Beginning my quest to get into Opeth. Listened to Orchid on my morning commute. VERY impressed and VERY glad I started this mission.
I've always thought death metal wasn't the genre for me since I typically don't enjoy death growls (although they don't hurt my enjoyment), I dislike downtuned guitars and generally amelodic music, and I DESPISE blast beats. I have yet to get into a band that regularly used blast beats. Unfortunately for me, Death, Atheist, Cynic and a few other DM bands were some of my favorite musical acts, and I've spent years looking for other good DM bands that fit my weird tastes. I'm hoping Opeth may be one of these bands. So far I'm liking everything about this album. Heavy, melodic, progressive, and no blast beats! Orchid, where have you been, my whole life! Now, if only the later Opeth can stay as enjoyable as these first 2 "heavy" albums.... I'm sure it is. I see the public opinion on the first couple albums is pretty low, so I'm optimistic.
I think Forest of October is my favorite from the album, although based on pretty limited listenings.
Only complaint is that the vocals get pretty screachy and black metally at times. I would like a more typical Death Metal style, which I think he does get into later.
I like how audible the bass is. Surprised by how progressive the songs are. Can I mention again how happy I am that the album doesn't have blast beats?
Also, I get the impression that Opeth isn't tremendously respected by metal purists as much as they maybe should...? I don't know why this is. I feel it's weird that I've always asked around the internal for progressive death metal and no one would ever suggest Opeth. But yet this type of music is what more or less exactly what I was looking for.