WATERSHED

"Watershed" is the ninth studio album of Opeth and was released in 2008. The album has been described as, the major turning point on Opeth's musical career, due of their more engagement with the progressive rock style. On the opening track "Coil", Mikael share his vocal duties with Nathalie Lorichs, who was dating drummer Martin Axenrot at the time.

"Watershed" is the first studio album of Opeth to feature their new guitarist Fredrik Akesson and their new drummer Martin Axenrot, who replaced their former guitarist Peter Lindgren and their long time drummer Martin Lopez.

So, the line up on the album is Mikael Akerfeldt (vocals and guitar), Fredrik Akesson (guitar), Per Wiberg (keyboards and synthesizer), Martin Mendez (bass guitar) and Martin Axenrot (drums). The album has also the participation of Nathalie Lorichs (vocals), Lisa Almberg (English horn and oboe), Christopher Wadensten (flute), Karin Svensson (violin) and Andreas Tengberg (cello).

"Watershed" has seven tracks. All lyrics were written by Mikael Akerfeldt and all music was composed by Akerfeldt except "Porcelain Heart" which was written by Akerfeldt and Akesson. The first track "Coil" is an acoustic track that fits perfectly well on "Damnation", but unlike the material featured on it, it isn't quite as dark or depressing. "Coil" is built on the subtlety of both guitarists, as well as the memorable, surprisingly and catchy clean vocals of Mikael and in the beautiful voice of Nathalie. Aside, from the point of the view of the tone, it isn't all that different from "Damnation". The second track "Heir Apparent" is built in a very typical Opeth's style. It's a very heavy track supporting blistering riffs, accented with brief musical passages of clean guitar work and melodic harmonies. Mikael's growls and roars throughout all to the entire track. This is, by far, the most brutal song on the album and can be comparable to the musical direction of their studio album "Deliverance". The third track "The Lotus Eater" picks up in the classic Opeth's style with a great mix of grunts and clean vocals. Rather placing emphasis on power and brutality as its predecessor did, "The Lotus Eater" relies more on the band's creative songs. On several occasions, the song fades out briefly, before a driving bridge brings the heaviness back into play. The track is a great piece of music that maintains a musical mystic atmosphere. The fourth track "Burden" is a more relaxed and melancholic track that would fit perfectly well on "Damnation". This is probably the best mellow track that Opeth have yet recorded and Mikael's voice is just amazing. The sound of the Mellotron is very beautiful reminding King Crimson and it's something that even Anekdoten could have made. It's probably the closest track to the 70's progressive rock made by Opeth. The fifth track "Porcelain Heart" is the most well known song on the album because it was the first single of the album. Again the growls are abandoned in favour of the clean vocals. There is a lot of dynamics present here, ranging from straight ahead heavier riffs to the classical guitar. This a great track that sometimes reminds me Pain Of Salvation, especially the vocal style of Daniel Gildenlow. The sixth track "Hessian Peel" is a far more complex, ambitious and dense progressive epic track which starts darkly, before briefly entering in more pastoral. The song gradually fades to just Wiberg keyboards, before we enter into a ranging heavy musical section. This is another great song of the album that utilizes beautiful soundscapes, based more around atmospheric acoustic structures than gruelling heavy metal. The seventh and last track "Hex Omega" is a very haunting song dominated in large part by spacey keyboard sections and the usual common Opeth's dynamic of soft and heavy sections. The musical atmosphere on here is very good and interesting. It seems to a hard back to the style that group were employing on their album "Still Life". This is a perfect way to close this great album.

Conclusion: "Watershed" continues where "Ghost Reveries" left off. The winning formula has been kept alive with its heavy riffs, eerie musical atmosphere, powerful melodies, and beautiful and soft parts. But don't you think that Opeth just have released a clone of their previous album. In reality, some new elements spice up the songs. While some heavy songs such as "Heir Apparent", "The Lotus Eater" and "Hessian Peel" are for sure to please to the heavy fans of the band and become crowd's favourites, fans of their "Damnation" album will be over pleased with the inspiring ballad "Burden". But overall, I feel this is a more thought album than its predecessor. The level of aggression might have been taken down a notch compared to their earlier studio works. The cohesion of the songs makes of "Watershed" a truly unique release. As I wrote before, on my review of "Ghost Reveries", the addition of a full time keyboardist adds an extra dimension to their sound. It's also true this album is also their most progressive album, until that time. Concluding, "Watershed" is, in my humble opinion, one of the easiest Opeth's albums and one of their best. It's truly a masterpiece and one of my favourite albums of them. If you are a real Opeth's fan, you'll certainly love it, as I do.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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