This is the first time I've listened to a complete album review. I appreciate your insights. I actually enjoy the spoken word parts. It adds a different "texture" to the piece.
I thought I heard everything about Opeth but I realize that they released one of their best albums... and perhaps the best. Incredible complexity, so creative, the production is absolutely incredible, the musicians at their best. And what about their new drummer, the best they've had yet. This album summarizes almost their entire journey. Lost at first listen, it reveals itself little by little slowly but surely. At this stage of listening I consider it a true work of art (not for everyone for sure). Absolute masterpiece, again...
That's the right reaction, humility, the insight that you can still learn. I'm tired of smart asses who have never composed anything and only criticize what should be different.The fact that they united most of the style from the past albums in such a way makes this album even better. You really need to hear In Cauda Venenum, the lyrics are not to be ignored either.
I'm a newer Opeth fan, but loved this album and appreciated your takes on it. It's really refreshing stuff on their part. Highly encourage you to check out their other stuff, even on your own time! Great listens.
Thanks a lot for your analysis, it was totally on point ! For the last song, it occurs years after the reading of the testament, the daughter receives a letter from father. She has moved on and father reveals that he saved her at birth (she has a disease) and that she was in fact adopted. Now it’s on her to find her true parents and he encourages her to do so. She is also the only heiress of the heritage of father. The twins were revoked because of their greed
the letter is actually from the mother telling her that father wasn't actually her father. Mikael explained "Now, his wife has also passed away. But she kind of knew it was her husband being unfaithful, and the child is still brought up in the house. She is a blood heir. She inherits everything. Then the testament ends, and the last song, The Story Never Told, comes in. So, she's now living in the mansion. She's got it all. But then a letter arrives. It's from her mother, the maid, saying, 'I lied to your father. You're the result of another love affair. He was never your dad.' So that's kind of the twist of the story: the patriarch was sterile."
This is the album where Mikael finally convinced Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull to play the flute on the album. We also have to remember that before writing this album Mikael wrote the soundtrack to the Netflix show "Clark" which clearly gave him new tools to write a more theatrical concept album.
I really would suggest that you try their previous release “In Cauda Venenum”. As a self taught musician, Mikael Åkerdeldt’s compositions are beautiful. He specializes in spooky, evil and occasionally magical moods. Elfman is a good comparison btw!👍🏻
Great reaction! The thing with all Opeth albums for me is that they grow over time. If you know that Mikael is a perfectionist you also know that every second of music has an intention. And with that knowledge I hear their albums over and over again and out of a sudden I like individual songs that felt average in the first place. On this album §6 catched my attention immediately. The keyboard and guitar solo is really something else on this song. Did you listen to their last album In Cauda Venenum? Especially the swedish version is a masterpiece. You can hear that he sang that before the english recording and that he has written the vocal lines in swedish. Minnets Yta (Lovelorn Crime) and Allting Tar Slut (All Things Will Pass) are some of my favourite songs ever.
@progperljungman8218 I can't understand, but after I digest the music, I always translate the lyrics. It turns out that only through the music I can feel what it is about.And I also learned a little bit of Swedish😊
Loved the video! Love watching people enjoy this amazing band. Like all Opeth fans do on Opeth reaction videos, I’m going to request that you analyze some of their other albums. While Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries are amazing, Opeth fans feel the less popular albums get overlooked a lot, they have all amazing albums and I think you’d really enjoy Watershed in particular (you probably already know it but a deep dive would be worth it). Also, fun fact, Mikael writes all of the music for them, except a few guitar solos, featured artists parts, and some bass sections, so listening to Opeth through the years is basically observing Mikael’s taste in music through the years all come together. Enjoy!
Good day, Oha Cade, We responded a little more often at some reaction channels (about the band Unexpect). So nice to see you at your own channel. You are obviously someone who knows what he's talking about. There's happened a lot between the album Blackwater Park and The Last Will. The band transformed from melodic prog death in a prog rockband. The last four albums were all progrock without any growling. This album (The Last Will) is combining the best of both worlds. This is the fourth time I listen to it in its entirety, and it's getting better and better. Cheers.
