The ninth Opeth opus adds a new kind of creativity to the bands legacy and shows a band that once again has reinvented "the dark tale". Make no mistakes this still roams in the shadow side of life where words as haunting, grave and sinister feel at home.
 
The album has a wide span in both shade, atmosphere and energy and luckily the sublime production has room to capture all nuances.
 
Coil, the surprising three-minute acoustic opener is artistically enhanced with delicate bass passages and beautiful female vocals. It leads your thoughts towards the Damnation album and works well as a prelude keeping you on your toes for what's to follow.
 
As a slayer of the innocent Heir Apparent completely crushes the build-up tenderness with a massive metallic attack. As a chameleon it changes both colour, tone and mood and as it reaches it highest level of heaviness half way through, you better keep a healthy distance or you will be torn asunder. The technical drumming is no less than brilliant and Åkerfeldt's growl meaner than ever before, he doesn't use his harsh vocals that much but when he does it's with massive impact. In my opinion this song ranks among the bands best.
 
The Lotus Eater contains at least three spectacular moments:
 
-         The creepy keyboard break after two minutes
-         The up-beat and crystal clear chorus line impossible not to sing along to
-         The almost jazzy and very creative jam section
 
Musically the band has plenty of artistically freedom, wisely used to paint broad, atmospheric sound landscapes, extremely rich in nuances and layers. Especially Burden can be enjoyed as a comfortable dreamer offering mental recreation.
 
Porcelain Heart cleverly intergrades acoustic chords with soft piano playing and for the first three minutes it's all very placid indeed, then it changes character, not into a heavy firestorm but more like a dynamic and highly ingenious slice of intriguing Progressive Metal, not easily digested, a bit stretched out but overall very cool.
 
With its 11:26 minutes Hessian Peel is the album longest cut with a mystic and eerie mood roaming from start to end. The advanced rhythm guitar handling is pure brilliance and the underlying keyboard pops up when extra texture is needed.

Watershed is a very atmospheric album and in that department it reaches its peak with Hex Omega (love that title). Teasing leads, delicate drumming and a clever bass altogether create a truly unique mood, with mesmerizing melodies it hypnotizes you until it's all suddenly over, making you wish it wasn't.
 
The concept doesn't give itself away easily but overall it's about a mysterious family tale involving loss and dark secrets. The lyrics aren't among Åkerfeldt best but they still have that sophisticated edge that make them stand out.
It's pretty annoying that the actual lyrics aren't printed in the booklet where you'll find a coded "text" instead.
 
The use of various classical instruments is one of the albums biggest strengths. It really gives a new breath of life and in every aspect involving the actual band all I can say is that I'm impressed. Laying down the music for this one really demands outstanding skills.
 
Mission accomplished.

Written by Tommy
Monday, July 14, 2008
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Ratings

Tommy: 8/10

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Comment by HaggardGrin (Member) - Tuesday, November 11, 2008

View Profile Comments: 3 Ratings: 0 I'm not going to lie, I was very apprehensive about this release...almost entirely because I was sure no one - and I mean EVER - could re-create the brilliance that is Lopez's percussion. Also, the addition of Akesson kind of had me on edge too, but I never really thought Lindgren had much to do with the guitaring, I think Akerfeldt was usually like, "Okay, this is what you're going to play," and he's alluded to as much in interviews. "Mission accomplished" is putting it mildly. Axe's drumming, while not as world-percussion influenced as Lopez's, is mind-bendingly tight and mathy, as a fellow drummer I am shocked and delighted. Akesson's addition of more squeadly-based soloing is fucking AWESOME, and done very tastefully. I must confess that while everyone seems to like Burden as one of the best (if not the best) songs on the album, I think it's the least awesome, but I stress that it still fucking rocks. I have to say, Heir Apparent and The Lotus Eater STILL give me goosebumps every time I listen to them (which is like 3 times a day or so). Please keep releasing albums Opeth! I'm like a zombie with an insatiable hunger for more of this music and you guys are the only ones who make it! Posted by HaggardGrin Tuesday, November 11, 2008