THE ROUNDHOUSE TAPES

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I was particularly looking forward to Opeth's new live album, The Roundhouse Tapes not only because I think Opeth are one of the finest bands working in the Prog Metal genre but also because I wanted to hear if new Drummer, Martin Axenrot was capable of replacing the excellent Martin Lopez. Well perhaps a live release isn't going to be the best comparison against Lopez' studio performances so I'll reserve full judgement for Opeth's next studio album but initial impressions are good. I didn't doubt they would find someone capable of the heavier more bombastic moments but Lopez knew when to hold it back and injected a lot of subtleties into his playing. Fortunately Axenrot seems to have grasped the importance of this and gives it a good shot.

But what of the performances of the rest of the band? Well in the main I'm pleased to say very good indeed which you would expect from a band containing the calibre of musicians as in Opeth and overall the production is good too. We get a diverse choice of material here with at least one track from each of Opeth's eight studio albums with the exception of Deliverance.

Surprisingly this double disc set opens with When from their 1998 album, My Arms, Your Hearse but it turns out to be an inspired choice, great riffs, rolling double Bass Drums, lots of changes and their lighter interludes too. I'm still no fan of Akerfeldt's Death Metal vocals though but have resigned myself that I'll have to tolerate them at least part of the time if I want to listen to Opeth.

One of my favourite tracks by the band is next, Ghost of Perdition from their most recent album, Ghost Reveries. Unfortunately it comes across as a little flat here which is a shame.

Orchid has always been my least favourite Opeth cd but Under the Weeping Moon is a pleasant surprise here and I found myself warming to it considerably. The other three tracks are all well performed too, the first disc closing with a dynamic version of The Night and the Silent Water from Morningrise.

The second disc is somewhat shorter at thirty five minutes and only contains three tracks. Perhaps I'm being greedy but an extra couple of tracks could have really rounded it off nicely, something from Deliverance perhaps. Still, a minor complaint as it opens with Windowpane from Opeth's excellent and more mellow Damnation album. The mood soon changes though as we head into a powerful version of Blackwater Park from the album of the same name, one of the bands most celebrated songs.

Coming full circle we're back to the My Arms, Your Hearse album for a cracking version of Demon of the Fall.

There's not too many live albums that get me excited these days but Opeth have produced one of the better ones of recent years. With a beautiful fold out sleeve this album is a must for any fans of the band. Apparently it is also going to get a DVD release in the New Year which is great news.

A word of warning here: this review does not come from a long-time fan of the band, or even from a prog-metal expert. As a matter of fact, I got into Opeth only recently, and so far I have only heard two of their studio albums ("Damnation" and "Ghost Reveries" to be precise). Therefore, I apologise beforehand for not writing a very detailed account, filled with accurate references to the band's output, or comparisons between studio and live versions. My review will mostly be based on my personal impressions as an Opeth and prog-metal novice, though one who is more than willing to learn more about both the band and the genre.

The first Opeth live album comes in a stylish, sepia-toned package that reprises the Gothic-themed artwork of their last studio offering, "Ghost Reveries". Far from being fixated with gore and violence as so many 'typical' death metal outfits , Opeth have always presented themselves as a classy, erudite band, taking their inspiration from fin-de-siècle literary sources rather than from anatomy manuals or serial killer stories. Their music reflects this image - a blend of elegance and aggression, hard-edged and complex, rich with classical and ethnic influences, the latter probably due to the mixed background of some of the members.

"The Roundhouse Tapes" is a great showcase for a band who haven't yet attained the peak of their creative powers. It includes tracks taken from all of Opeth's album except "Deliverance" - CD2 being somewhat shorter than CD1, and featuring only three songs. Per Wiberg's keyboards are very much in evidence throughout the record, adding texture and depth to the band's dark, sometimes claustrophobic sound. On the other hand, Opeth can do melody as well as other, less metal-oriented bands - their secret weapon being Mikael Åkerfeldt's amazing 'clean' vocals. Though I would be lying if I said that I am a fan of death growls, I have to admit that Mikael's growling is really in a class of its own. However, his 'singing' voice is undoubtedly one of the best in modern prog bar none, his velvety, melancholy baritone somewhat reminiscent of another great prog singer, though from a completely different genre - Canterbury icon Richard Sinclair. In addition to his skills as a vocalist and a composer, Åkerfeldt is possessed of the sort of dry wit that very few people would associate with death metal, which makes his between-song banter quite refreshing, even endearing. Check his presentation of elegant, melancholy ballad "Windowpane" - "this is a song that will get us chicks backstage"!

Even though some hardcore fans will object to the omission of some track or the other, the songs selected for "The Roundhouse Tapes" represent the best of Opeth's output. Most of them exhibit the band's trademark brooding, crushing intensity coupled with moody, rarefied atmospheres and exquisite melodic breaks. On the other hand, the aforementioned "Windowpane" (from Opeth's 'official' prog album "Damnation"), and the hauntingly gorgeous "Face of Melinda" (from "Still Life") forgo heaviness altogether, showing Åkerfeldt's more sensitive side.

