilling drums which overkill everything else. Yet, the album is very ambitious, i am not saying they didnt put any effort into it, they did, quite a lot of effort.
You told us to after a bunch of weird comments and after you admitted you were a troll and wouldnt play nice. We have photographic proof of this. You're not very good at this.
I just never understood the popularity of this band. I’ve listened to a few of their albums in their entirety, and if you asked if I could remember one riff from them, I honestly couldn’t. Are these guys capable musicians? Absolutely, especially the drummer (props to a very tight performance here), but man do these guys do everything in their power to kill any momentum they may be building towards. Every time I said to myself “Ok, this is where it’s gonna pick up”, they kill that momentum, and add in some transition that makes absolutely zero sense. I basically could have copied and pasted my review of the Blood Incantation record here, as this suffers from all of the same things (desperate attempts to sound original, lack of any memorable riffs, poor transitions etc) but yeah…. Drummer rules though
Everything Opeth has done is incredible. They are the best fucking band walking the Earth today.
Indeed, alongside ENSLAVED and IHSAHN, we are living through a golden age of metal imho.
Correct
This is just a fact. ❤ Opeth is amazing
Really hate seeing people saying "Opeth is back" as if they ever left and at least In Cauda Venenum wasn't fantastic, but damn this new one blows the last few out of the water. My copy showed up early and it's incredible. It's a really strong listen in one sitting experience of an album. The second half is the highlight for me, but it's made so much better by being the follow up to the also very solid first half.
Ok but they're BACK man i mean
@@__414.88b_ Yeah, they´re back... with a new album :D
i agree with you brother but you kinda contradicted yourself haha, by saying the last few weren't great and this is fantastic does in fact imply they left (last few releases) and have now come back (last will and testament). All in jest, much love 🤘
I agree but the last album I really connected with was ironically enough pale communion.
Perhaps, better than Watershed- or even more.
Heritage and Pale communion, i can't stand easily, but i accepted that era ( in the end), Sorceress and especially ICV was a constantly improvement, back to metal- on half way.
Now it's done, progressive metal again, not because growls- it's about the rythm- section, last but not least: the guitars and drums!
Now, i'm sitting here, waiting for my parcel, prepared and ready to celebrate, one of the most wanted and possibly: best albums in 24'...
For a lot of people the guttural vocals added contrast to the clean sections and everything in between that opeth was doing in their songs. When that element changed to just cleanly sung vocals that was a big hit to what made Opeth Opeth. No matter if the pure clean albums were good or not something was missing from the formula for a lot of people. Like I didnt hate the clean albums or anything but that was not the albums I was listening over and over again. Like for me personally what made it click for me in the early albums was the constant switchups between the styles and how seamlessly they went from section to section. Like they were playing 3 different songs in one song and making it work effortlessly.
Damnation is the only clean album I keep relistening, that album is so damn good. Also makes me emotional as hell on top of everything
I always felt bad because I listened to all of Opeth’s albums post Watershed and I never hated them for a change in style. It was just a style I wasn’t really a fan of. I’m glad they’re continuing with the sound they want to make and honestly the single that dropped made me super hyped. Can’t wait to jam it
Well if u like that single..in Canada venenum. It's literally soooo amazing. The other three are good opeth..but that's in cauda is one of their best albums
I really enjoyed Pale Comunion and some of Incaulda Veunaem. I have yet to hear this one sadly, but if we can mix thoes albums with Deliverance and watershed, we have an S teir album.
this is like if heritage and watershed got together and started growling about family drama lol.
@@hugsallday1993 that is perfect,
For me top 3 albums of '24 are Opeth, Blood Incantation and Judas Priest.
solid choice of albums. You'll see my Top 10 in a couple of weeks...
Ulcerate, Job for a cowboy, gaerea, thy catafalque, sylosis, fleshgod apocalypse, gatecreeper, . Havent heard the opeth album yet tho. Pgood year
@@iwillspam5985 At this point it feels like Thy Catafalque just ends up on my yearly favorites by default every time they put something out.
@@iwillspam5985It's probably my least favorite album from Thy Catafalque since the run that started with Meta.
But also, holy hell what band had this many great-to-majestic albums in such a short while!?
Blood Incantation awesome album and Priest 🤘💯🤘🤘🤘🤘
I tier-listed in a comment in Metal Trenches´s recent Opeth ranking video the albums of Opeth, and let me tell you, I don´t think this band has any bad albums whatsoever, even their weakest outputs like Orchid, Heritage and Sorceress have KILLER tunes here and there.
I seriously want to move time forward to tomorrow holy shit the wait has been killing me...