What is impressive to me is that the drum was actually composed my Mikael himself, I was quite blown away that he's able to write such drums. But Waltteri is indeed such a perfect drummer, he executes everything, including feeling, flawlessly, I also fell in love with the sound of his drums ever since I heard him for the first time on Paradise Lost's Album "Obsidian" his tone is so great and when I heard that he was going to Opeth I got really excited Also, you mentioned that you'd recommend us to listen to Danny Elfman's solo music if we like the album, which works of his would you recommend?
The ' Alice' theme song from Dan elfman is so good, I came up with metal drums for it, it is so good, my 9 yr old daughter sings the passages, and I add bits in vocal lines, she showed me that to start the ball rolling, what a legend, hopefully I can put something up in the near future
The chords for the solo section should be an E diminished (whole half) mode, as for the solo I can’t speak to it lol but yeah I had to sit down with the guitar and figure out the mode too
That’s crazy you heard it too. I actually saw Danny live at the Sick New World festival and he blew me away, wouldn’t be surprised if he is influenced by Opeth and vice versa
Great reaction mate! Now go listen to the 4(!) albums before this. Considering your taste shown here, I think there's pretty much(...) for you to enjoy in them 😊
Nice vid. My first listen to this album was just with one earbud while walking on a busy street. Not the best way to go about it lol. Your vid actually made me go back and relisten more intensely and I certainly found a new appreciation for it. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are incredible to my ears. Some of their best songs imo.
Where are the acoustic guitars? Mikael wrote some of the most memorable acoustic passages and they gave each song so much glue. The album sounds like a gigantic mess at times with the synths and vox layered together in mounds of reverb. Unplug those synths and use acoustics again Mikael!
Loved the reaction, Love the album. but i have to say something about the sipping sounds. ASMR makes my body cringe and physically hurt. for your consideration. thanks
I did not connect with album till the fifth track! Pointlessly composed music with very litlle if not almost none magical moments. Then it starts to be much bettter.
It has some good moments but the songs overall are pretty meh! I even think the "epic" solo in ASNT is pretty lackluster and nothing special compared to say the one in A Fair Judgement from the Deliverance album. It's a good album but nowhere near Opeth's best. Still Life will never be topped!
This is the first time I've listened to a complete album review. I appreciate your insights. I actually enjoy the spoken word parts. It adds a different "texture" to the piece.
Thanks for watching. Yes, I can see how the spoken word also adds interesting texture 🤘
Same here. It is a story and spoken parts did strenghten it for me. Almost like listening to a great book. 😊
I love with this album.
I thought I heard everything about Opeth but I realize that they released one of their best albums... and perhaps the best. Incredible complexity, so creative, the production is absolutely incredible, the musicians at their best. And what about their new drummer, the best they've had yet. This album summarizes almost their entire journey. Lost at first listen, it reveals itself little by little slowly but surely. At this stage of listening I consider it a true work of art (not for everyone for sure). Absolute masterpiece, again...
That's the right reaction, humility, the insight that you can still learn. I'm tired of smart asses who have never composed anything and only criticize what should be different.The fact that they united most of the style from the past albums in such a way makes this album even better. You really need to hear In Cauda Venenum, the lyrics are not to be ignored either.
I'm a newer Opeth fan, but loved this album and appreciated your takes on it. It's really refreshing stuff on their part. Highly encourage you to check out their other stuff, even on your own time! Great listens.
Thanks a lot for your analysis, it was totally on point ! For the last song, it occurs years after the reading of the testament, the daughter receives a letter from father. She has moved on and father reveals that he saved her at birth (she has a disease) and that she was in fact adopted. Now it’s on her to find her true parents and he encourages her to do so. She is also the only heiress of the heritage of father. The twins were revoked because of their greed
the letter is actually from the mother telling her that father wasn't actually her father.
