Err, wait. I'm getting ahead of myself. To simply call Opeth "death metal" is lazy and does them no justice. Vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt can unleash a growl so utterly demonic it sounds inhuman, but I think beyond that Opeth's parallels to death metal are scarce. Opeth is better described as the bizarre marriage of metal brutality and pastoral elegy. Without a doubt, Blackwater Park is full of crashing guitars and brutal growls, yet Opeth balances with melodic acoustic passages and vocal deliveries with icy beauty. Often, these elements are encompassed entirely by one song. The 10-minute opener, "The Leper Affinity," begins with flaming guitar riffs and bestial vocals, but as you approach the 5-minute mark, the heaviness falls away to be replaced by delicate clean singing and a dreamy acoustic section. Even at its heaviest, Blackwater Park remains surprisingly melodic, with fluid guitar lines and ear-catching riffs. Opeth is clearly more about dynamics of light & shade than the conventional sonic mire of other similar bands. (Although, truth be told, there aren't really other bands like Opeth.) Producer Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree, No-Man) doesn't seem like the right guy for the job...at least on paper. But Wilson's background makes him the perfect choice. His ear for sonic clarity and arrangement are surpassed by few, and he is a wonderful complement to the band's ambition.

"Harvest" is gorgeous. Layers of acoustic guitars, sparkling overlays of electric chords, and the chilling, beautiful vocals of Akerfeldt. It's probably my favorite song on the album. That's because I can't really listen to lots of the stuff here. The death vox are just too much for me. On a purely subjective level, I wouldn't give this disc 5-stars.

But forget that subjectivity. Sometimes you just have to admire what's being done, even if it's not your own cup of tea. Objectively speaking, Opeth is original and talented. If you like (or even tolerate) death metal vocals, I _strongly_ recommend you try Opeth. If you absolutely hate death vox, skip it. (Although I usually hate 'em but I tried this, so whatever.) Blackwater Park is unique, progressive, heavy, and sometimes beautiful. If you take the plunge, you may be turned off by the oppressively cold and bleak sound (plus some unhappy lyrics). But be patient. Allow its grandeur to unfold. You might be blown away like so many others.


A Refutation of all 1-Star Ratings   July 17, 2004
 17 out of 18 found this review helpful

I have read over many pages of reviews on Blackwater Park, and I am quite pleased to see the support Opeth is receiving, and from intelligent people. However, I also see many, many reviewers giving this phenomenal album a single star. This dusgusts me. I read a review saying that anyone who wanted to listen to real music should listen to bands like Good Charlotte and Grade 8. I strongly hope this was a joke. I've listened with an open mind to Good Charlotte, and they are nothing but a no-talent, can't-decide-if-they're-punk-or-goth, sell-out MTV band that writes songs about suicide with touching videos only to show the world that they know something about cliche "teenage angst" and depression.

Wow, that was pretty rough, wasn't it?

But fine, go ahead, like Good Charlotte. But don't insult Opeth simply because you don't like the rougher sort of vocals Mikael Akerfeldt employs. Not everyone does, it's understandable. They were an acquired taste for me. The same reviewer that cited Good Charlotte as "good music" (perhaps simply because they have "good" in their name?) complained that Opeth is "nothing but a scream band with no talent what so ever" (by the way, whatsoever is one word).

First of all, the quality of Opeth lyrics surpasses that of any band I've ever heard. The dark and haunting poetry that flows from Akerfeldt's pen does not paint a scenery before you, but envelopes you in that scenery. Opeth has been oftencategorized as progressive, and that alone refutes any talk of "no talent." Progressive music is about establishing a pattern of music, and then varying it to different degrees. Those patterns weave in and out of each other, harmonizing and working together to create beautiful music. It takes a far greater knowledge of music theory to coherently structure anything remotely close to being progressive than it does to create a two-minute punk song, the likes of which Good Charlotte probably churns out in under half an hour. The reason Opeth, Dream Theater, and Yes songs run on for over ten minutes most often (of course the Yes epic "Close to the Edge" at around 18 minutes, Dream Theater's "A Change of Seasons" at 23, and Dream Theater's "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence at a whopping 42 minutes) is because they are more than just songs they are writing. These progressive bands are writing symphonies that cannot be concluded in any short amount of time. The songs are long because a vast amount of time and effort was put into them, not to mention skill and knowledge. The bottom line is, saying that Opeth has no talent is like saying that sugar tastes salty, that the ocean is made of sand, or that the sun is a ball of ice.

For any new readers looking into Opeth, please disregard the one-star reviews completely. They are unfair and completely irrelevent. Blackwater Park may be the highlight of Opeth's career and is definitely worth a listen. If you don't like it, fair enough, but don't insult it on unjust grounds. Respect the music.


Let the world know.............Opeth   April 19, 2001
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

I purchased this album as soon as I could get it. I own all of Opeth's previous releases.

I'm not sure I can add much more praise to this album. If you have any of Opeth's other albums, you will buy this one. If you do not own an Opeth album, it doesn't matter which one is picked up first, they are all excellent.

Opeth is progressive-like-death-like-metal-like music. What does that mean? The band is not afraid to use acoustic guitars, a piano, or any other variation that may work. Overall there are harsh growled vocals and guitars that are loud and rock. The vocals change between a death growl and a very clear and pleasant sound. Two very active guitars on the album, and a bass that stands out more than it did on Still Life, but not as active as on Monringrise. The songs are longer than the average 3 to 4 minutes, be prepaired to be at attention for an average of 10 minutes.

