WATERSHED

In contrast to their older records, (My Arms Your Hearse, Still Life, Blackwater Park) their releases after the latter haven't been that good. Releases like Damnation, Deliverance and Ghost Reveries, just haven't been the same caliber as the older releases. This is a return to that caliber.

Opeth is coming at us at full force, with a beautiful opener, Coil, which sounds like something out of a folk song. The vocals are absolutely gorgeous and the addition of a female voice really changes things up. (10/10)

Heir Apparent, probably the heaviest song on the entire album, is at the same level as The Lepper Affinity, the opener on their critically acclaimed album, Blackwater Park. Just non stop soul churning and the blackest of cookie monster vocals. The new drummers style is much more...soulful than Martin Lopez's. His style is more in the toms than the cymbals. The songs end is very interesting. (9/10)

The Lotus Eater, starts off with a little vocalising, then follows through with something I've never heard Opeth use; Blastbeats. The blastbeats accompany Mikael's harmonic voice perfectly. The high pitch singing and constant time changes and riffing make this song very good. But then a sudden stop, followed by Opeth's signature guitar interludes. This leads into a psychotic mellotron jazz riff, which in turns leads into the best vocal lines ever. The amazing song ends, like most on the album, very mysteriously. All you can hear is voices in the background talking in Swedish. (9.5/10)

Burden, which starts off a little like Paradise Lost by Symphony X, reminds one of The Spirit Carries On. One of the best ballads ever written by Opeth, it's up there with Face Of Melinda. The ending, again, is very interesting, with the lone classical guitar slowly detuning. (10/10)

Porcelain Heart, slowly chugs away at mine, like a hammer hitting a nail. Sort of reminiscent of something on Ghost Reveries. But with one difference. THE AMAZING DRUMMING. Some of the best drum fills I've ever heard in a death metal record. Overall solid song. (9/10)

Hessian Peel, the epic 11 minute monster, is like two songs put together by a lone organ riff. The beginning is like something out of a Pink Floyd record, beautifully played. Then, around the halfway point, hell breaks loose. Another mess of death metal riffs. Beautiful song. (9.5/10)

Hex Omega, starting off a little like Karma from My Arms, Your Hearse, is sort of a dissapointment. The beginning is very well written and the drums are amazing as usual. But, I was expecting something a little more epic. Not bad, but the ending dissapoints greatly. (8/10)

Overall, the addition of Martin Axenrot on drums and Fredrik Akesson on guitar has paid off. Anyone who was worried about the sound being ruined by these two should listen to it. Also, the flute and cello parts are very nice. I have to admit, this album took me two or three listens beofre I finally absorbed it's greatness. Overall, I give this album 10 out 10.

High Points: Coil, Burden, Hessian Peel.

Low Point: Hex Omega.

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