Mikael explained
"Now, his wife has also passed away. But she kind of knew it was her husband being unfaithful, and the child is still brought up in the house. She is a blood heir. She inherits everything. Then the testament ends, and the last song, The Story Never Told, comes in. So, she's now living in the mansion. She's got it all. But then a letter arrives. It's from her mother, the maid, saying, 'I lied to your father. You're the result of another love affair. He was never your dad.' So that's kind of the twist of the story: the patriarch was sterile."
I was worried they were gonna try to move backwards and sound like old men trying to make a buck. So far it’s the exact opposite - it feels authentic.
Akerfeldt only goes forward. Never backwards
Yea, Mikael has always been authentic on music. People just couldn't wrap their head around before
Akerfeldt will never just try to make a buck. He is as authentic a musician and songwriter as we have ever seen in any genre.
This is the album where Mikael finally convinced Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull to play the flute on the album. We also have to remember that before writing this album Mikael wrote the soundtrack to the Netflix show "Clark" which clearly gave him new tools to write a more theatrical concept album.
Ian Anderson is also the speaking narrator heard throughout the album
To the critics I'd like to quote Kurt Cobain......"then why are you here?"
I really would suggest that you try their previous release “In Cauda Venenum”. As a self taught musician, Mikael Åkerdeldt’s compositions are beautiful.
He specializes in spooky, evil and occasionally magical moods. Elfman is a good comparison btw!👍🏻
Great reaction! The thing with all Opeth albums for me is that they grow over time. If you know that Mikael is a perfectionist you also know that every second of music has an intention. And with that knowledge I hear their albums over and over again and out of a sudden I like individual songs that felt average in the first place. On this album §6 catched my attention immediately. The keyboard and guitar solo is really something else on this song.
Did you listen to their last album In Cauda Venenum? Especially the swedish version is a masterpiece. You can hear that he sang that before the english recording and that he has written the vocal lines in swedish. Minnets Yta (Lovelorn Crime) and Allting Tar Slut (All Things Will Pass) are some of my favourite songs ever.
I don’t think I have heard their last album, no. Maybe the Swedish version could be a cool option to check out next 🤘🏻
@@ohacade408Yeah! Feel free to ignore the lyrics 😉
@@progperljungman8218yes, but the lyrics are still good
@@MartinaHorvat-g3g When you can understand them (I can, cause I'm Swedish 😊)
@progperljungman8218 I can't understand, but after I digest the music, I always translate the lyrics. It turns out that only through the music I can feel what it is about.And I also learned a little bit of Swedish😊
Loved the video! Love watching people enjoy this amazing band. Like all Opeth fans do on Opeth reaction videos, I’m going to request that you analyze some of their other albums. While Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries are amazing, Opeth fans feel the less popular albums get overlooked a lot, they have all amazing albums and I think you’d really enjoy Watershed in particular (you probably already know it but a deep dive would be worth it). Also, fun fact, Mikael writes all of the music for them, except a few guitar solos, featured artists parts, and some bass sections, so listening to Opeth through the years is basically observing Mikael’s taste in music through the years all come together. Enjoy!
Great reaction and analysis! A mindblowing album for sure!
Good day, Oha Cade,
We responded a little more often at some reaction channels (about the band Unexpect).
So nice to see you at your own channel. You are obviously someone who knows what he's talking about.
There's happened a lot between the album Blackwater Park and The Last Will. The band transformed from melodic prog death in a prog rockband. The last four albums were all progrock without any growling. This album (The Last Will) is combining the best of both worlds. This is the fourth time I listen to it in its entirety, and it's getting better and better.
Cheers.
Thanks for your kind words and glad you enjoyed! 🤘🏻
🔥🔥❤Opeth❤🔥🔥
I love this album sooo much!
A true masterpiece. Absolutely love the album.
I'm hearing so much Ritchie Blackmore/ Rainbow on this album. Especially in those middle eastern sections
What is impressive to me is that the drum was actually composed my Mikael himself, I was quite blown away that he's able to write such drums. But Waltteri is indeed such a perfect drummer, he executes everything, including feeling, flawlessly, I also fell in love with the sound of his drums ever since I heard him for the first time on Paradise Lost's Album "Obsidian" his tone is so great and when I heard that he was going to Opeth I got really excited
Also, you mentioned that you'd recommend us to listen to Danny Elfman's solo music if we like the album, which works of his would you recommend?
