WATERSHED

Three years have passed since Opeth's Ghost Reveries and it was the time for a new full length album. Frankly, I wasn't expecting such a huge bang against the wall from Opeth. Watershed, without doubt, maintains the typical Opeth sound but it brings many new elements along, a predictable fact actually due to the shifting that has been going on with the band's members. Surprisingly, almost all psychedelic elements have been erased therefore any relation with Porcupine Tree no longer exists, musically speaking. In stead of this, Akerfeldt has adopted a more brutal and terrifying metal marked by brutal/technical death metal drums and, also, some (true) gothic elements such as doom metal bass (see My Dying Bride) especially on Porcelain Heart and also frightening keys that can be heard on several Cradle of Filth songs. I find it appropriate to make a short statement regarding gothic metal. By adding true to the word a (few sentenced above) I was trying to reflect the idea that Opeth did their best in giving the listener a apprehensive state of mind which is one of the purposes of true gothic music, literature, etc. Because of the music industry, many soft, pop, easy listening bands such as Nightwish, Within Temptation, Leave's Eyes, etc were attach to the goth metal genre in spite not having anything to do with it. All this publicity has created a sort of confusion amongst metal fans and I wouldn't want the reader to think that Opeth have anything to do with Macbeth. (You just don't read Poe's short stories and sleep well at night !!!) Folk and blues have always been a signature of Opeth's music, but this time I feel the band has reached the climax of sensitivity with these influences. Similar to Blackmore's Night's songs, Coil is a masterpiece from this point of view, the female vocals being an excellent idea. Focusing on the mellow side of the music as well, The Lotus Eater contains a jazzy part accompanied by a dark cabaret piano, part which adds to the album's originality and swingness. The keyboard is more complex on this album than on others because, not only does it create the mystical atmosphere, but it also becomes the attraction point at some times, approaching a Dream Theater - Jordan Rudess style. In conclusion, Opeth have done it again, this album is better than Ghost Reveries and therefore it's my favourite. if only it had been released while I was still a big death metal fan.