[QUOTE=Whale and Wasp]in guitar world, mikael said his most influential album was camel's moonmadness so that might have something to do with it too[/QUOTE]


Hahaha yeah, they're druids. :chug:

[QUOTE=Jude]But like...what I'm saying is that, despite that not all that many songs have references to winter or forests, a LOT of people always tend to associate Opeth's music with foresty, wintry atmosphere. I was just wondering if anyone has any stories about starting to do that themself and any insight into why it is.

I can see some songs, yeah, like Forest of October, Apostle in Triumph (mentions some "vast enchanted forest") Moonlapse Vertigo (leafy pathways, etc) and so on. But how about everything else?[/QUOTE]
ah yeah i sorta know what you mean....


well i personally think about trees for some reason when i hear a good acoustic piece of music (not just opeth)....acoustic guitars make me think of trees in general :lol: maybe cause thats what theyre made from

does that ever occur to you? or maybe its just me

[QUOTE=Dunkelheit509]I'm pretty sure that link doesn't work anymore, we went over this a while ago. Sucks..[/QUOTE]

it does work, thanks alot man :)

I don't know, but it definitely is the acoustic parts (mostly) that create the atmosphere the most.

Ok check THIS out. In a discussion of the Deliverance/Damnation cover art on the official opeth.com forum, I found out the art came from photos of a haunted house in the US called Whaley House.

Check this photo someone took of a certain bedroom in Whaley. Click on the link, click on "Whaley Pictures" on the menu on the left, and go to picture 21.

[url]http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/8136/[/url]

Look familiar?


If you need a memory jog....check this.

[url]http://www.opeth.pl/pliki/tapety/deliverance_800.jpg[/url]

Browse around the first website I linked to and you may find some other interesting connections as well.

That would be crazy if it was the same bed.

[QUOTE=Flynn]That would be crazy if it was the same bed.[/QUOTE]
Dude, it is the same bed. It's the same everything. The only things that were really added in the cover were the eerie coloring, the doll on the bed, face in the mirror and creepy dude by the window.

Here's a pretty cool [B]O[/B]peth wallpaper for you all. It was my desktop before I got Skydancer. Enjoy!

[url]http://tinypic.com/md15lh.jpg[/url]

[QUOTE=Flynn]Here's a pretty cool [B]O[/B]peth wallpaper for you all. It was my desktop before I got Skydancer. Enjoy!

[url]http://tinypic.com/md15lh.jpg[/url][/QUOTE]
that looks great

[QUOTE=Whale and Wasp]oy....i was just listening to orchid....and i just thought maybe its like a prequel album to still life? "in the mist she was standing" could have been where he first met melinda in a forest or something, and then theres "under the weeping moon" which i havent htought of yet....in "silhouette" i imagine they get chased by some wraithlike beast (the fast part) and then they scramble up a mountain and finally the beast lost them (the resolution at the end of the song) and then when that epic intro of forest of october starts, they finally look around them and theyre standing on a high cliff and looking down on the vast forest of october beneath them...and then in the rest of the tracks somehow the guy goes into exile and something bad happens to melinda but i havent thought about that yet....but its interesting :)[/QUOTE]
I don't know, sounds far fetched. One time some dude tried to push some wacked up theory that the first two albums were both concepts and the first four albums were all linked by some insane storyline he made up. It was retarded though.

[QUOTE=Jude]I don't know, sounds far fetched. One time some dude tried to push some wacked up theory that the first two albums were both concepts and the first four albums were all linked by some insane storyline he made up. It was retarded though.[/QUOTE]
oh...well nevermind about it then. it was just a random musing i had.

[QUOTE=Jude]I don't know, sounds far fetched. One time some dude tried to push some wacked up theory that the first two albums were both concepts and the first four albums were all linked by some insane storyline he made up. It was retarded though.[/QUOTE]


Lyrically, I can sort of see Orchid and Morningrise [I]do[/I] have that potential, but I don't know about 4 albums linked, that's pretty far fetched.

