The official Opeth thread v. In Cauda Venenum

[KevShmev]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/opeths_akesson_what_to_expect_from_new_album.html

"It's a bit more heavy, hard rock, progressive hard rock heavy, more direct. Some really catchy melodies if you want to put it that way. It's a bit more intense a think, a bit darker and heavier.

 "We're not going back to death metal stuff, but some songs are the heaviest we've done in the past three albums."

Sweet! Despite my love for Pale Communion and my acceptance of their right to make whatever kind of music they want to under the Opeth name, bringing back some metal is most welcome. 

[?]

BTW, I saw Opeth open for Maiden this summer and I don't think i've seen/heard a band being so in the wrong place like Opeth that night. Don't get me wrong they played brilliantly but they did have a tough crowd to say the least. They played like champs though.

When I saw Opeth opening for Black Sabbath in Helsinki (festival report here), Mikael said the Swedish Maiden fans didn't give a shit about them. Luckily they got a warmer reception from the Finns.

I found a cool one-man cover of Sorceress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6d-9ZK-NA The vocals remind me of Layne Staley, which isn't a bad thing!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

BTW, I saw Opeth open for Maiden this summer and I don't think i've seen/heard a band being so in the wrong place like Opeth that night. Don't get me wrong they played brilliantly but they did have a tough crowd to say the least. They played like champs though.

When I saw Opeth opening for Black Sabbath in Helsinki (festival report here), Mikael said the Swedish Maiden fans didn't give a shit about them. Luckily they got a warmer reception from the Finns.

I found a cool one-man cover of Sorceress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6d-9ZK-NA The vocals remind me of Layne Staley, which isn't a bad thing!

That's funny, no idea why they get that kind of reception in their homecountry, too many casual metal fans in the audience perhaps.

On another note Face In the Snow is such a beautiful and emotional song.

[Zydar]

Studio report: Episode 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDa2rnOUG-s

[pfillion]

Review of the new album

https://www.metalwani.com/2016/08/review-opeth-sorceress.html

[PixelDream]

Good to see the author enjoys it that much. Best album since Ghost Reveries? Consider me hyped.

[Kwyjibo]

Heaviest since Watershed? Consider me hyped too 

[twosuitsluke]

Looking forward to this more than any Opeth album in recent memory. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much but that review has me feeling really optimistic. I do think the guy reviewing may be fanboying quite hard but either way, if it's a return to a heavier sound then I'm happy.

I really do love this band. They are never really a band that spring to mind when I think of my faves but their output is pretty stellar. I don't think they have released a bad album. A few I'm not too blown away by but that is mainly because when they do it right, BOY do they do it right. I'm not one of these fans who moans about the lack of screams/heaviness on the last two albums but I do think the contrast of the heavy/harsh vocals to clean vocals/melodic is what I love. The last two albums were just weaker than the two that came before them unfortunately, IMO. Ghost Reveries has always been my favourite (gateway album for me) but Watershed is a close second. I'd just like to see more contrast on this album. I don't mind all clean vocals at all as long as there are some heavier riffs in there as well.

This month could see my top 3 albums of the year being released if all goes well   

[pfillion]

New review

https://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/opeth-sorcery-track-by-track

[pfillion]

Another review

https://www.sentineldaily.com.au/opeth-sorceress-moderbolagetnuclear-blast/

[twosuitsluke]

It annoys me that some of the reviews I've read have started like "If you are hoping for the return of growls on an Opeth record then you are going to be disappointed." As if 80% of fans are just going to be like "Awwww, screw this then."

I mean, I know Opeth come from a heavy metal background but if people just want METUUUUULLLLLL they have plenty of bands they can turn to. Don't get me wrong, I prefer Opeth's heavier output but I am excited about the new album and the presence (or lack) of growls really won't make any difference to me. It's been 8 years since they released an album with growls. Is the community not over it yet?? I think it is insulting to the band to open a review of the album with "Sorry, no growls!!"

Rant over.

[Mladen]

Good points all around. I also find it odd that some reviewers need to point out that this album is heavier than the previous two, as if that was the only aspect of Opeth music people would be looking forward to.

[devieira73]

Another review

https://www.sentineldaily.com.au/opeth-sorceress-moderbolagetnuclear-blast/

That is kind of a well done "bad" review that makes me believe that I will like this album very much!

