Band : Opeth

Album Title :Watershed

Label : Roadrunner

Distributor : CNR

Release Date : 03/06/2008

Review : CD

I guess you can call Opetha progressive metal band. I don't care about the style they are labelled with as long as the music is good. And with each release this band is getting better and better. Having heard this album a zillion times already, I become more and more convinced that this is truly the best Opeth album.

Just from hearing the first track “Coil” I knew I was going to like Watershed more than GhostsReveries.“Coil” is one of the best instantly likable melancholic Zeppelin folk songs I've ever heard.and shows of divine skills on the acoustic guitar while retaining the power of their electric work. The vocal harmonies by Michael Akerfeldt and local folk singer Nathalie Lorichs are exceptional which snakes their way relentlessly through your head.   “Heir apparent” is a majestic composition that fuses Morbid Angel mid-paced crushing grooves, Dream Theater-elements, and flamenco influences... all the things Opeth is known to do best! “The lotus eater” is a moody, meandering tune, sprawling progressive Cynic- Voi Vod arrangements touching on folk, jazz, blues, death as well as 70s prog. And to cap it off, new member Martin Axenrot, sledgehammer beast attack on the drums. “Burden” is a very mature heavy ballad with a warm and easily accessible sound which showcases the strength of Akerfeldt’s writing and vocal ability. The keyboard/organ usage by Per Wiberghere is excellent, making this a quintessential Opeth masterpiece with fantastic melodious guitarduels by Michael Akerfeldtand brand new ex-Arch Enemy member Frederik Akesson. If you embrace dark, heavy, contemplative, beautiful, deep, and sometimes desolate music, “Porcelain heart” is written for you. The last two songs “Hessian peel” and “Hex omega” encompasses everything that I love about music. The brilliant technical skills, slow and really heavy passages and hell and heaven vocals make these opethian (new word in every metal dictionary : quality, phenomenal, sublime, grandeur, unbelievable great, inspiring,…) songs overflow with emotion. Powerful guitar shredding is heightened by the keyboards, piano play acts as a foil for the crunch and thunder of the guitar riffs. It has been a while since I have seen such attention to the details of compositions and such a wonderful blending of raw power with other, much more subtle elements. Every song on Watershed brings forth a different emotion and will appeal to fans into different types of music. With an open mind and an uncanny sense for progress and originality, one can do great things. The forward-thinking Swedish titans prove this theory once again on this disc ..

This CD should please most Opethfans and win over lotsa new ones in the process. Watershed moves onto my list of must have metal discs .. I rate the album 100/100 since I can't find anything bad to say about.

Also available Collector's Edition 2-disc CD/DVD set includes 3 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of the entire album, extensive video content, and expanded artwork.

Limited Edition 180-gram artwork and more.

100/100

Cosmicmasseur.