Opeth - For Absent Friends/ Harlequin Forest

[JHan]

[mr_lebowski]

1. Opeth are INSANELY great musicians ...

Especially around the turn of the century. Blackwater Park is w/o question one of the greatest records ever. Still Life a close 2nd

But I just could never really stomach the death metal vocals. I listened, but I ignored the annoying vocals just to hear the amazing playing.

If they put out a box set of their work from 1995-2003 with all death-metal-style vocals removed and just left the occasional melodic vocals parts, I'd buy it ... their musicianship and compositions in that era were f****** incredible.

Edit: I see you added a Ghost Reveries classic ... of course I prefer the vocals on that song to their earlier stuff ... even if the playing lacks the absolutely stunning visceral impact ... that album's still an incredible work. To me, that may be their overall most 'listenable' album.

I understand the purists, just cause of the raw power of their earlier days, and LOVE the playing of that era, but ... unintelligible, menacing-sounding grunting into the mic ... never been a fan ... born in the 60's, probably just too damn old

Edit 2: Forgot how badass the outro to Harlequin is ... haven't heard that in FOREVER ... tight as f***!

[JHan]

2. Deliverance, Morning rise, and Ghost reverie are my top 3

They're always interesting. I agree with you about their musicianship - they boldly go through time signatures with some impressive compositions and arrangements , and they delve into different styles, without ever sounding contrived. And they just sound like they're enjoying themselves. For someone like me who isn't into the death metal scene much, they're very accessible.

[JHan]

3. Just saw your edit, harlequin forest is amazing,

And absent friends is short and endearing.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Rock on!!!

Lemme just add ... Drummer Martin Lopez, from their heyday ... dude was friggin' CRAZY good and a total badass ...

[JHan]

5. pulled up Still Life* just now... and damn, this track is seriously gorgeous.

[mr_lebowski]

6. Word ... that shit is a damn SYMPHONY, man ...

Opeth were INSANELY good right then ... like I say, I've always just powered through the vocal style that I really don't like, just to hear how good that music/musicianship is. It's pretty much absurd.

It's like they're Yes (who I of course love) ... only they're just WAAAAY more pissed off

[mr_lebowski]

7. I think this was the first Opeth song I heard, from one of your fave records ...

Earned a lot of good will from me, nothing but beautiful vocals and musical brilliance ...

This was another classic from Still Life ... though the fade-out at the end is a bummer ... this song needs a definitive, triumphant ending, IMHO ... still, just a minor quibble about an awesome tune

[JHan]

8. Damn. What's so cool is how they go from the hard rocking Godhead's Lament to..

this prettiness. I just love their versatility.

there's no such thing as a bad Opeth album..even if they get too death metal for me, there's always something interesting to pique my interest or at least tolerate it.

They even do covers right

[mr_lebowski]

9. Some classic Deep Purple ... might even be better than the original ...

Rock on, good talkin ... hopefully our thread turned someone else onto what I think of as the Rush ... of Swedish Death Metal.

[JHan]

10. it was fun, thanks for the chat. ( also hope we got some Opeth converts ;) )

[Iggo]

11. Here's where Opeth got their hooks in me forever.