This album seems a bit busier than the previous albums. Complex stuff that may need a few listens to decifer. Favorites of mine on the album are Bleak, Harvest, and The Funeral Portrait. Bleak is one of the heavies on the album and Harvest is an all acoustic track. Funeral Portrait has the best riff on the album and is some nice meat in the sandwich of the album.

My only hope is that Opeth doesn't grow stale before they get big. These will be the albums retro-death metal heads will have in the year 2010. If you appreciate more technical death metal, you should like Blackwater Park. Opeth doesn't unleash unbridled hatred, they simply tell a story instead with thier music. You need to tell a friend of Opeth.

This album is worth your time and your money.


Words fail one.   October 6, 2003
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Blackwater Park was my first Opeth *album* (having only heard snippets of Morningrise before).

A small point of interest - the chief criticism here seems to be band's insistence on employing growl vocals.
Like many, I found this practice aberrant, and frankly disruptive to otherwise excellent music.

Repeated listenings to Blackwater totally changed my view on the matter - I realised that far from being the lamely overaggressive screaming of an otherwise talentless vocalist, the profound and multifaceted artistry in this volume would simply not be able to be communicated without the tool of harsh vocals.

They are not used for their own sake, nor to simply stop the gaps of an incomplete band lineup, but are just another component in a seamless tapestry of such potent beauty and majesty there is insufficient time in most our lives to listen and appreciate all it has to offer, let alone to just bask in incandescent admirative glow one ends up helplessly projecting on repeated listenings of Opeth.

Regardless, as you will discover in any of the acoustic or dynamically constrasted tracks such as "Harvest" or "The Drapery Falls", singer Mikael Akerfeldt's talent, ability and range is accomplished, to be more than modest.

I suppose the fact that there are only SEVEN reviews of the odd hundred-and-fifty-three before this that are negative, and half of these are from people that could not lay aside a dislike of growling enough to appreciate the album should let you know that this may be the biggest hurdle for someone considering picking this up

The other 3 were either just plain wrong in their assumptions - anyone who questions Opeth's musicianship or compositional talents can be safely and objectively sidelined as a cook: As whether you find them boring and prententiously irrelevant, or pray to them daily at nightfall , their technical talents cannot be queried by anyone with even an ounce of musical knowhow - or else provided no clear logic to their heresy.

Buy this album if you one of those who considers music to be *anything* more than a diversion used when performing menial chores or long distance driving. Even if -it takes you a year to come to appreciate what it is, any rational person will eventually come to at least respect this masterwork.


The Saga of Genius Continues...   March 16, 2001
 12 out of 13 found this review helpful

I've found listening to OPETH a near-religious experience. When I search my vast collection of thoughts regarding Metal music and my involvement in the scene as both a participant, fan, and now critic, I'm humbled by the fact that OPETH alone have been one of the very few; and I mean very few bands, who have ever been able to stir this level of emotion in me. Now that was a very long sentence and if challenged to do so I could easily ramble on endlessly about OPETH and their immense creativity and uncanny ability to write and perform music that transcends all recognizable barriers. Its one thing to mesh opposing styles but OPETH have gone beyond the call and created something no other band can lay claim to. In this whirling vortex of a scene with a myriad of Metal styles, that's an accomplishment few can claim.

Blackwater Park. Why is it that this title fits so well? Leave it to the mysterious nature of this Swedish prodigy and be content with the outcome, which as you may have guessed by now given my long-winded introduction to this album, is stunning. What is most interesting about this release is that, as incredible as it is, it was not an instant classic upon first listen. Then again, every previous effort by OPETH has had the same slow, gravitational effect on me. One listen demands another, then another until at some point you realize that it's yet another classic piece of moody, dramatic, ethereal, dreamy and probing Metal craftiness.

No long time fan of the band are likely to feel cheated by the fact that OPETH have really not brought anything new to the table on this album. You've come to expect the very best from the band and that's exactly what you get with Blackwater Park. However, some may have anticipated some new ingredient to be introduced. Not so in the big picture here. What OPETH have done is simply picked up where Still Life ended, thrown in some earlier elements from My Arms, Your Hearse and journeyed further into the nether of dark, emotionally charged musical nirvana. The eight tracks on this album represent over an hour of brilliant, heartfelt intricacy layered through and through with haunting acoustical backdrops, fanged guitar bites and bolstered by alternating vocal styles now commonly associated with the band's style. The flow and tempo of the album is remarkably consistent and fine-tuned which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has followed the band through their career. Vocalist Michael Akerfeldt is at his pinnacle on this album and all supporting members again brandish their finest musical traits. The vocal passion in this album is deeply interwoven amidst the sinister attack of Akerfeldt's darker side. The Jeckyl and Hyde personality is strong and always absorbing.

There are times when Blackwater Park may come across as a more simplistic rendition of Still Life but listen again because so deep is this tireless work of art that several spins of the disc are required for one to grasp the full brunt. The album is all about synchronicity and character and surely the emotive balance is striking with waves of sorrow, love, hate and madness all rolling in like successive waves at high tide.

OPETH seemingly have settled into a niche they are comfortable with and all the more power to them because whatever this is, its working and working like clockwork. Blackwater Park is as beautiful as it is dark and unsettling. A masterpiece? Yes.