[QUOTE=Flynn]Lyrically, I can sort of see Orchid and Morningrise [I]do[/I] have that potential, but I don't know about 4 albums linked, that's pretty far fetched.[/QUOTE]
All his connections were absurd...after all, he not only had to try and prove that Orchid and Morningrise were concept albums (which it's common knowledge they're not) but that all four were linked, which was ridiculous. And IIRC some of his connections were based on misinterpretations of Still Life's lyrics as well.

I think you all may enjoy a complaint on GR by a fan, then a nice reply by Mr. Akerfeldt

[QUOTE=Someone on the Opeth forums]I have just watched the interview with Mikael, and have to get somethings off my chest which I have been wanting to say since I first heard the new LP. Incidently, I am just wondering if anyone else shares my thoughts, as I have read nothing similar...

Basically, what I want to say is that I personally think that Ghost Reveries is the worst Opeth LP so far, and that interestingly it seems to be because of the more pleasant environment in which it was recorded. Here is my take on the LP: The first three tracks are pretty good, Ghost of Perdition in particular was what I was hoping for and when I put the LP on and heard this I was relieved. But then things went down hill! Baying of the Hounds and Beneath the Mire, yes both good, not amazing in terms of the general Opeth oveure, but listenable. Then Atonement. Ok. I understand wanting to go in a new direction and try new things etc, but really as far as I am concerned this song does just not measure up to past Opeth songs of a less hard nature. I dont know if it is an attempt to reach a wider audience or what, but compared with benighted say, this simply, in terms of lyrics, melody and general song writting, is not on par with what has gone in the past. Then Reverie, ok may be it was just a slight jilt, and back to normal Opeth. But then, whats going on with the lyrics? Can anyone who holds My Arms.. in any sort of regard be satisfied with 'These are...The Trees?' I know that it is would be almost impossible to do better than My Arms, as an LP generally, but at least the same standard has to be maintained, and again this simply does not measure up, and I fail to see how this is a matter of taste. It seems obvious, especially if you compare the song as a whole to 'A Fair Judgement'.

And then theres Hours of Wealth!. What on earth is going on here? The LP started with 3, solid Opeth tracks. And then it somehow has unravelled to this, which is like some kind of blues, middle of the road guitar song from america, again with fairly bad lyrics. Can anyone seriously think this is on par with Face of Melinda, Credence, Harvest, perhaps To Rid the Disease? As far as Opeth Ballads go this song is way behind any of the past offerings, which has to then make is inferior to all that has gone before. And after this, we then reach the low point of the LP? Mikael says in the interview that the Grand Conjuration was veyr different from how it is, and it seems to only have been changed because of the amount of rehersal time they had. For me this is by far and away the worst Opeth song ever, and they choose to release it as a single? I am beginning to question my own taste and sanity. Am I missing something? I was going to list my favourite Opeth songs, but really Opeth are not like other bands for me, as I dont list my fav songs, I list my fav lps. I can listen from My arms through every LP to Deliverence (excluding Damnation) from start to finish and they are all my favourite songs. There is not really one bad song amongst any of those LPs. Can any true Opeth fan really look themselves in the mirror and say that this song, the Grand Conjuration, the first single and video they do, is the best song they have ever done? Pick any song from past LPs and it just doesnt measure up in terms of melody, lyrics, song structure, etc. I mean, it almost isnt an Opeth song when I think that by Opeth I mean songs like Bleak, Masters Apprentice, the all time classic Demon of the Fall, Serenity Painted death, or in fact, any other hard song that has gone before.

Again I do not think this is a matter of taste. There are criteria of judgement that seem to make Opeth songs what they are, and the Grand ... falls short on all of them bar perhaps technical playing, which is a given for Opeth anyway so it doesnt count. And to add to all this, they make a video for the song without one of the band members!! anyone who doesnt know opeth is going to get the totally wrong impression if they see this song on television. They wont see Lopez drumming (who for me is the heart of Opeth), and will not hear the true melody, accumplished complexity and intricacy that has made opeth great.

And then finally there is Isolation Years. This is not too bad, but again is not AS good as former ballads, so at most is average. Again the lyrics let it down! it sounds like he is talking about his new child! but i wont repeat what I have written about hours of wealth as exactly the same applies here.