While fans patiently wait for the release of the band's next album, "The Roundhouse Tapes" captures Opeth at a time of change, after the departure of two key members. In spite of that, they sound very tight and cohesive, and - even more important - they clearly enjoy being onstage and communicating with their audience. As an almost absolute beginner, I am curious to see what new paths they will take with their new release. In the meantime, open-minded progsters will find a lot to enjoy in this excellent live album.

The Roundhouse Tapes was a fairly overlooked live album, which is a shame. It's understandable, though. After all, a live album coming out on the heels of not one but two lineup changes. Modern drum genius Martin Lopez quit due to the panic attacks his medical condition brought on. Then, guitarist and Mikael's founding partner Peter Lindgren left due to his apprehension at Opeth's mounting fame. This album captures one of his final performances. Inevitably, these lineup shifts make this live album look like a quick attempt to make a greatest hits disc in case the new lineup can't bring the fans in. Happily, this is a more than solid outing and even the coldest cynic can't deny these guys gel together.

The setlist reminds me of Dream Theater's Score in that it takes a song from each of Opeth's albums (save Deliverance) rather than go for a greatest hits collection. It gives you a great cross-section of the band's sound: a blend of intensely heavy metal and haunting acoustic folk, propelled by jazz metal drumming and Mikael's unique voice. Åkerfeldt has hands down the best growls in extreme metal, but his greatest asset is his range. His 'clean' vocals are so penetrating and deeply haunting that they are far more terrifying than his growls. He's also a rather funny guy, quipping with the audience and even chastising some fan that yells Free Bird!.

Somewhat ironically, when I was done listening to this I found myself that they had released a big greatest hits type live album instead. They were so good I didn't want it to stop with the 9 songs we get. I was a little concerned at how well their complex arrangements and rapid vocal style changes would play in a live setting, but these guys nailed their set. They easily switch from crushingly heavy tunes like When and Demon of the Fall into softer numbers like Face of Melinda and Windowpane. They also handle complex numbers like Ghost of Perdition and Bleak with panache.

All in all, a great live album, but by no means a perfect one. It's too short (which can't hurt the album's quality, but I can't help wanting more), and the songs don't really differ from their studio versions. Listening to this just makes me look forward to their next project even more.

Grade: B

Hard to believe that this is OPETH's first live record.Maybe that's why they made it a double,while dipping into 7 of their 8 previous studio albums for material.Which is no small feat considering there are only 9 songs on this double disc set.The only album that isn't represented is Deliverance.This was recorded in London during their Ghost Reveries tour,which would be the last tour for lead guitarist Peter Lindgren before he would leave the band.Travis Smith creates another amazing album cover. Things get started with When from the My Arms, Your Hearse album.You can hear the restless crowd noises as the sounds of guitar start to rise from the stage with the audience roaring their approval.A crushing 3 minutes of metal and growls is replaced by a beautiful interlude followed by clean vocals for the first time after 7 minutes.These guys really pull it off live the way they change from brutal to beauty in a flash. Ghost Of Perdition from Ghost Reveries is next with again the contrast of brutal vocals and crushing instrumental work with the mellow,melancholic passages continues.It sounds like flute 7 minutes in. Under The Weeping Moon is from their first record called Orchid.Akerfeldt announces that the lyrics are really black metal nonsense.The atmosphere 3 minutes in is spine tingling and it continues for 3 1/2 minutes.A mellow section ends the song. Bleak from Blackwater Park is my second favourite song on here.I can't play this one loud enough.Akerfeldt actually sounds like Steven Wilson after 3 minutes.This is such an emotional track for me. Face Of Melinda from Still Life is my third favourite song.The first 5 1/2 minutes are quite reserved actually and then the power is turned way up with some great guitar to end it.Akerfeldt named his daughter Melinda. The Night And Silent Water is from Morningrise.As Akerfeldt tells the audience a story he can't handle the crowd noise and tells them to Shut the f#*@k up in a calm slow voice, then goes on to tell them that he brought a lute to the recording studio for that album but never used it.So where you hear the guitars at the beginning of the song that is where the lute would have been played.A crushing wall of sound a minute in as Mikael spits out the lyrics.A calm 3 minutes in as contrasts continue. Windowpane is from Damnation and is my favourite tune on here.This is so melancholic yet so gorgeous.Mellotron like waves after a minute and later after 6 minutes with mournful guitar melodies in tow. Blackwater Park is heavy going until 3 minutes in when it becomes pastoral.A powerage comes in after 6 minutes with growly vocals.Great track. The band is then introduced by Akerfeldt while for over 5 minutes we hear them play this mellow background music which happens to be them covering Through Pains To Heaven by POPOL VUH from their Nosferatu record.Cool. OPETH end the evening with Demon Of The Fall' from My Arms,Your Hearse which is very brutal sounding for the first 5 minutes before a pleasant melody arrives. OPETH fans shouldn't even hesitate about getting this one. A solid 4 stars.

