LAMENTATIONS: LIVE AT SHEPHERD'S BUSH

Opeth are best-known for their fusion of death metal and 70s-style progressive rock through monstrous epics. While they are amazing at that style, they have a habit of stripping everything down and doing songs that are entirely free of death vocals as well. This DVD release is the culmination of that, and features in its 14 song set 10 tracks without death vocals. They play the entire DAMNATION record, a fantastic album, as well as "Harvest" and the epic closer "A Fair Judgement". But fear not, for there are also songs to soothe the drooling metalhead in us all, "The Leper Affinity", "Master's Apprentices", "The Drapery Falls", and "Deliverance" appear as well to provide some headbangability.

So what makes this DVD so special? Quite a few things, actually. First of all, it captures the essence of a live Opeth performance. The music is perfect and after a hundred viewings, I've only actually noticed one note played differently than on record. They ooze energy in a live setting, and yet they never screw up.

Another element is that the crowd noise wasn't deleted, and was hardly even reduced. You can hear the fans chanting for "Demon of the Fall" and "Black Rose Immortal", as is commonplace at an Opeth show. Mikael is visibly distressed as he turns them down to play A Fair Judgement. It would seem that Music for Nations/Koch Records only wanted Opeth to play songs from the albums released on their label, so BLACKWATER PARK, DELIVERANCE, and DAMNATION are the only albums represented. The performance isn't any less amazing as a result.

Another exciting thing about this concert is that it foreshadows keyboardist Per Wiberg's entry to the band. His performance is flawless and you can really see what Mikael and Co. saw in him as a player.

The bonus feature on this is surprisingly rewatchable. It's an hour long documentary on the making of DELIVERANCE and DAMNATION, two painstakingly difficult albums. The story of Opeth's development to their present (well, in 2004) state as well as the process of creating the two aforementioned albums, a process which no doubt caused many sleepless nights for all involved. You get to see unused takes in the studio as well as just what a hand Steven Wilson lent to the project. Truly amazing, and as I said, rewatchable.

Overall, I can't think of any reason you shouldn't buy this if you like Opeth. It was only $15 from a Suncoast Motion Picture Company of America for me, I'm sure you can find it in an FYE or something somewhere. So find it, and buy it.