I just don't understand Opeth's last two albums.

Must admit the name of this thread summarises also my feelings quite aptly. In Finland Pale Communion got rather well recieved by the musical press and I had big expectations beforehand but at least after a couple of initial listens nothing really was moved in my mind - somehow uninteresting/-inspiring stuff, sorry to say.

I don't think the metal community hates the new Opeth as much as they think it pales  in comparison to their supposed prog death metal masterpieces. I've heard all their albums, and while I do like Blackwater Park and Still Life and all the most well-received albums, none have completely floored me. The last two are no different, so in my opinion Heritage and Pale Communion are as good as any Opeth album just more classic prog sounding.

Smurph wrote: I think what I really want is for them to find the happy middle ground between Pale Communion, Ghost Reveries, and Blackwater Park. A little bit of growls wouldn't hurt, but they wouldn't need to be the main focus. The harmonies on Pale Communion are beautifully done, and some of the music is just downright amazing... it does completely miss a sense of drama to me though. It doesn't feel dramatic, and it doesn't feel overwhelming at all. Every time I hear Pale Communion I just think to myself... why couldn't he mix a little death metal stylistically in there? Why did he have to go one way or the other? Why couldn't he stretch himself further in ALL directions and create a true death metal slash throwback prog masterpiece???

Well, I would love them to do a full prog metal album without growling. Pale Comunion was great, really, but it never got into real metal territory... hard rock at best. No growling nor Death Metal necessary, but indeed I would love some more metal from them.

Aside from the stunning drum play of Martin Axelrodt on Heritage, I have had to force myself to listen to these albums just to give them a chance. Heritage has interesting and sophisticated parts but nothing, absolutely nothing that brings me back. Not one song. I have never been able to sit/stay attentive through a whole-album listening to Pale Communion. I hear absolutely nothing of interest to me. No power or rawness, no innovation or fresh ideas. Not one melodic or technical "hook" gains my notice. Weird. (cuz I love music.)

Raff wrote: I don't hang around metal forums, so I wouldn't know anything about the reception the metal community gave to those two albums. What I know is that I found Heritage terminally boring, and Pale Communion rather unimpressive on my first and only listen.  I definitely liked Opeth much better when they still had a strong metal component to their music - and that includes the growls.

i really like the new opeth album... 

I guess I'm in the minority that enjoys anything Opeth do.
Really hoping they play more of the newer material when I catch them in Adelaide in May though. Not because I dislike the older songs but because I want to hear how the newer songs work live. This will be my third time seeing them live.

Raff wrote: I don't hang around metal forums, so I wouldn't know anything about the reception the metal community gave to those two albums. What I know is that I found Heritage terminally boring, and Pale Communion rather unimpressive on my first and only listen.  I definitely liked Opeth much better when they still had a strong metal component to their music - and that includes the growls.

Couldn't have stated my sentiments any better Raff.

See, I liked Opeth back when I listened to metal a lot in my somewhat younger days before I knew prog. When I got into prog, along with a  slew of genres and styles, I slowly moved away from Opeth, eventually losing all interest.
Heritage got me back into them a little, then Pale Communion got me back into them more, but I still don't listen as often as i used to. It was strange to compare Heritage with the previous albums, so I saw it as a transitional album. I haven't digested PC as much as I should have, but the albums have a quality that I like, though nothing too crazy.

I think I like it more because of where they came from, and I see these newer albums as more like Mikael solo albums, with the Opeth logo slapped on the front cover. I think context is needed and I'm still interested in where they go next on the follow up, but that album may be the deciding factor if I care to keep up any more.

Raff wrote: I don't hang around metal forums, so I wouldn't know anything about the reception the metal community gave to those two albums. What I know is that I found Heritage terminally boring, and Pale Communion rather unimpressive on my first and only listen.  I definitely liked Opeth much better when they still had a strong metal component to their music - and that includes the growls.