STILL LIFE

If one is looking for a proper introduction to Opeth, I think Still Life would be a good place to start. To begin with, the album has more varied influences going for it than the remainder of the bands back catalog, and it also remains firmly in touch with the bands extreme progressive metal roots. In addition, it also has the whole concept thing going for it, it's got "Benighted" which is an all acoustic gem that is just like those progressive rock songs that we find on Damnation, and it's got both the death growls and clean vocals going for it as well. It might very well be the most varied album they've ever released - the one that best reveals what Opeth is really all about - musically speaking.

Damnation was an all acoustic album, certainly more progressive rock than progressive metal. Every other Opeth album is more extreme in nature with a good mix between the soft and the more intense brutal moments of their music.

What most Opeth fans like about the band is not just the music or the poetic lyrics, it's the way the band puts everything together, the song-writing, the craftsmanship, all the intricate arrangements, the immense talent within the band and how everything is done so perfectly and so flawlessly well. And just as some bands will be remembered for their hits, some will be remembered and revered for all the contributions they made to a particular genre or musical style. Opeth will simply be one of those bands standing tall in the extreme progressive metal genre! And because of songs like "Benighted" and progressive rock albums like Damnation, they may also have an appearance in the Progressive Rock category!

The concept behind Still Life centers around the story of an exiled man who returns home only to find his beloved Melinda married to another. It's a tragic tale of love and death in a cruel and fatalistic world with a most cynical look at human society. The music of Still Life is sometimes heavy, melodic and violent, and at other times it is soft, calm and soothing.

Everybody has their own individual music preferences partially based on their life experiences, their mood and whatever or however the music moves them. So, if a lot of people are saying that this music and this album is great...though I agree with them, I must admit that this reality does not necessarily make it so for "everybody." I accept the fact that some individuals simply don't like extreme music and/or they may only enjoy the softer side of the progressive musical scale. There's nothing wrong with that, nor with the fact that some may simply not be open to other musical genres and styles. But, if you are like me and you are open minded and enjoy a little variation in your life, then quite possibly you will appreciate good progressive music no matter what the influences, genre or style it is...

Still Life!