[me7]

Good points all around. I also find it odd that some reviewers need to point out that this album is heavier than the previous two, as if that was the only aspect of Opeth music people would be looking forward to.

Also, what weight does this statement even carry? Even The Astonishing is heavier than Opeth's previous two albums.

[King Postwhore]

That the reviewers know something of their music and their fanbase?

[Kwyjibo]

No growls isn't a surprise anymore so it isn't that important to mention and less important to start the article with it. The fact that it's heavier again is an information about the sound of the album, so why not mention it? How important the heaviness is, is up to each listener.

[home]

No growls isn't a surprise anymore so it isn't that important to mention and less important to start the article with it.

Besides wheter or nog it is important it is still something a lot of people want to know, so it makes kinda sense for the reviewer to say it.

Also from their Facebook it seems like a new single or at least teaser (Will'o the Wisp) night be releases tommorow

[Onno]

New song 'Will O The Wisp' is out! You can find it on the Opeth website by clicking the peacock's foot, but in case you're lazy, here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfpnwk-DXrA

It's awesome!

[home]

It's a nice beautiful song but it doesn't feel very special. Singing reminded me a lot of Jethro Tull.

[twosuitsluke]

I'm not sure on that after first listen. I find Opeth ballads to be very hit and miss. I'm sure it will grow, I didn't strongly like or dislike that on first listen.

Think I'm actually going to pre-order the album now though.

[ChuckSteak]

I didn't like the songs they already released. Any ballad they released in any other record is much better.

[BlackInk]

The track is fine. But nothing more.

[Zydar]

The track is fine. But nothing more.

[adace]

Good song. Sounds like it could have been on Damnation.

[Ben_Jamin]

I liked It...reminded me of The Drapery Falls acoustics.

[ChuckSteak]

Good song. Sounds like it could have been on Damnation.

I don't see any relation to Damnation, but people keep saying that.

[Tomislav95]

Good song. Sounds like it could have been on Damnation.

I don't see any relation to Damnation, but people keep saying that.

Me neither. To me, it sounds like it could have been on Pale Communion.

[NoseofNicko]

It's a nice ballad.

People are complaining because it doesn't have growls as usual... *sigh*

[pogoowner]

Good song. Sounds like it could have been on Damnation.

I don't see any relation to Damnation, but people keep saying that.

Yeah, this has much, much more of a folk feel than Damnation.

[?]

New song 'Will O The Wisp' is out! You can find it on the Opeth website by clicking the peacock's foot, but in case you're lazy, here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfpnwk-DXrA

It's awesome!

Yeah, I love the folky vibe!

[Train of Naught]

It's a nice ballad.

People are complaining because it doesn't have growls as usual... *sigh*

Not sure where you even got that from, but most of the complaints I've read about were about the way it doesn't really develop at all, and when it finally sounds like it might, the song ends. I agree with that, maybe when we get to hear the full album it makes more sense, but as of now it's nothing special. I liked the first single though.

[RoadTrain_of Thought]

It's a good song but I feel it's lacking something and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe  I just need to hear it 10 or 15 times to get into it.

[ChuckSteak]

It's a nice ballad.

People are complaining because it doesn't have growls as usual... *sigh*

Not sure where you even got that from, but most of the complaints I've read about were about the way it doesn't really develop at all, and when it finally sounds like it might, the song ends. I agree with that, maybe when we get to hear the full album it makes more sense, but as of now it's nothing special. I liked the first single though.

While I get that a lot of people complain the band doesn't use growls anymore, nowadays you are not allowed to complain about anything in Opeth that people will give you the "ah, you like old Opeth, but bands evolve and bla bla bla" sermon.

[twosuitsluke]

Went ahead and pre-ordered. I'm going to stay quietly (or not so quietly) confident about this one.

I'm hoping that the new track will fit better in the context of the album. It's still got room to grow anyway.

[Scar]

Top 5 Favorite Albums:

1. Damnation
2. Orchid
3. Pale Communion
4. Deliverance
5. Blackwater Park

Top 10 Favorite Songs:

1. By The Pain I See In Others
2. In My Time of Need
3. Master's Apprentice
4. Windowpane
5. To Bid You Farewell
6. Cusp of Eternity
7. In Mist She Was Standing
8. Voice of Treason
9. Baying of the Hounds
10. Face of Melinda