Opeth - Watershed

\r\nOpeth for me is a sum of recollections. I remember the sentiment that dominated me when I heard the masterpieces of past such as Orchid, Morningrise, My Arms Your Hearse and of course Still Life. I remember the goosebumps when I heard for thefirst time the exceptional Blackwater Park. Also I remember how much disappointed I had been with the route that the band took with its most recent albums and finally I remember how much tired I was when I listened to the latest compositions of Opeth. After Ghost Reveries, it was time for the Swedes to release the second album on behalf of Roadrunner Records and the ninth in their career. I would like to share my personal opinion regarding this album and also I would like to clarify that henceforth I am not from the biggest fans of the band. Each disc of Opeth however is a new challenge and to be honest, I like challenges. \r\n

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\r\nBeginning from the simplest, I believe that the title that the band chose for the new album is not the best there is. They have proved to us several times that when they want to create a very appreciable title, they will. Apart from this, we must also report the changes in their line up. Drummer Martin Lopez is no longer member of the band and his place was taken from Martin Axenrot (Bloodbath, Satanic Slaughter, Witchery), also the guitarist Peter Lindgren is replaced by Fredrik Akesson. It appears that these two musicians accomplished to have soon adopt the style of the band and the work that they made in the new album is very appreciable. \r\n

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\r\nWatershed contains 7 tracks and I would not want to make any comparison to the old album of the band. Music of Opeth does not raise comparisons as each time the basic structure can be the same but there are a lot of differences between the albums, making each one of them unique. Watershed therefore is a complicated album that requires long hous of listening in order for someone to make conclusions. If someone could come to conclusions after only one listening then he might have jump to hurry conclusions. We have to deal with a multidimensional album that tries to be heard modern and at the same time classic. And in both cases they manage it absolutely. Many Progressive elements represenative of Opeth of course exist here along with Death metal break-throughs. The band offers generously a delirium from many and different colours of sounds giving attention to many Prog Rock points, in Free Jazz themes, while there are some Folk points, too. The tracks are of course big long and are characterized by the alternations of rhythms, speed and sentiments. What I did not like by no means, is the work that has be done on keyboards since it tired me and I believe that in this sector the band exaggerated. By saying this I mean we listen to a track, which is characterized by force and energy, all come to a halt and the only thing that you hear is chaotic keyboards, which want to sound atmospheric but for my ears, they do not accomplish it. Of course, there are enough beautiful acoustic and melodic passages in album, as also certain keyboard parts suit beautifully in the whole result. In its entirety it falls short. What someone should notice in this work is the way with which the tracks are evolved and climaxed, in which a huge part is plyed by the amazing guitar playing from Mikael Akerfeldt. We must say that the production of the album is simply exceptional and everything is heard clear and with the essential volume. Vocals are once again combined beautifully, going from Mikael’s classic brutal to also classically clear and where these exist, they give a note of melancholy but also melody. Unfortunately for one more time, the only thing that tired me is the long duration of the tracks and this is finally what bothers me with Opeth. This of course is a matter of personal taste and not serious argument in order to reduce the quality of the album. \r\n

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\r\nWatershed is a qualitative album created from a band who knows well what means quality and also knows well to combine good elements of Prog sound with Death passages and modern parts. As I said before I won’t compare it to another album simply because I think of it as an individual release which deserves to be heard by the fans of Opeth and others,too. The one and only thing that I would change (and I hope it would be better in the next album) is the keyboards. Give it a chance and you won’t lose... \r\n

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\r\nVassilis Mazaris \r\n

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\r\nTranslation: Barbara Karpodini \r\n

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