Just wait until you hear it. It’s surprisingly brutal and possibly the most beautiful album they’ve made. When it wraps up, you’re left stunned. Ian Anderson is AWESOME. Must listen all the way through in one sitting. Read the lyrics, keep up with story. It’s so worth it.
As an autistic Opeth fanboy, I've always defended their prog rock era. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely excited for the growls to return.
My Arms Your Hearse is one of my favorite Opeth albums.
Excellent choice
My favourite as well followed by blackwater park
I fucking ❤ Opeth, great review
Great review definitely gonna check an opeth album after who knows how long.
Defeated Sanity tomorrow? Pretty please
Weeeellll.... okay, but only because you asked so nicely.
@@themetalmeltdownofficialyay!!! See kids? Being nice gets you places!
This channel deserves its own BCE/CE type of time division 😅 Before Thrashin' Jackson and After Thrashin' Jackson maybe idk
1. Time Will Testament 2. Ghost Reveries 3. Still Life 4. Watershed 5. Black Water Park ❤❤❤
Though half the time I disagree with your reviews, I will say you've done a great job with this new "Thrashin Jackson" character.
Quality evolution, I also quite enjoyed your in depth review.
Opeth for a looooooooooong time have been one of my favorite Prog/Metal bands of all time, and they still are. A band that is responsible alongside the likes of Children of Bodom, Slayer, Kreator, Morbid Angel and Death for getting me into More extreme forms of metal and also a band that slowly got me into bands/Artists like Gentle Giant, Yes, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Miles Davis, Nick Drake. No Doubt I dont develop a lot of my music taste without Opeth. Excited to give this a listen, from whst ive heard it sounds great. Like a return to Ghost Reveries/Watershed Opeth mixed with In Cauda Venenum
Come to think of it, I can credit Opeth with introducing me to more jazz and prog rock as well. I imagine a lot of others will feel the same. Thanks Opeth.
2:53 - 3:05 well said.
You have a funny way of reviewing it and adding humor. I appreciate that. I subbed. Thanks for the video man 💪
This album is just amazing, absolutely on fire 🔥
I’m currently listening to this album (towards the end) and it’s so exciting that not only are the gutturals back but the album is such a breath of fresh air to listen to. While admittedly I’m not the biggest fan of the prog era, I know they are fantastic albums and would occasionally listen to it. This album is on my best of the year list.
Article/Paragraph 2 has one tasty guitar riff that tickles the back of my brain in a groovy way.
For me, if newer Opeth sounded more in line to what Damnation sounded like, I would be all over that. Damnation is one of my personal favorite albums.
Great review! I agree with you and you hit the nail on the head.
In Cauda is one of Opeths best..which he knew, IIII knew lol, that it was the perfected album of the prog era, and he moved on. I literally knew it, and then he actually stated that recently, so. Mike Portnoy knows, He knows how dank In Cauda is...if anyones sleeping on that album, literally its pure Opeth..the other 3 i like and enjoy but In Cauda Ranks as well as teh DM stuff..and then this album is just perhaps Opeths best work as its everything rolled in one and its so cool sounding
To hell with the Opeth fans that say "Opeth is back!" simply because Mikael has returned to growling again.
Those are unappreciated and hypothetical assholes that if it's not their way, it sucks (cough, cough Thrash N Jackson).
Pale Communion and In Cauda Venenum are top 4 Opeth albums for me (along with Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries), so I’ve found the discourse strange, to say the least. And after listening to The Last Will and Testament, it has a solid chance of being a top 5 Opeth record. It combines everything I love about newer Opeth, and brings back some of the heaviness of their older works. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be my album of the year, next to Dvne’s Voidkind and Sungazer’s Against the Fall of Night.
unrelated question: what are some albums you reviewed on this channel, that your opinion has changed on A LOT throughout the years?
I'm not sure honestly, nothing immediately comes to mind.
I like every single opeth album also you should review the new marlin Manson album one I 1 assassination under one I 1 god chapter one I 1 which is coming out on the same day as the new opeth the last will and testament
@@FlynnHale-e8l hard pass
@Metamorphosis24 it's okay not everyone is a big marlin Manson fan
@@FlynnHale-e8l how exactly does Marilyn Manson have anything to do with me?
