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THE REVIEW
Lost in their hallucinogenic world, Opeth swim in the dark waters of death-metal (seasoned with various influences) with seriousness and creativity, slowly allowing themselves to be carried by the current of psychotic emotions.
At times indescribable, they base their captivating sonic architectures on a psychedelia distinctly of a Pink Floydian stamp in which the signs of a not-so-distant black metal can be traced. Like The Gathering, Opeth have long chosen the path of melody, employing the dusty sound of acoustic guitars. The beautiful ballad Harvest greatly recalls the west coast rock of the '70s, while The Drapery Falls is an exhilarating alternation between minstrel-like expressions and fierce gothic metal incursions. All of this is expressed through haunting yet never trite harmonic lines that are excessively cerebral, with a great sense of imagery and "soundtrack".
Not many metal bands are willing to venture into the intro of Dirge for November, a soft melancholic jazz, only to then plunge into the sound lava of The Funeral Portrait, a ruthless summation of death metal and Black Sabbath that will delight the most offbeat fans of the genre. In any case, "Blackwater Park" is an album full of surprises, which does not disappoint the expectations of those who demand quality music in exchange for the cost of the CD; Mikael Akerfeldt's voice effortlessly shifts from soft tones to terrifying growls without losing credibility. Sometimes, they are a bit too in love with complexity and they are verbose but it's a venial sin.
And today, in an era of capital sins, it can be widely forgiven.
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Summary by Bot
Opeth's Blackwater Park is a creative and serious exploration of death metal infused with psychedelic and melodic elements. The album features a range of styles from acoustic ballads to harsh metal passages, showcasing Mikael Åkerfeldt's impressive vocal versatility. Despite occasional verbosity, the album remains a compelling and surprising work that fulfills high expectations for quality music.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Other reviews
By wwwhatemoornet
It is useless to deny the beauty of some acoustic guitar arrangements or the splendid clean vocals of Akerfeldt.
For two years I’ve been trying to figure out if this CD is a masterpiece or a simple copy, and I still haven’t succeeded.
By TheSilentMan
Opeth crafts an almost perfect album that takes us to this dark park seemingly populated by elusive, melancholic presences, yet also filled with anger and pain.
Highly recommended for those who love a “progressive” genre of music that is very well played and loaded with emotions as well as technicalities and showmanship.
By OzzyRotten
"'Blackwater Park' as a title magnificently captures the entire atmosphere that permeates the album."
"A brutal and murderous yet pleasant disease; a sweet torture that requires the necessary attitude and growing passion for things wrapped in the fog of memories and disillusionments."
