The official Opeth thread v. Bring on the new album!

[DebraKadabra]

If Mike disliked jumping off a bridge would you dislike jumping off a bridge too?

 

So i just got done with Deliverance. There are a lot of familiar riffs and sections that were used again in Ghost Reveries it seems which was pretty  . A very solid album, Loved it. Opeth has YET to disappoint me.

Nice.  Interesting about the familiar riffs/sections thing, I may have to pay more attention to that the next time I listen to both of those albums.

Still Life is overrated.

 

[Mosh]

The ending to Harlequin Forest is basically the same idea as the ending to Deliverance. One of the rhythms in Deliverance is similar to another in Ghost of Perdition as well, can't remember the timestamps on those. It seems less like they were "nuggets" and more of the band being influenced by themselves. Maybe since Mikael doesn't like the album much he wanted to use the cool ideas on something better.

[DebraKadabra]

Cool, didn't know that.

[black_biff_stadler]

The ending to Harlequin Forest is basically the same idea as the ending to Deliverance.

That's a bit of a generalization since you could also apply that to Advent and A Fair Judgement if the only criteria for similarity in this context is "similar concept" despite the music itself sounding nothing alike.

One of the rhythms in Deliverance is similar to another in Ghost of Perdition as well, can't remember the timestamps on those.

This intrigues me since I've listened to both a fair bit and never picked up on any of that. Post more info if you get the chance.

It seems less like they were "nuggets" and more of the band being influenced by themselves. Maybe since Mikael doesn't like the album much he wanted to use the cool ideas on something better.

I'm familiar with his dislike for BtPISiO but this is the first I ever heard of him thinking poorly of the album in general. You got a link for that interview by any chance cuz I'm curious what the whole context of it was and if he does indeed dislike the whole album if there are any songs or sections he likes in spite of his generally blah feelings toward it.

[Mosh]

That's a bit of a generalization since you could also apply that to Advent and A Fair Judgement if the only criteria for similarity in this context is "similar concept" despite the music itself sounding nothing alike.

I was thinking more, syncopated rhythms on the lowest chord (E in Deliverance, but D in Harlequin since the guitars are tuned down), varying levels of intensity on a vamp that lasted a couple minutes. With Harlequin it seemed like they were trying to capture a similar vibe to Deliverance. Maybe worth noting that they both segue into softer songs.

This intrigues me since I've listened to both a fair bit and never picked up on any of that. Post more info if you get the chance.

Okay, here you go. In Ghost of Perdition it's 6:58. In Deliverance it's 4:44. I dunno, those always sounded similar to me.

I'm familiar with his dislike for BtPISiO but this is the first I ever heard of him thinking poorly of the album in general. You got a link for that interview by any chance cuz I'm curious what the whole context of it was and if he does indeed dislike the whole album if there are any songs or sections he likes in spite of his generally blah feelings toward it.

Maybe not, I thought I read about his distaste for that album here. Maybe it's just BtPISiO. I know in Royal Albert Hall when he introduces Wreath he said something like "We're only playing this cause we're here, it's kinda shit but whatever". Knowing his humor it could've been a joke, but then again maybe not. If I come across the interview I'll post it here. I'm also basing this on the fact that they don't play a lot of it live. They do the title song a lot live but hardly anything else.


To be completely honest, apart from the first 3 songs I'm not very familiar with Deliverance. To me it always sounded like a bridge between BWP and GR, both being much better records. But when someone mentioned them reusing ideas from Deliverance in GR, I found it intriguing since those two examples always stuck out to me, but I never thought much of it.

[KevShmev]

The ending to Harlequin Forest is basically the same idea as the ending to Deliverance. 

Haha, yeah, I thought that the first time I heard it.  It was basically them trying to do another Deliverance-type ending.  It's a good ending, but it doesn't utterly destroy you like Deliverance's ending does. 

[ariich]

I actually prefer the Harlequin Forest one, but yeah both are pretty epic breakdowns.

I don't think they're that similar though, it's not the same riff or anything. It's just the only two songs that Opeth have done that end on such a breakdown, but other bands use that style as well.