Opeth rules.... from a longtime British fan
I've listened to it a few times, and just like all the rest they've done since Ghost Reveries, it's just sliding right over me. I think I perhaps just never liked Opeth for the same reasons a lot of other people did. From MAYH, Still Life, Blackwater, Deliverance, Damnation and Ghost Reveries, they're all permeated with a sense of consuming sorrow. All Opeth albums are dark, but these ones were a different brand of it. With Watershed I immediately noticed the music no longer felt "sad" dark and instead "spooky" dark, and I can no longer connect with it. The music's always very clever but I just bounce off of it like I do listening to neo-classical shred music. The argument about growls being there or not is a red herring imo. Compare with a band like Paradise Lost, that I love all the time whether they're doing death-doom or synth-pop, because it's consistently miserable no matter what instruments they're using.
Totally agree
To each their own, I mean their earlier albums evoke much more emotion/soul and moves my heart in a different way than the later ones so I agree. They are also my favorite band, so I love all their music.
I can see what you mean though. I love this album. It’s so trippy and crazy. The story is awesome. 👏🏼
This album is pretty much exactly what I wanted from Opeth for years. Might even be my AOTY, as basic as that sounds. I like how they incorporated a lot of the stuff they've picked up over the years instead of just trying to make "Still Life pt. 2" even though I'd probably still eat that up because I'm a simp.
I also agree on the point that Opeth was always more of a prog band with death metal elements than vice versa, and i think more people need to hear that. Similar thoughts for a band like Cynic. Doesn't make them any less awesome.
Discazo en la misma sintonía de ghost reveries con un aporte brutal de Ian Anderson leyenda y uno de mis artistas favoritos de todos los tiempos , gran disco 💿
I'm looking forward to this! Between this and the new Fellowship album dropping tomorrow, this year's metal releases are going out with a bang.
Been a great year overall, putting together my top 10 was GENUINELY tough this time around.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Oh, I wholeheartedly agree. I always struggle to fill my big top 30 lists, but this year especially, despite the slow start, has offered some tricky decisions as to what to cut.
Happy birthday 🥳 and great review, enjoyed your insights!
Oh I’d like to say.. if Mikael has written an album, it’s an Opeth album.. no ifs, or buts! 😉
I consider myself a huge Opeth fan and I can definitely say, this thing fucking DELIVERED, I can't stop listing to it, S5 and S6 may top some of my favorite songs off of Watershed or Ghost Reveries, amazing album.
Ok, hear me out. I'm all aboard the f*ck yeah, growling-wagon, but I don’t see it quite the same way as you. The Opeth I got into back in the mid-2000s was a progressive band. Progressive. I know it’s a genre, but I expect actual progression from progressive bands. I enjoy all their stuff, but can we really call their retro-prog albums progressive? Not really. Was it necessary to carve the path to this new album? Probably. But hey, I’m just glad to see some progress again!
I expected something that would just top In Cauda Venenum, which wasn't incredible but still solid listen, but holy shit this may end up on my AOTY list
Speaking of great albums, I approve of you rocking The Yellow Tape. If you know, you know. \m/
I think it's less about the growls and more about the full range of music that only opeth can master the way they do. We missed the full range. But i agree that all of their releases are great and anything this band releases has my full attention. So stoked.
Ok lemme break it down real quick, I have been a part of a band that absolutely deep throats Opeth, and I have listened to their whole discography including this one, and from someone intimately familiar with their music and output I can tell you for certain this is their best album since Watershed, Not just for being heavy and having death vocals again (which admittedly helps a great deal) but because the whole album balances the heavy and the melodic prog stuff just as good as every album up to watershed, if this album came out right after watershed it would have actually made the transition to the melodic 70s prog stuff more natural. As far as the last 4 albums go I've listened to them all several times and I enjoy them (pale communion is the best) but this new album is so much better than all of them its not even funny.
Awesome review dude👍
Great review. I can't wait to receive my copy!
I really liked it! I stopped paying attention after Heritage, not because they weren't "metal" anymore, I just legitimately did not like the album. But everyone was talking this one up so much that I thought I should check it out. I'm glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The problem with this album is the fact that I have a hard time finding memorable moments, which I did find on their two previous albums.
Regarding the guttural voices, I personally didn't care if they were going to return or not since I am a great enthusiast of the new era of Opeth (Heritage this way).
Happy birthday 🎂
The grows are back thats thats what we wanted
Cannot fucking wait!
1:14 I have to admit this is me.
Can’t wait for this album
GOATED Birthday gift
Mr Meltdown and Mr Jackson use the same Bad Brains shirt. Both have great taste
He refuses to buy his own clothing. Apparently having money means you sold out.
I couldn't last a minute....
TLWAT seems like really good album after couple of listens. Not so great like "In Cauda.." but on the same level with "Ghost Reveries" and "Watershed".
I must say your alter ego is quite entertaining!
What? We have a banger?