I was reminded of the general sound of the album Big Mess. Very weird, theatrical, chaotic, it might hit!
@@ohacade408 Thank you very much, definitely gonna listen to it
The ' Alice' theme song from Dan elfman is so good, I came up with metal drums for it, it is so good, my 9 yr old daughter sings the passages, and I add bits in vocal lines, she showed me that to start the ball rolling, what a legend, hopefully I can put something up in the near future
Fantastic review!
It is a masterpiece. Perfectly balanced in every way.
Opeth It's a bunch of professionals!!!
The chords for the solo section should be an E diminished (whole half) mode, as for the solo I can’t speak to it lol but yeah I had to sit down with the guitar and figure out the mode too
Mikael Akerfeldt is one hell of a musician
Love Opeth. Interesting thoughts on the album. Thank you.
Thanks.
56:17 spot on what I feel about this as well. Reminded me so much of Danny Elfman and his film scores too, like in spiderman lol.
That’s crazy you heard it too. I actually saw Danny live at the Sick New World festival and he blew me away, wouldn’t be surprised if he is influenced by Opeth and vice versa
Great reaction mate!
Now go listen to the 4(!) albums before this. Considering your taste shown here, I think there's pretty much(...) for you to enjoy in them 😊
Great reaction! Though you missed all the Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson infulence, spoken word and the flute!😅
Dude! Those things are called ‚paragraphs‘, not ‚sections‘. Apart from that I like your reaction and commentary.
Love the video, maybe you should check their watershed album, it has some cool experimental ideas if you like that side of them
Man you deserve better headphones than that. I really recommend dali io-12
Nice vid. My first listen to this album was just with one earbud while walking on a busy street. Not the best way to go about it lol. Your vid actually made me go back and relisten more intensely and I certainly found a new appreciation for it. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are incredible to my ears. Some of their best songs imo.
That’s awesome, I’m glad I could offer another perspective on it. One earbud on a busy street is crazy 😂
Still no lyrics for most of the songs lol
6 is one of my favorite songs in years - not just from Opeth.
S6 is pretty heavily inspired by Rainbow I think. Hear a lot of Dream Theater in there too. Really fun track.
Music’s volume is way too low compared to your mic man, balance it please
S2- reminds me of wilderun
Every fucking person has a channel “reacting” to this album. And a patreon! LOL!
Where are the acoustic guitars? Mikael wrote some of the most memorable acoustic passages and they gave each song so much glue. The album sounds like a gigantic mess at times with the synths and vox layered together in mounds of reverb. Unplug those synths and use acoustics again Mikael!
Loved the reaction, Love the album. but i have to say something about the sipping sounds. ASMR makes my body cringe and physically hurt. for your consideration. thanks
Noted, my apologies.
I did not connect with album till the fifth track! Pointlessly composed music with very litlle if not almost none magical moments. Then it starts to be much bettter.
It has some good moments but the songs overall are pretty meh! I even think the "epic" solo in ASNT is pretty lackluster and nothing special compared to say the one in A Fair Judgement from the Deliverance album. It's a good album but nowhere near Opeth's best. Still Life will never be topped!
That solo is also nowhere as good as on Lovelorn Crime which for me was a highlight of ICV
this album is a chore to get through and definitely worst opeth album (yet)
🤷🏻♂️
Worst Opeth album when Orchid and Sorceress exist lmaooo
it may sound good but it's terribly boring, not a single memorable moment. not good art
I disagree as you can probably tell from my reaction but to each their own 👍🏻
LOL
Not good art? This could be the most braindead comment i´ve ever read.
Take omega 3, it can help to memorize something
I think it's anything but boring. It has so many layers and the production is stellar 👌 I took me 4 listens to really click with it.