[Scrub206]

If Mike disliked jumping off a bridge would you dislike jumping off a bridge too?

 

So i just got done with Deliverance. There are a lot of familiar riffs and sections that were used again in Ghost Reveries it seems which was pretty  . A very solid album, Loved it. Opeth has YET to disappoint me.

Nice.  Interesting about the familiar riffs/sections thing, I may have to pay more attention to that the next time I listen to both of those albums.

Still Life is overrated.

 

After listening through it again, they're not TOO similar, but it seems like he had the same influences in mind while writing the music? I'm not sure. The first time listen they sounded kinda familiar.

[Mosh]

I love both songs but Deliverance really nails the outro. And it was so intense live. Harlequin Forest just sort of ends.

[The King in Crimson]

The ending to Harlequin Forest is basically the same idea as the ending to Deliverance. 

Haha, yeah, I thought that the first time I heard it.  It was basically them trying to do another Deliverance-type ending.  It's a good ending, but it doesn't utterly destroy you like Deliverance's ending does. 

If you mean, destroys you with boredom then yes.

[DebraKadabra]

I love both songs but Deliverance really nails the outro. And it was so intense live. Harlequin Forest just sort of ends.

I can get behind this.  Though, like Rich, I do dig both outros.

[aprilethereal]

I'd say Still Life is their best, without a doubt for me.

YES!

Still Life Ghost Reveries is horribly overrated.

Agreed

[black_biff_stadler]

Still Life is overrated. MAYH is definitely the best of the pre-BWP albums.

No way. Still Life probably has the best balance of vibe/melody/heaviness of any of their albums. Tracks like The Moor, Godhead's Lament, and Serenity Painted Death, all have very good brutal sections yet, surprisingly, have melodic sections that sound a bit more warm and comforting than the usually melancholy direction their melodic sections take on other albums. Also, Moonlapse Vertigo has such a serene and peaceful verse before that scorchingly roaring chorus plus a superb middle section with the mellow jazzy motif.

[DebraKadabra]

Serenity Painted Death, Godhead's Lament AND Moonlapse Vertigo all in the same paragraph.  That's some fuckin WIN right there.
:swoon:

[black_biff_stadler]

o/

[DebraKadabra]

*\o

[?]

I think Harlequin Forest is better than Deliverance as a song, but I like the ending of the latter more. That said, I love how they look so concentrated during the HF outro on the RAH DVD.

Still Life has never been one of my favorites, although it isn't a weak album. It has some brilliant standout songs, though

[Buddyhunter1]

Also, Moonlapse Vertigo has such a serene and peaceful verse before that scorchingly roaring chorus plus a superb middle section with the mellow jazzy motif.

Moonlapse Vertigo is my favorite song on the album, yet EVERYONE ranks it dead last. I really don't get it.

[aprilethereal]

Also, Moonlapse Vertigo has such a serene and peaceful verse before that scorchingly roaring chorus plus a superb middle section with the mellow jazzy motif.

Moonlapse Vertigo is my favorite song on the album, yet EVERYONE ranks it dead last. I really don't get it.

It's amazing. No doubt.

Still Life is probably in my Top 5 albums of all time.

[black_biff_stadler]

I'm digging this Moonlapse Vertigo circle jerk

[Mladen]

Lets give this a shot, guys, what do you think? Top 10 Opeth songs:

10. To bid you farewell
9. The Leper affinity
8. Wreath
7. The Devil's orchard
6. April ethereal
5. The Drapery falls
4. Godhead's lament
3. Hessian peel
2. Master's apprentices
1. The Moor

[Scorpion]

Ooh, tough one. Something like this:

10. Reverie / Harlequin Forest
9. When
8. Windowpane
7. Hessian Peel
6. In the Mist She Was Standing
5. Serenity Painted Death
4. The Drapery Falls
3. To Bid You Farewell
2. Bleak
1. The Moor

Honourable mentions to The Leper Affinity and Advent.

[Zydar]

In chronological order:

1. The Moor
2. Bleak
3. Harvest
4. The Drapery Falls
5. Deliverance
6. Ghost Of Perdition
7. Reverie / Harlequin Forest
8. Isolation Years
9. Burden
10. Folklore

[?]

