[QUOTE=Det_Nosnip]Meh..it's definitely alot more aggressive and technical, but I personally find Mendez's playing to be much more interesting. It's alot more groove orientated, and the man is solid as ****. I assume he plays/has played alot of jazz and funk, and it really helps. Maybe this is just me-the-drummer speaking, but IMO it's alot more important that the rhythm section is locked in and tight than that the musicians are able to play really complex things...sure, their parts may sound better and be more fun to play alone, but they simply don't sound as good together.[/QUOTE]
I think the bass on Morningrise is perfect. It might not work as well on the newer albums so it's probably good that they have Mendez now. However it's interesting to hear some good, noticeable bass playing on a metal record. Pretty much every metal song I've ever heard (many Opeth songs included) lack bass presence so I guess the 'aggressive' playing is something interesting.
Mendez DOES groove though, but he just doesn't stand out to me that much.

[QUOTE=I Am Vikingcore]You better have pre-ordered your tickets, paying at the door no longer works :upset:.[/QUOTE]

Uh, yes, I did pre-order. I'd have to be insane to try and go see a band like that without it, and stupid to pay money to take the train to Grand Central, pay to take the subway to Union Square, and then walk three blocks only to find out that I can't get in.

Strangely enough, actually, given that this is the NYC show, it's not sold out yet.

[QUOTE=Cain]Opeth concert in 14 hours!

I'm psyched. I hope I can sleep all right.[/QUOTE]

Lucky you :( ...I saw them on SOTU, they were great, man...tell me if they play "Demon of The Fall"...they usually close with that song.

[QUOTE=toaster135]That's why almost no metal guitarists use Strats. I use an ESP myself, and I love the active EMGs. They're totally suited for any type of music.[/QUOTE]

I hear you, and that's why I was very surprised to see Devin Townsend playing a Strat during some Strapping Young Lad footage.....I mean, not too many heavier sounds than those guys. Surely he rigged it up, just don't know why he'd bother.

Mendez's style is much more suited to the direction they've been going in since MAYH. If he were around for the first two albums, I don't think the albums would sound nearly as interesting.

Mendez's best playing is on Damnation though. It's not complicated, just really grooving.

NP: Blackwater Park

[QUOTE=Creeping_Deth]Mendez's style is much more suited to the direction they've been going in since MAYH. If he were around for the first two albums, I don't think the albums would sound nearly as interesting.

Mendez's best playing is on Damnation though. It's not complicated, just really grooving.

NP: Blackwater Park[/QUOTE]

Agreed about Damnation.

NP: Billy Joel: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

[QUOTE=ElectricalStorm]:amaze: :amaze: :amaze: Those guitars are some of the sexiest guitars I've ever seen. I'm not familiar with the different kinds of models but please don't tell me yours has a pickguard--its ruins the look![/QUOTE]
No, certainly not. I hate the pickguard look. These guitars are amazing--certainly the best I've ever played on.

Here's a picture of mine:

[url]http://www.parkerguitars.com/code/models/models_nitefly_m_intro.asp[/url]

I love the natural wood finish.

One of my best friends brother's is really good friend's with Mikeal (I just found this out), so I may be able to get backstage next Friday :D. Any pics I get will be posted here.

[QUOTE=Creeping_Deth]One of my best friends brother's is really good friend's with Mikeal (I just found this out), so I may be able to get backstage next Friday :D. Any pics I get will be posted here.[/QUOTE]

Another lucky S.O.B! :lol:

Well, we'll see. My friend hasn't been known for pulling this sort of stuff of. Though he does have pictures of his brother eating lunch with Mikeal.

Once Mikael said that he is playing his songs on an acoustic guitar and then he knows that this would sound heavy on electric because its already heavy on acoustic. I have only acoustic guitar and it sounds sh!t! :(

[QUOTE=Jude]I think the bass on Morningrise is perfect. It might not work as well on the newer albums so it's probably good that they have Mendez now. However it's interesting to hear some good, noticeable bass playing on a metal record. Pretty much every metal song I've ever heard (many Opeth songs included) lack bass presence so I guess the 'aggressive' playing is something interesting.
Mendez DOES groove though, but he just doesn't stand out to me that much.[/QUOTE]
Hearing Morningrise for the first time 2 years ago inspired me to pick up the fretless bass :D I really loved the wet tone Johan used on that album.

Then I found Jaco...

[QUOTE=Morningrise]Hearing Morningrise for the first time 2 years ago inspired me to pick up the fretless bass :D I really loved the wet tone Johan used on that album.