All in all, I now am back to where I have been since 2003, waiting for the new Opeth LP to come out. I do not understand why no one else seems to have any similar views, or how you can go from listening to My arms, to Still Life, to Blackwater, to Deliverance, all of which show a progression of style, but which maintain the same identity, and then go to GR and think that it maintains what these LPs have (the unbalanced structure of the LP after track 3 alone is one of the more obvious points). And I dont see how Mikael of all people cannot see this. But may be I reall am loosing my mind?

And all this because there was no studio pressure! Mikael said he was done with the songs before recording, and that there were 3 weeks of rehersals. And this is what comes out, compared with all the previous LPs which seem to have been partly written whilst being recoded and which were not rehersed at all. I understand not wanting a painful recording experience, but it obviously does not bring out the best in the band. As it is, GR is the first and only Opeth LP I cannot listen to with complete pleasure from start to end; something which I never thought possible with this band.

Mikael wont care about this, which is good as I dont care that he doesnt care. I will just say one thing: Please, next time, no rehersals before recording![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mikael A]I will not mention anything about taste or your devotion to the earlier stuff we've done, but for me it's clear some of you guys simply are not on the same wavelength as us in the band and me in particular writing the songs, and you need to move on. "Hours of wealth" is a song I was particulary proud of and it is actually not the fruit of many hours of rehearsals (that comment that we shouldn't rehearse was bordering to stupid, sorry!) but was actually done in the studio. The vocals done in one take and I have a certain connection with this song and if you don't get "it" I won't even bother trying to hype it. We're a phase of "your" musical evolution but maybe your journey ends here and you need to move into new territories?

I never reply to stuff like people don't like us, cause believe me, I hear more complaints and how "opeth suck" these days that I can't be bothered, but coming down on "HOW" is an attack that I feel the need to comment on. And "Isolation years"...man, that's on of my personal fave opeth song ever and I was literally in tears singing it. I feel gutted that somebody can take the piss out of GR so completely that I actually feel the need to respond and I feel angry. Plain and simple, your opinion is noted but by no means will I contemplate what you said because you're there and I am here, simple as that...

Best regards
Mike[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jude]All his connections were absurd...after all, he not only had to try and prove that Orchid and Morningrise were concept albums (which it's common knowledge they're not) but that all four were linked, which was ridiculous. And IIRC some of his connections were based on misinterpretations of Still Life's lyrics as well.[/QUOTE]


:lol: he probably thought just these lyrics on Nectar reflect on Face Of Melinda
[I]
''I swear I will always love you
Leave me speechless
Release my yearning
The soil I walk is clad with light
Drifting moons thrust me with their rays
And I fall inside
I lament this heritage
Cannot bid farewell
The pale face...you went as far as you could
And from that moment
I witnessed your beauty, fealt your death
Mine is yours, mine is yours
In the wake of dawn
The mist of morning linger before it leaves
Invisible eyes, red reflection
It is you
Smiling in the midst of the moor''[/I]

Poor Mike :(.

There! Reason to stop the GR bashing!

[QUOTE=Deth]Poor Mike :(.

There! Reason to stop the GR bashing![/QUOTE]


roflmao, it's probably not really him. Like he would have the time to come on a Forum just to explain that little detail to one individual? Even so, I don't bash that album, It is simply my least favorite of Opeth's recordings...that's all.

I'm sure it is him, lots of band members post on their forums. Plus, there's probably some usertitle like "Band Member" that you can only have if your a band member (duh).

I saw that thread. It really is Mike Akerfeldt; that is the official forum and (IIRC) it's run and maintained by his wife as well as several band members post on there once in a while.

I didn't know that about [I]Hours Of Wealth[/I], 1 take, that's awesome.

I do find that hard to believe. But Hours of Wealth and Isolation years are two of my favourite Opeth songs.

[QUOTE=toaster135]I do find that hard to believe. But Hours of Wealth and Isolation years are two of my favourite Opeth songs.[/QUOTE]
I like Isolation Years, and the instrumental section at the beginning of HoW is great, but the singing part of it is meh.