Thanks, happy birthday🎉
10/10 on blabbermouth by dom lawson
Man, you resemble and sorta even act like a real good friend of mine who sadly passed away several years back. RIP Eli. Sorry to be a bummer but trust me its a compliment! Also you got a little Will Forte thrown in, but so did he!
There is very little death metal, if any on this album. It's a prog metal album with guttural vocals, and a damn fine one. It may be their finest hour, but not because of the vocals clean or guttural. It's a masterful step foward and a masterpiece.
I cringe when I hear people say "Opeth is back". Opeth has never been bigger than now, with a lot of new listeners, all due to Mikael's decisions the last decade.
The world's best band - for time and eternity. Cheers from Denmark
When mikael removed growls from opeths sound it changed the bands sonic outputs for the negative. I’m not a metal purist or anything . I don’t care about that stuff. Mikael removing a pivotal element of dynamics from his band made the music good just not as distinctive though. Which is why this album is getting praise. The prog era Opeth just felt like mikael was doing what all musicians do and that’s try something different when u get bored. The problem is he was so perfect at this one aspect of music that his craft suffered slightly for his when he took away that aspect. Doesn’t mean the prog wasn’t good. It’s great imo as someone who’s a prog connoisseur. It’s not as good as the death metal era. The old albums rarely have moments that are uninteresting or bad.
The prog era has lots of moments and songs that are what I’d say are uninteresting or water treading. Mikael has always had this thing about his songwriting where he wears his influences on his sleeve. A lot like Jimmy page did with his love of blues. When mikael writes death metal the riffs and instrumental sections have obvious influence from a lot of these prog bands he likes. Or you can really hear the morbid Angel inspiration which always annoys me. The thing about that when it’s in a death metal context it really sounds fresh but when it’s in a prog rock context it sounds a little too familiar. So I’ve always liked the prog era. Just not loved. I thought wow these prog riffs that are inspired mahavishnu orchestra, yes, deep purple, etc. would sound great if they were in that death metal context. It’s great to know that’s where he’s went with this. Super excited to hear the rest of it.
To me Opeth without death's like mustache without beard. It's ok, can be cool, but damn just grow back your beard! Yes!
Alternate album title: the last man named William and i guess Chuck Billy is there too
It’s not up on TH-cam for free yet! 😭
FINALLY..AND THE GROWLS ARE BACK!!
FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
(Last 4 albums didn't count...sorry)
Let the Death Metal reign
Thank you Mikael!!!
If I wanted to listen to Jethro Tull and Camel, I'll listen to Jethro Tull and Camel.
Yep, I'm one of those guys.
(again, sorry)
Aren't you glad music is always subjective and never objective?
Welcome back MY Opeth.
Yep, definitely their strongest in years. 4/5 for me.
I listened to the album today. Unfortunately I would only give it a 3.5/5 myself. It’s good like all Opeth is but somehow the music doesn’t flow as well as on previous records and the keyboards are slightly overdone.
The growling doesn't mean quality, this album lacks passion, I might end up placing this album as one of the worst they've ever made.
Same
Why not a 5 out of 5? I am expecting Watershed caliber. With this record
@TheSPACEDIEVEST1 I reserve 5/5 scores for next level albums, something TRULY special and perfect. An amazing album still no doubt, definitely check it out.
Its a 5! Its a 5! Its a Johhny friggin 5!!!! Im aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!🤖💪
In cauda venenum was hard as hell. Just no growls. And just as good as this new record.
Opeth isn't back. They never left and except for Lotus, their debut, they didn't make a bad album. Out of 14 studio albums, at least 11 are way above average albums. People who didn't like the non black growl albums should take their metalheads out of their backside. Opeth is the best (progressive-, metal-, rock-)band of the last 30 years! No discussion!
Yeaaahhh, great album
Mikael's cleen vocals have allways ben my lest favorit part, 70s prog has ben don better by 70s prog bands yes, pink floyd, and more
Nice bad brains shirt
Best album of the year, sorry Tribulation.
I just got done listening to the new album and i unfortunately disagree. I don’t see what the hype is. You said it perfectly in your video.. they’re growling again, but growling over the same music they’ve been doing for a decade. The music prior to that decade is the Opeth I fell in love with. Seems like their goal now is to see how many random prog notes they can hit in every song. Their albums used to take me on an emotional roller coaster and I felt nothing on this one. RIP Opeth.
100% very well said.. agree with you on everything
With their classic albums I always found that my enjoyment was brought down by too much bloat. Songs would have great moments but could also be victims of too much repetition, dynamic tone shifts that don’t serve the songs as well as other parts do. Almost as if there was a no riff or idea left behind mentality in place. Could have been mikaels ego at work or perhaps limited time in the studio And trying to stay within a budget got in the way of refinement. Songs easily coulda carved 2-3 min off.