Then I found Jaco...[/QUOTE]

Yes, Johan was really good, too bad he was an alchoholic or whatever.

My Opeth experience:

The song 'The Grand Conjuration' was played to me...and then I bought the album the next day.

[QUOTE=scenesfromatheater]My Opeth experience:

The song 'The Grand Conjuration' was played to me...and then I bought the album the next day.[/QUOTE]

Guess what: Get all of their albums. They're even better.

Mendez's best work is on Damnation, most definitely. I love slower, groovier bass, and the bass on Damnation just clicks with me perfectly...

Bass on "To Bid you Farewell" is the best i've ever heard.

[QUOTE=Biancazzurri]Bass on "To Bid you Farewell" is the best i've ever heard.[/QUOTE]

YES! I love it, and the bass on Nectar and Night and the Silent Water, oh God, amazing.

Opeth are an incredible band. Everytime i hear a new song by them im just blown away.
One of the best bands of our time in my opinion.

Patterns in the Ivy needs a mention (cos im listening to it now). Just so calm, atmospheric and beautiful.

[QUOTE=TheJem]Patterns in the Ivy needs a mention (cos im listening to it now). Just so calm, atmospheric and beautiful.[/QUOTE]

I just so happen to be listening to Patterns in the Ivy right now too. It's so relaxing and peaceful. My 2nd favorite Opeth instrumental.(For Absent Friends is first.)

[QUOTE=I Am Vikingcore]Yes, Johan was really good, too bad he was an alchoholic or whatever.[/QUOTE]
Is that why Mikael kicked him out of the band? I could never look up the reason for Johan's departure.

[QUOTE=I Am Vikingcore]YES! I love it, and the bass on Nectar and Night and the Silent Water, oh God, amazing.[/QUOTE]
The beginning of nectar with bass just blowing.

Does anyone know the religious beliefs of anyone in Opeth?

[QUOTE=Necronomicon]Does anyone know the religious beliefs of anyone in Opeth?[/QUOTE]

I don't think anyone here really knows for sure if they believe in God or not, and which God at that. However of course in Still Life the narrarator is persecuted for not following the same religion as the "council of the cross". So, Mikael may very well be an athiest, or at least dislike christianity. I really don't know though.

[QUOTE=Necronomicon]Does anyone know the religious beliefs of anyone in Opeth?[/QUOTE]
Not only do I not know, but I don't care, either. What does it matter, really?

This one guy I know won't listen to any band unless they're Christian. It pisses me the hell off.

Does anyone know of a site that really explains the concept of Still Life in detail? I'm not the best at deciphering concepts.

[QUOTE=Biancazzurri]Bass on "To Bid you Farewell" is the best i've ever heard.[/QUOTE]

Nice :) I've never heard anything else quite like it. The bass on that song is amazing. It's not that difficult to play after the beginning, but it's not the complexity of how it was recorded or played, it's how it sounds with the rest of the instruments that really matter. The greatest of songs must have noticable, well structured bass to become ''whole''.
















[I]

''Devotion eludes, and in sadness I lumber
In my own ashes, I am standing without a soul
She wept and whispered 'I know'... ''[/I]

That whole song is worth quoting... oh man, it's probably Opeth's best soft song.

[QUOTE=Scruples]Not only do I not know, but I don't care, either. What does it matter, really?

This one guy I know won't listen to any band unless they're Christian. It pisses me the hell off.[/QUOTE]

Then there are some people who won't listen to bands who are, which is just as annoying. I know what you mean though, I know a couple people like that...it's their loss, they're missing out on a lot.

[quote=toaster135]Does anyone know of a site that really explains the concept of Still Life in detail? I'm not the best at deciphering concepts.[/quote]
[url]http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=141[/url]

[QUOTE=Necronomicon]Does anyone know the religious beliefs of anyone in Opeth?[/QUOTE]

The grand conjuration is written for Satan, or so Mikael said during the show. And his wife has Satanist books that he's getting into, or something like that. Not that it matters but yea.

[QUOTE=ATC]The grand conjuration is written for Satan, or so Mikael said during the show. And his wife has Satanist books that he's getting into, or something like that. Not that it matters but yea.[/QUOTE]
Satanist =/= occult. The Grand Conjuration is not written 'for' Satan. It's part of the incomplete concept of GR which involves occult themes and someone summoning Satan or whatever.
Still Life isn't really all that religiously themed, it just takes place in medieval Europe where a heretic is cast out of his village and so he hates the Christians that did it.
I don't think anyone really knows the views of the people in the band, but I think I read in one interview that Akerfeldt isn't religious.

