WATERSHED

Watershed (2008) is a Swedish progressive metal Opeth's ninth studio album. This album went on to lighter direction from previous albums (if Damnation does not count). There are lots 70's prog familiar elements. Mikael 'kerfeldt has also put that kind of material to this album that I am forced to wonder Opeth continuously brilliant music. There isn't one bad album or even mediocre album in the career of Opeth.

A great opener for a great album is beautiful Coil, which lasts only three minutes, but in my opinion it should have been longer. In the song, there is also a woman singing, which I would have liked to hear more later on the album. The album continues with its heaviest piece: Heir Apparent. Heir Apparent remids me most from the old Opeth - sound, which is really not a bad thing. Song just isn't a full bullseye. The Lotus Eater is a cozy and versatile piece and in the song you can hear pure blast beat and also the 70-prog stuff. Burden is the album's second calm song, in which 'kerfeldt manages to present the best aspects of his own compositions. The ending of the song was annoying at first, but then I got used to it. Porcelain Heart is not a progressing song, and it is kind of boring. Album's last two songs have a little more bleak atmosphere and that is why they have not become awfully close to me. Both are pretty good compostions , but especially the last song, Hex Omega leaves me cold everytime.

Watershed was a wuite succesful album by Opeth. It still does not quite maintain the level of previous albums, but still it deserves a good rating. I would recommend this to people who are familiar with Damnation and want to continue to a heavier stuff by Opeth. The album is good way to get used to the growls. It is incomprehensible how the Opeth albums and songs will remain fresh and atmospheric year after year.

(sorry for my mistakes, english is not my native language)