Album Rating: 4.5

It took me a very long time to get into death metal for that exact reason, but I never had that problem with Opeth. Mikael's growls didn't deter me in any way because of the beauty of the cleans that accompanied them. On this album I think the clean sections are superb, no question. Both musically and vocally. You're going to want to listen again regardless of the growls imo and that's why this is the most accessible Opeth record for me.



In terms of exposure I think the listener would have probably heard metal of some sort, say QOTSA. Otherwise I can't see them willingly seeking out a band like this.

Album Rating: 5.0

Buttery knows hard, Mikael's growls never deterred me whatsoever when I was first getting into DM.

Album Rating: 4.5

I don't see that. from personal experience someone who hasn't listened to anything with growls won't just accept it, even from a band that blends the two styles like the peth. sure they'll acknowledge the music is great, but won't see past the vox. whereas if you introduce them to the damnation/heritage side more they'll probably dig it more [2]



it happened to me and i've seen it happen time and time again to people i've introduced to opeth.

Its because all popular music that people are exposed to has clean vocals. Thats what people are used
to and when they first hear other styles they dont get it, because its outside the norm for them.

It also has to do with the vast majority of music being vocal based. Thats what most people focus on
when they listen to music and if they dont like the vocals, they dont like the song, regardless of
what the music is like.

Album Rating: 4.5

yep. agreed hard

Yeah I've gotta side with MO and Emyay on this. If I wanted to get one of my friends who doesn't listen to extreme metal into Opeth I would play them Heritage or Damnation (or a clean vocal song from one of their other albums). There's no way I'd start them off with this.

Album Rating: 5.0

Exactly what I've done ;]

Album Rating: 4.5

like a trve bro Pleb

Album Rating: 5.0

There are also people who won't listen to Opeth because their songs are too long...

Agreed. I remember I was jamming Pictures of a City by KC at work and a co-worker came up to me and said "8 minutes!?!?" as if that was ridiculously long.

Album Rating: 5.0

I sometimes forget there are people like "ewww, a 10 minute song?!" in the world.

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah, there was a friend of mine who talked about some 6 minute song which he considered long, so I showed him Black Rose Immortal. He really liked Opeth, but said he doesn't think he will be listening to them too often. Cool dude, nonetheless.

Album Rating: 4.5

theres plenty of short opeth songs though

Album Rating: 5.0

True, but most pass the 5 minute mark, not considering the interludes.

Album Rating: 5.0

And the interludes tend to work better in context.

Album Rating: 5.0

Well, you won't present a band to someone by showing the interludes, that's for sure.

Album Rating: 4.5

"I sometimes forget there are people like "ewww, a 10 minute song?!" in the world."



Same. Sometimes i get caught off guard when someone goes like "wow that's way too long for a single

song" on a 6+ minute song. Fortunately, i successfully deviate from showing that kind of people "my

music" often enough



~5 complete listens into this, it's one hell of a grower. Starts off mellow and intricate, suddenly

i'm humming all the songs as they play. Technically brilliant.

Yeah, this is an album band. In the end, it's better to just jam the full albums rather than separate tracks. It also helps to forget the fact that some 'Peth songs are 10-12 minutes long.

Some sweet leads on this.

"TBotH" and "TGC" are prob the weakest on here.

Isolation Years is the weakest, but that wasnt originally gonna be on the album.