WATERSHED

Opeth's Watershed album, is in lack of other words, a fantastic album. I can´t rate it however asa masterpiece, but definitely it´s almost there. Akerfeldt made the best move he could've done in the compositional direction this group takes in this adventure. The days of black metal meets progressive rock have long ended, and nowadays we found progressive rock meets progressive metal-bordering-sometimes-in-the-black-metal-world kind of songs. Some say they're doing it wrong; others say they're maturing and evolving. I say neither,and both, at the same time.

I won't depict each song, as there are better reviewers than me for that job, however the album starts with the track Coil, which I was surprised for a soft introduction like this with Akerfeldt singing and then another singing by a female vocalist with such great voice (and I like it!) because next YOU and I KNOW that the next track will be a killer! And it is.

Heir Apparent and Lotus Eater are some of my favorite tracks in this album. Heir... for doing what they know best (soft acoustic passages with killer progressive metally riffy moments) and for somehow bringing fresh air to the sound they've created throughout the years, Lotus Eater coming to mind, when I hear that piano solo, I just get a smile in my face...

Burden is the weakest song for me in this album however. I like the song, there's no questioning in it, the thing is, it just seems I've heard this somewhere, maybe in some 70´s group, who knows? Great track however, with good guitar solos but too simple for my tastes however. Porcelain Heart is somehow the single from the album. It lacks a chorus but it is however the single (with a videoclip for it and all! Which is very well done by the way.) for the album. I like this one, really, it has strength and its sad. (maybe only for me)

The next two track are for me, the best way to end a fantastic album like this! Hessian Peel, just shows (like Lotus Eater had) that they want to showy 'all progressive music fans, that they're not only about metal or black metal or whatever. Akerfeldt is doing some nasty progressive stuff, the track changes throughout it, giving some ambient moods, and this I like! Hex Omega is like a farewell-see-ya-next-time-hope-you-come-back kind of track. Either makes you feel well I want their next album NOW!!! or makes you feel well I'm gonna hear the album again! or for other purist makes you feel well...I miss the old sound, I'm just gonna hear Still Life again... well, either way, has long as you listen to Opeth, you wont go wrong...right?

ll in all it's a killer four stars to me, a great transition album from their usual but great nonetheless sound and it shows they're going to do some experimenting in their next effort, at least I hope. You can't go wrong with this album folks. No way. Believe me.

Once You Go Prog You Never Go Wrong. Have a good day proggy folks!