Metal Reviews

really doubt they're as popular as opeth

Opeth is to prog death what Dream Theater is to Prog Metal: the uncontested leader.
Do they deserve to be? That's for everyone to make their own opinion but it's a fact that cannot be denied.

The leader now, like I said. But will they stand the test of time? In ten years, will Opeth be remembered so fondly...like, say, Cynic and Atheist? A few more albums like Heritage, and I doubt fans will be so forgiving.

I really didnt like this album and the new direction Opeth have taken. Dont get me wrong im OK with their clean vocals (I loved Damnation), its just that the album lacks the usual brilliant ideas and emotion Opeth generally have and its downright boring.

In the first listen I dont think a single song stood out,and the 2nd time it became a real chore that I dont think id give it another try. IMO, the whole album sounded like a gifted group of musicians trying really hard to make a masterpiece but failing badly in the end.


40-50/100 for me.

But look at the direction Cynic have taken and compare them to Opeth, Opeth have a more lengthy discography hence progression can be seen on a level more clearly than Cynic. Not to menion the fact that Cynic isn't seen as being relevant to death metal these days, and their newest albums have their share of detractors in the death metal scene.

The more I listen to this album the more I like it. Nepenthe, Haxprocess and The Lines In My Hands are so freakin good.

Ummm Cynic really isn't even doing death metal these days. And I would lump Atheist in with Tech Death like late Death. Newer Atheist has more in common with Obscura or Necrophagist than Opeth.

Oh, Cynic is no longer a death metal band. They have moments of course, but regardless, I don't think anything Opeth has done will ever being as highly regarded as Focus.

And "tech death" is progressive death metal.

imo Blackwater Park and Still Life are just as highly regarded as Focus and much more popular.

Blackwater Park, yeah, Opeth owes its popularity to that album.

Ummm Necrophagist is not equal to Akercocke. I don't want to play genre bigot but yeah, they're different genres. I would totally put Focus and Traced over anything Opeth has done but I don't think Cynic is a comparable band to what Opeth does. Akercocke, Augury or even Ulcerate much more comparable though.

Ok, Rio.

I've just realized that I only like a few tracks off each Opeth album. Hence Traced is totally fucking better than any single Opeth album. Yeah, sue me. I don't like Opeth as much as I did first getting into metal and would gladly choose Akercocke over them now.

trapt, brother, bros before hos, man.

Actually I like Traced in Air more than any Opeth album but can't stand Focus.

You practically epitomized what I was going to say.

All I see Trapt saying is that Traced > My Arms, Your Hearse. That gets you entered on my little list of mockery.

I guess I agree on Akercocke over Opeth at this point though.

It's more like Traced > Demon of the Fall + Lotus Eater + Bleak + Beneath the Mire + Night & The Silent Water.

AKERCOCKE!!

After about 7 listens I find this new Opeth-y thing difficult to love. There are some great moments but also some extended passages which lead nowhere and could have been omitted. I don't know if I could put this on driving, my finger would get mighty itchy wanting to change to something else. Unfortunately right now I'd have to qualify this as good background music.

I went and saw Opeth the other weekend and walked out halfway through the set. This music is so boring compared to their shit on Blackwater park or prior.

Fuck bands who do this and then only play their new shit live.

Totally agree. It's like walking into a restaurant and asking for "the usual," and them saying, "no, not today." Being a musician is the only profession where it is OK to piss off your customers.