[QUOTE=Flynn]I sent them, Enjoy. :chug:[/QUOTE]

thank you much

[QUOTE=Jude]I like Isolation Years, and the instrumental section at the beginning of HoW is great, but the singing part of it is meh.[/QUOTE]

I like to do a little solo on the intro to [I]Hours Of Wealth[/I], I don't mind the singing on that song actually. I like some songs on Ghost Reveries, but the main problem I have with it is it didn't really have a side to it, ya know? If it was all done with clean vocals, or all growling it would of rocked, it just seemed to be at a medium which loses me whenever I listen to it. Plus I don't really care too much for the electronic keyboards...but a Piano, that would of been kick a[SIZE="2"]s[/SIZE]s.


[QUOTE=ZEROthirtythree]thank you much[/QUOTE]


Anything for a fan. :chug:

[QUOTE=Jude]I like Isolation Years, and the instrumental section at the beginning of HoW is great, but the singing part of it is meh.[/QUOTE]

Wow, I don't feel that way at all. Tears have come to my eyes listening to that song.

[QUOTE=Flynn]roflmao, it's probably not really him. Like he would have the time to come on a Forum just to explain that little detail to one individual? Even so, I don't bash that album, It is simply my least favorite of Opeth's recordings...that's all.[/QUOTE]

No, it is Mikael. He does post on that forum with a fair amount of frequency: hence the comment "I doubt Mikael will care about this" by the poster bashing GR.

That's a nice reply, and it just goes to show you how much of a mistake it is to feel as though there is a clear line of demarcation between what makes Opeth "quality" and what makes them bad. I've seen a lot of people here do that too, try to act as though there's some sort of scientific way to show that GR or whatever is subpar to what has come before. "How does the Grand Conjuration compare to the Moor?! It doesn't, which means it's clearly worse!!!!!" What? Come on now, that's just silly.

It's so sad that Opeth, such a great band, is so good that the deification of their old albums by their fans causes them to get criticized for evolving beyond what came before.

And it REALLY irks me to say that an evolution or change in the lighter material is an attempt by the band to "appeal to a wider audience." That's the biggest sack of bullsh*t I hear from any fan everywhere, and certainly from an Opeth fan.

[QUOTE=Cain]No, it is Mikael. He does post on that forum with a fair amount of frequency: hence the comment "I doubt Mikael will care about this" by the poster bashing GR.

That's a nice reply, and it just goes to show you how much of a mistake it is to feel as though there is a clear line of demarcation between what makes Opeth "quality" and what makes them bad. I've seen a lot of people here do that too, try to act as though there's some sort of scientific way to show that GR or whatever is subpar to what has come before. "How does the Grand Conjuration compare to the Moor?! It doesn't, which means it's clearly worse!!!!!" What? Come on now, that's just silly.

It's so sad that Opeth, such a great band, is so good that the deification of their old albums by their fans causes them to get criticized for evolving beyond what came before.

And it REALLY irks me to say that an evolution or change in the lighter material is an attempt by the band to "appeal to a wider audience." That's the biggest sack of bullsh*t I hear from any fan everywhere, and certainly from an Opeth fan.[/QUOTE]

The Grand Conjuration doesn't compare to The Moor, you're right. They're two totally different style of songs. I dislike The Grand Conjuration not for that reason though, it seems to drag on, very repetitive plus the keyboards seem horribly off key at times. I [I]do[/I] think Mikaels reply to whoever that was, was really well put. Mikael seems to be in another realm as opposed to whoever posted that in the first place. But he has to understand, music isn't for the band, it's for the fans. Without us, bands wouldn't exist leading to why certain forms of criticism is and always will be utterly important to bands worldwide. I don't hate Ghost Reveries at all, it's just not my favorite [B]O[/B]peth album.