Later albums did show songwriting improvement which I think probably peaked with ghost reveries. I do enjoy some of there more current material but also find some of it pretty ho hum and skippable.
I did find the first release off this new album pretty interesting though so I’m hoping for a good album. Always loved mikaels clean vocals but he was always such a top tier growler that to just leave that element behind felt so wrong
I kinda see what you mean but I think the material is strong enough that it still works
Over using thrashin jackson
I actually thought it was a breath of fresh air when they stopped using so much guttural vox. The dude can sing, so go for it. A billion bands do the Rah Rah Roar BLEAARRGHHH!!!! To the point its meaningless anymore. Ive been listening to that since 19fn90!! So I welcome clean vocals when done great without sounding like wimpy emo or radio butt rock. But, I do still enjoy my heavy vox too. Just not boring redundant bands that do it either for the sake of doing it, or they cant carry a tune in a bucket with extra handles and flex fit rubber gloves with an equally bad back up singer carrying it in a wheelbarrow.
Not gunna do a short on the new KSE song? Great review btw, as always
Not much to say, it's Killswitch Engage doing what they do.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial true lol… was just curious 🍻
This album i liked it but it's honestly pretty overrated in my opinion there's some great parts but it's more like 3/5 for decent for me.
And i know this sounds unpopular for you all but still comparing albums like new Blood Incantation and new Anciients album not even close for me like those 2 albums were awesome as hell.
It’s highly overrated… complete dud of an album.
The yelling character gets old quickly.
The last album disappointed me because it was too jazzy and nervous for my taste. And what I'm hearing now... Well... basically the same thing. It's a shame because it has really good passages, but the slightest touch of jazz just makes me want to 🤮 That's it for me with Opeth! I prefer to listen to In Mourning, Plateau Sigma etc...
I like cleen vocals opeth is just 2 boring with out the screaming 2 i like the mix, rather lisen 2 black sabbath led zeppelin metalica johany cash snop dog, for clen vocals
It seems like it was AI generated. Terrible! Watershed was the last great record. This new one is NOT metal. If you are looking for a metal record you might want to look elsewhere.
💯💯🔥
its really bad, it's like disney opeth, no darkness, no mood
Purina Thrashin' Jackson chow for this week from ENTOMOPHTHORA, PANZERFAUST, HEAVEN-GEMINI, CARNAL SAVAGERY, GOLGOTHAN REMAINS, CYCLOPS CATARACT, DISTANT, CRIMSON DREAMS, TIGER BATTALION, SCARLATTAMUSIC, PURGATORIAL, POISONED SPEED, HAIL OF BULLETS. So he can run these on his blakdethrash.
i disagree, The new album is very problematic. If this was the bands only album, you wouldnt be their fan. There is not any memorable moment, the are no significant melodies, transitions, simply not good composition that was remarkable for Opeth in their whole carrier. The lbum is very drums oriented, you just listen to overkilling drums which overkill everything else. Yet, the album is very ambitious, i am not saying they didnt put any effort into it, they did, quite a lot of effort.
1:54 all I can stand of your racket.
Why you ban me on discord
You told us to after a bunch of weird comments and after you admitted you were a troll and wouldnt play nice. We have photographic proof of this. You're not very good at this.
@themetalmeltdownofficial you gay
Meh, Sorceress is still my pick.
I can't even listen to this guy. He needs to get his T level checked.
The Last Will and Horribly Generic Bay Area Slop Thrash Band? That’s a mouthful of an album title but ok.
boooooooooooooooooooooooo
I just never understood the popularity of this band. I’ve listened to a few of their albums in their entirety, and if you asked if I could remember one riff from them, I honestly couldn’t. Are these guys capable musicians? Absolutely, especially the drummer (props to a very tight performance here), but man do these guys do everything in their power to kill any momentum they may be building towards. Every time I said to myself “Ok, this is where it’s gonna pick up”, they kill that momentum, and add in some transition that makes absolutely zero sense. I basically could have copied and pasted my review of the Blood Incantation record here, as this suffers from all of the same things (desperate attempts to sound original, lack of any memorable riffs, poor transitions etc) but yeah…. Drummer rules though
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but you are wrong. The early albums are jam packed with memorable riffs and melodies.
Boring album
This album is awful
Not at all.
Great review Robert I've ordered the box set fingers crosses 🫰🫰🫰🫰🫰🤘🤘🤘💯💯💯