Opeth - Heritage

One listen in and it is certainly interesting so far. I like that they're trying to stretch out and succeeding with many passages. I am enjoying, but I need more time with it though,

I really dislike it. It's just seems directionless, and eclectic for the sake of eclectic. Mikael's wondeful clean voice has been replaced by a kind of screechy, nasal thing; and the production tries far too hard to be retro, and ends up just sounding like the band recorded it on Garage Band.

^ it does, but sorry, give me the real thing any day

TheClosing wrote:   On a side note* I've never seen anyone (admins included) even remotely close to a million posts. Crazy stuff!

I've got a fantastic business opportunity involving a bridge in the New York City metropolitan area.  Interested?

JJLehto wrote: Blacksword wrote: I like Opeth. I even like the cookie monster vocals, but when I heard they were doing a 'clean' album, I thought it may be along the lines of Damnation, but what I've heard bears little to no resemblence. What I've heard so far has intrigued me, although I'm not blown away. It could be a slow grower, but they've not done anything I've disliked so far. Many have said that, but you do know he never once implied it'd be like Damnation. Simply "clean" and it was us fans who ran with it. I'm glad it's clean but not another damnation, that album is good we don't need another. It has been a slow grower for me. My first opinion was the same "good but this isn't great" and each listen I've enjoyed more.

I never really understood the Damnation paralels people were making with Heritage. Right form the start when Akerfeldt anounced it was going to be a none metal album, his description still screamed hard rock, akin to what Pain of Salvation are doing with the Road Salt albums. And to be honest I'm very glad about that since I dont like Damnation.

Bonnek wrote: Kotro wrote: I had very high hopes for this album. After the third listen, I'm dissapointed. It's not that it's bad (it's not), it's just... boring and surprisingly uninspired. The songwriting is indeed crappy, there are severall good moments, but they are all lost among lesser ones. The longer tracks fail miserably. Most remarkable moments for me are the short rocker "The Lines in My Hand" and the amazing final two-and-a-half minutes of "Folklore". Exactly this, on all points, I find it an agreeable listen but there's not much beneath the surface.Mike can write decent songs and if he remembers how to, the new sound certainly has potential for a future release.

It's a real grower. I would say, and I have thought about it, that this is probably the best re-invention of a band since PT released In Absentia. Yes, I see it as a gateway album, a means to en end, but after a dozen listens I could confidently give it 4.5 stars. It is a classic rock album with many Prog elements. There are chunks of Red by Crimson, some Gentle Giant and even some Camel but these are fused with 70s bands like Deep Purple/Rainbow, later Zep and even Rush.

Terrific listen with real depth, well done Opeth.

The recording and mixing is flawless too!
A great way to throw off the death metal heritage of the band.

peart_lee_lifeson wrote: ^ Good man.  There's just something special about having the CD and cranking it up in my car.

Ah but I do and plan to play it when for part of my 7 hour drive

^ Good man.  There's just something special about having the CD and cranking it up in my car.

Bonnek wrote: Kotro wrote: I had very high hopes for this album. After the third listen, I'm dissapointed. It's not that it's bad (it's not), it's just... boring and surprisingly uninspired. The songwriting is indeed crappy, there are severall good moments, but they are all lost among lesser ones. The longer tracks fail miserably. Most remarkable moments for me are the short rocker "The Lines in My Hand" and the amazing final two-and-a-half minutes of "Folklore". Exactly this, on all points, I find it an agreeable listen but there's not much beneath the surface. Mike can write decent songs and if he remembers how to, the new sound certainly has potential for a future release.

Thirded, minus the "crappy" and the "miserably".

Kotro wrote: I had very high hopes for this album. After the third listen, I'm dissapointed. It's not that it's bad (it's not), it's just... boring and surprisingly uninspired. The songwriting is indeed crappy, there are severall good moments, but they are all lost among lesser ones. The longer tracks fail miserably. Most remarkable moments for me are the short rocker "The Lines in My Hand" and the amazing final two-and-a-half minutes of "Folklore".

Exactly this, on all points, I find it an agreeable listen but there's not much beneath the surface.
Mike can write decent songs and if he remembers how to, the new sound certainly has potential for a future release.