[QUOTE=Flynn]Mikael seems to be in another realm as opposed to whoever posted that in the first place. But he has to understand, music isn't for the band, it's for the fans. Without us, bands wouldn't exist leading to why certain forms of criticism is and always will be utterly important to bands worldwide. I don't hate Ghost Reveries at all, it's just not my favorite [B]O[/B]peth album.[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure Opeth has been making music because that's what they like. They never have really done anything special for fans. Yes, I'm sure they enjoy the increasing fame and fortune, but all along their career they have made their own path, unhindered by anyone but themselves.

Like they say on their site, they threw in a ballad with To Bid You Farewell in the midst of a Black Metal trend. And then released a completely different style with My Arms, Your Hearse.

Opeth doesn't make music to please us, but the end result generally does.

[QUOTE=Flynn]The Grand Conjuration doesn't compare to The Moor, you're right. They're two totally different style of songs. I dislike The Grand Conjuration not for that reason though, it seems to drag on, very repetitive plus the keyboards seem horribly off key at times. I [I]do[/I] think Mikaels reply to whoever that was, was really well put. Mikael seems to be in another realm as opposed to whoever posted that in the first place. But he has to understand, music isn't for the band, it's for the fans. Without us, bands wouldn't exist leading to why certain forms of criticism is and always will be utterly important to bands worldwide. I don't hate Ghost Reveries at all, it's just not my favorite [B]O[/B]peth album.[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding? Art is all about the expression of what the ARTIST feels. Any artist that panders to the whims and desires of his consumers and allows him/herself to be limited by a perception of what the population wants loses all rights to artistic integrity, and at worst he loses the ability to express himself at all. If the fans are too close-minded to not evolve along with the artist's sensibilities, then the true artist cuts them loose. Opeth aren't making music just so you can say it's the best they ever did. That shouldn't be on ANY musical artist's mind. I should think that if anything, THAT was the point of Mikael's post.

[QUOTE=bucket]I'm pretty sure Opeth has been making music because that's what they like. They never have really done anything special for fans. Yes, I'm sure they enjoy the increasing fame and fortune, but all along their career they have made their own path, unhindered by anyone but themselves.

Like they say on their site, they threw in a ballad with To Bid You Farewell in the midst of a Black Metal trend. And then released a completely different style with My Arms, Your Hearse.

Opeth doesn't make music to please us, but the end result generally does.[/QUOTE]

Yeah that's true. But this criticism isn't coming from non-faithful fans it seems. It's from old school [B]O[/B]peth fans. Well, maybe they'll try something different next album, and I for one, hope it's heavy.

[QUOTE=Cain]Are you kidding? Art is all about the expression of what the ARTIST feels. Any artist that panders to the whims and desires of his consumers and allows him/herself to be limited by a perception of what the population wants loses all rights to artistic integrity, and at worst he loses the ability to express himself at all. If the fans are too close-minded to not evolve along with the artist's sensibilities, then the true artist cuts them loose. Opeth aren't making music just so you can say it's the best they ever did. That shouldn't be on ANY musical artist's mind. I should think that if anything, THAT was the point of Mikael's post.[/QUOTE]


Yes I understand his point clearly, and it's a good one. I guess I take that back considering that [B]O[/B]peth has, what, 8 albums and still kickin? That's legendary in my book. I think Mikael had a good point on where the band is [I]now[/I] ultimately leading to bigger and better things in the future. I just think people were expecting too much before the release of GR which made it so bland.

[QUOTE=Flynn]
Yes I understand his point clearly, and it's a good one. I guess I take that back considering that [B]O[/B]peth has, what, 8 albums and still kickin? That's legendary in my book. I think Mikael had a good point on where the band is [I]now[/I] ultimately leading to bigger and better things in the future. I just think people were expecting too much before the release of GR which made it so bland.[/QUOTE]

Right on, I bet you anything expectations were what caused negative opinions. On the other hand, let's face it, the true Opeth fan, IMO, shouldn't really expect anything. I love Morningrise, but they're never going to do that again. Even Still Life and Blackwater Park's styles are things of the past, and I grew to love Opeth on those albums. I had already accepted that nothing on Ghost Reveries was likely going to contain anything I most wanted to see. With that, I was able to enjoy the direction they DID take.