An excellent adrenalin generator ..!

One thing I love about Opeth is the combined hard-edge rhythm section, ambience, growling vocal and the normal one, sudden breaks after full blast of metal music vein. I was only impressed by the band when Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree got involved in the album making. That's because of at first I did not like anything that growls. But Mikael Åkerfeldt's growling is different with any other metal music. So since then I love the music of Opeth because it has everything: power (for sure!), energy, complexities and melody!

This live set provides songs with this kind of characteristics. This Swedish band's latest opus is the 2 CD live set The Roundhouse Tapes, which was recorded in November of 2006 at London's Camden Roundhouse during their Ghost Reveries Tour. There are only 9 songs on the 90 minute set: six songs on CD one, while another 3 songs on CD Two. A DVD version of the concert is scheduled to be released in early 2008.

This concert is like a representation of their albums with only "Deliverance" not being represented. The opening track "When" and "Demon Of The Fall" are taken from their "My Arms, Your Hearse" (1998). It's really uplifting to start the live concert with a full blast music like "When" where you can hear all the heavy sides of Opeth and the slow parts as well. As this is live concert, I like the fact that this was taken from the live concert. Even though the arrangements are exactly the same with studio version but I can feel the live vibes. Actually, this track starts something like any other metal band deliver: high-tension rhythm section with drive and energy, full blasted with all instruments they play, followed by low register growling vocal (this is really cool .!!!).

The next track "Ghost of Perdition" refers to their "Ghost Reveries" album and as the opening track this one starts with full blast and in fact more complex than the first. It then moves into a musical break with soft riffs like Tool has normally performed in their music. But Opeth is of course different from Tool, musically. "Bleak" provides a kind of break as the previous tracks are truly heavy one. This is not to say this track is mellow, but it's softer as compared to previous ones. I enjoy the ambient of this track, really! There is also track with softer style like "The Night and The Silent Water".

For me personally, "Blackwater Park" is something of special due to the fact that I like the album very much. It has everything that heavy music offers: solid rhythm section and riffs, nice groove and soul, good flow of music coupled with well managed transition pieces involving great guitar riffs and solos. This is suitable for those of you who like long duration track with many passages ranging from soft part as well as heavy part, growling as well as normal vocal line. And everything is blended nicely in the tight composition of the music.

The overall performance by Opeth on this CD is excellent. The arrangements are very similar to the original recordings, and the sound quality is excellent too. I cannot wait the issuance of the DVD! Mikael Akerfeldt speaks quite a bit between songs, and you can hear some crowd noise. The Roundhouse Tapes is a good offer before the band release their new studio album. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Could have been (a lot) better

Live albums are usually tricky to rate for 2 reasons, mainly: 1) you probably were not there, so you lose a great deal of energy from the gig only listening to it (you don't have human contact, you can't see the band play, etc) and, therefor, your whole perception of the show is considerably narrowed; 2) you may not like the whole setlist, think they left some song behind or that they didn't played the song you like the way you like. One way or another, all live albums will have those 2 problems in some degree, and Opeth's only live album to date, The Roundhouse Tapes, is no exception to that rule.

Though Opeth made a great job by playing songs from almost every album they released (there is not a single song from Deliverance), thus trying to please every kind of fan they have, i think they should play a longer concert because there were a big number of songs that were left behind, like The Drapery Falls or The Moor, my favorite Opeth songs. The Moor would actually make a better opening song for the gig than When, that should be played right after, and The Drapery Falls would make a better closing song than Demon of the Fall, so it should be played right after Demon of the Fall. Maybe with those two songs I would rate this live album as a masterpiece, but who knows. . . However, the setlist of The Roundhouse Tapes is not so bad after all, being reasonably pleasant for every Opeth fan.

This live album also have some pretty good features, like the participation of Per Wiberg and his keyboards / organs in every song, making all old Opeth songs even better than what they were, probably because he uses the keyboards in a non-intrusive way, making, mainly, the harmonic basis for all other instruments, what makes the music sound thicker or gives it more energy, but not in an aggressive way.

Another good feature of this live album is that you can see (hear) in first hand Mike Ankerfeldt good humor and sympathy towards the fans and the audience in general.

The Roundhouse Tapes also show us how the band is made of competent live musicians: not a single mistake in the instrumental department nor in the vocal department. About the vocals, it is important to note that Mike Ankerfeldt vocals are even better live than in studio, because (or, at least, it appears to be so) the thrill of the live concert makes him sing and growl with more emotion.

The highlights go to: Ghost Of Perdition, Bleak, The Night And The Silent Water, Windowpane and Blackwater Park.

Grade and Final Thoughts

The only live album released by Opeth is a good enough album by itself, without adding any song i mentioned. There is no question that the band has the potential to meke a better album still, so to rate this as a masterpiece would be a mistake. For those reasons, 4 stars seems a fitting grade to me.