StefanoHab

YOUR "unfortunately" is a MY "fortunately". Well, it's a matter of points of view. After all, Opeth are increasingly distancing themselves from metal, just look at the experiment of "Damnation". Anyway, mine was a general clarification, I didn't mean to question your comment! ;-)

I agree with everyone, let’s say halfway. I consider Morningrise the best album by Opeth, but I was indecisive for a long time between it and Orchid... Both are wonderful, but the fact is this: Morningrise, while reaching practically the same level of spontaneity and inspiration as Orchid, or almost if we want to be precise, is definitely more mature and experiments less, hitting the mark with certainty. It earns points not on a technical level but on a compositional one, which is why I consider it better: spontaneity and inspiration do not suffer in this respect. The subsequent works will not reach these levels, but surely almost all of them are masterpieces. My arms your hearse (too poetic...), Still life (...also him...)... wonderful. Blackwater Park is definitely inferior to Morningrise, and by a lot too, while still being a magnificent album. Let's not forget that it is their album, in some ways more commercial, and therefore less inspired than the previous works. The same can be said for Ghost reveries. I don't consider Damnation, being practically an experiment. In some ways, Deliverance was an experiment too... I believe Deliverance is inferior to the others, focusing more on violence, and it’s as if Opeth loses themselves in their style. Nevertheless, it's also beautiful, like all the others. Immense band.

However, to clarify Airone's judgment, it must be said that Opeth don't do prog, at least not in the true sense of the word. The fact is that Akerfeldt listens to a lot of 70s prog, from Camel to Goblin and thousands of other bands, and it’s natural that these influences are felt. But it’s obviously not the same thing. Moreover, there’s no comparison between Opeth and Dream Theater, both in technical terms (the latter being far better technically than the former) and in composition (the former being IMMENSELY superior to the latter).

I had already written it. My review had the flaw of being too over-the-top, while yours has the opposite flaw: it’s too cold!!!! I’d almost say it’s rather dull. I’ll give you a 3 because you definitely wrote a better review than mine (I was a kid back then), but I can’t forgive you for giving just a measly 4 to what is perhaps the best album by one of the best bands in the metal scene ever since 1995.

In fact, I don't know them and I'm not exactly dying to meet them... Anyway, the review isn't bad, perhaps the introduction is a bit long, but I fully support your intent. Maybe I'll look them up this summer! :-D

Beautiful, legendary band and great album, a must-have for any doom fan. However, the cover is a bit disgusting... Moon, by any chance, do you listen to Virgin Black? (just curious)

The Maiden just don’t know how to make money anymore... Dance of Death is nice, I even bought it, but enough with the live stuff please...

Yes, I had already seen it, but to me, the voice really sounds like Serj...

Exactly, what I wanted to convey is how, regardless of the origins of black metal, which is no longer the same as it was 10 years ago, the music offered integrates perfectly with the lyrics. Unblack bands deal with dark themes, extremizing passion, so the negative atmosphere in their songs fits perfectly, even though the final intent is the opposite of the traditional one. It's another way of conceiving this type of music. Stryper uses AOR because it aligns well with the message they want to communicate, but it's not the same for Crimson and unblack bands in general. Their lyrics, I repeat, are dark: while Stryper might celebrate the joy of Creation, they exalt the suffering of the Passion. Both are Christian themes, but extremely different. Do you understand now? They marry perfectly: they don't see it as "bad" music, but as chaotic, suffering, dark, and negative music (in a broad sense). Tell me if scream and double bass don’t fit well here... I really think they do. And aside from all this (speaking purely musically), the album is beautiful!

And that Eastern-sounding riff, as you call it, is nothing but the usual minor scale of Petrucci. And what you said, "a pathetic attempt to seem more original," is bullshit. Let me tell you, it’s bullshit. Listen carefully to "Home" again, and you’ll realize what a great song it is. It seems like you have a serious grudge against them and are even willing to say outrageous things just to throw shit at them. If you want to do that, do it about their worst songs (I’d agree). Don’t touch their gems.