As for the concept of Still Life: I can explain it, I'll type it out later, I don't feel like it now.

[QUOTE=Jude]Satanist =/= occult. The Grand Conjuration is not written 'for' Satan. It's part of the incomplete concept of GR which involves occult themes and someone summoning Satan or whatever.
Still Life isn't really all that religiously themed, it just takes place in medieval Europe where a heretic is cast out of his village and so he hates the Christians that did it.
I don't think anyone really knows the views of the people in the band, but I think I read in one interview that Akerfeldt isn't religious.

As for the concept of Still Life: I can explain it, I'll type it out later, I don't feel like it now.[/QUOTE]

I'm just repeating what Mikael said at a show in Vancouver. Apparently, his sound engineer (?) was 'slightly religious' and thats why the prayer to Satan (I think thats what he said) was taken off the final mix and was included in the version they played at the show. I was too deep in the moshpit to pay enough attention to the actual words to know if they actually did include it in the song. I never claimed he was Satanist or occultist or anything.

Mrrr, evil over 18 Opeth show was today. :evil:

Still pissing me off...

Yup, these guys or Akerfeldt write(s) great poetry.

Mikael Akerfeldt is a poet of the dark side. Some is his lyrics, regardless of the vocal style he uses to declaim them, are incredibly beautiful. I have no gripes in considering his work poetry.

Mm.. that's some good [i]Damnation[/i].

[QUOTE=Scruples]Mm.. that's some good [i]Damnation[/i].[/QUOTE]
No, its not.


Mm.. that's some good [I]Deliverance[/I].

Either/or is good.
I prefer the light side of things at the moment.

Just got back from the Opeth show. The utter greatness is still ringing in my ears. Webster Hall was a fantastic venue, and the sound was unbelievable. Reviews band-by-band:

Into Eternity: I got there just as they were finishing, and what I heard was pretty good. They were certainly playing up a storm, but their style was a bit Kerry King-like, which I wasn't too fond of. Still and all, decent.

Nevermore: They had a 45-minute set which pleased me to no end. The group was in top form...unfortunately I was situated on the left side of the stage and so did not get to see Loomis' hands very clearly, but the band was unbelievably good. They played "Final Product," "Born," "My Acid Words," "Enemies of Reality" (which I was really happy about), and a few others that are probably off different albums that I haven't heard, as I did not recognize them. Their drummer especially was outstanding.

Opeth: I have this to say: they are GODS live. I must say, NONE of their albums, not even their live DVD, gives an anywhere NEARLY accurate impression of just how heavy their songs become when performed live. Everybody that says Opeth are too boring and too mellow needs to see them perform their metal numbers live. Nevermore were already fantastically heavy and are still in my estimation a band with some of the best metal grooves of the past five years, but Opeth just wiped the floor with them. They had every person in the place banging their heads off. Unfortunately, my appreciation level was diminished due to the distractions of being in such tight quarters (I was two people back from the barrier, not a fun place to be) and of a man, literally on the verge of death by alcohol poisoning, who ran around mumbling with his eyes closed, banging into those next to him and pretending to bang those in front of him, if you catch my meaning. But we just shoved him out of the way as he was far from being capable of violence, and continued to enjoy the show. And the setlist was incredibly spectacular.

1.) Baying of the Hounds
2.) When
3.) Bleak
4.) Deliverance
5.) In My Time of Need
6.) The Grand Conjuration
7.) The Face of Melinda
8.) Blackwater Park
9.) Demon of the Fall

I may be missing a song, but since nearly every one of these is over 10 minutes I don't think I missed it. Excellent song choice, and a thoroughly excellent show. My God. The greatness was tangible tonight. I never understood just how heavy Opeth were until now. They're friggin' great. Mikael was funny as always and Peter Lindgren is one of the most graceful figures ever to hold a guitar. They are just awesome in their ability to captivate an audience: they don't rely on theatrics at all.

Greatness. Shattered_Future, you are kicking yourself for missing this show. And so is everyone that wasn't there. :)

EDIT: And BTW, all of the Ghost Reveries songs just EXPLODED live. Incredible. All of these songs were perfectly executed by the band and in rare instances were superior to the album versions. And the new drummer they have is a BEAST. I say keep him.

Sounds amazing.

So what's the story with Lopez? What happened to him, and why is Gene Hoglan taking on the touring duties?