Ooh, tough one. Something like this:

10. Reverie / Harlequin Forest
9. When
8. Windowpane
7. Hessian Peel
6. In the Mist She Was Standing
5. Serenity Painted Death
4. The Drapery Falls
3. To Bid You Farewell
2. Bleak
1. The Moor

Honourable mentions to The Leper Affinity and Advent.

Nice picks, especially Windowpane and Mist! I haven't listened to Opeth enough lately to come up with a list, but many of those songs would be there, except that I would also include Ghost of Perdition and maybe Deliverance.

[Zantera]

Something like this: (order is not important)

1. Blackwater Park
2. Deliverance
3. The Baying of the Hounds
4. The Moor
5. The Night and the Silent Water
6. In Mist She Was Standing
7. When
8. Serenity Painted Death
9. A Fair Judgement
10. Hex Omega

[Xanthul]

Chronological order (not preference), and nothing from the first three because I don't know them enough (or from Deliverance because the title song, which is the one I like the most, does not make the cut). Some arguably "weird" choices but honestly these are the songs I enjoy the most.

The Moor
Bleak
Patterns in the Ivy
Dirge for November
Hope Leaves
Ghost of Perdition
The Baying of the Hounds
Coil
Hex Omega
Slither

[The King in Crimson]

The Moor
Face of Melinda
The Lotus Eaters
Heir Apparent
The Grand Conjuration
A Fair Judgement
Folklore
Under The Weeping Moon
Ghost of Perdition
The Leper Affinity

In no real order because I'm posting from my phone.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I only have Watershed, so mine would be a top 7.

[Mosh]

No real order, though Bleak is always number one.

1. Bleak
2. Ghost of Perdition
3. Deliverance
4. Face Of Melinda
5. Windowpane
6. The Moor
7. Blackwater Park
8. Hessian Peel
9. Reverie/Harlequin Forest
10. Lotus Eater

[black_biff_stadler]

No particular order as these slots could changer from hour to hour.

1. Bleak
2. The Night and the Silent Water
3. Serenity Painted Death
4. Demon of the Fall
5. When
6. The Twilight is My Robe
7. Patterns in the Ivy
8. Moonlapse Vertigo
9. The Moor
10. Nectar

[aprilethereal]

I haven't listened to Opeth enough lately to come up with a list

This. I'll try anyways:

01. The Moor / Deliverance (impossible to decide)
03. When
04. The Drapery Falls
05. Serenity Painted Death
06. Heir Apparent
07. Wreath
08. Blackwater Park
09. Windowpane
10. Face Of Melinda

Apart from the Top 6, this list will probably be totally different in a couple of weeks.

[Gysten]

In this order.

1. Black Rose Immortal
2. Advent
3. April Ethereal
4. In The Mist She Was Standing
5. The Moor
6. To Bid You Farewell
7. When
8. Heir Apparent
9. Nectar
10. The Night And The Silent Water

[Rattlehead]

In no particular order...

Bleak
Deliverance
Ghost of Perdition
Demon of the Fall
The Drapery Falls
April Ethereal
When
The Moor
Serenity Painted Death
Reverie/Harlequin Forest

The list isn't set in stone though  To be quite honest, I haven't listened to Orchid and Morningrise quite enough to even be able to accurately gauge where they would land in my list. I've only had each album for a few months and they're already starting to grow on me; I previously listed both at the bottom of my album rankings just because I hadn't listened to them enough, but now it's safe to say that they are far from my "least favorite" Opeth albums. I don't like saying that with Opeth though because I like everything by them 

[Sketchy]

Also, Moonlapse Vertigo has such a serene and peaceful verse before that scorchingly roaring chorus plus a superb middle section with the mellow jazzy motif.

Moonlapse Vertigo is my favorite song on the album, yet EVERYONE ranks it dead last. I really don't get it.

I don't know what my favourite from that album is, but Moonlapse is pretty high up there.

[?]

I heard the full version of Ghost of Perdition on the radio today