LIMITED EDITION BOX SET

I personally do not see the value of this 4 disc box set. Who would buy it? Probably not the Opeth fans, since they already have all those four albums in their collection. Probably the newbie's neither, because who wants to buy four albums from a band one is not familiar with? So maybe this is only for the hardcore fans who just want to have it for the artwork and just because it comes in a Collector's Edition Slipcase? Since I already have all four albums I'm sure I'm not going to spend a single penny on it! Well, so far for my questions why Opeth would issue this four disc Limited Edition Box Set. Maybe they just found a way to make some extra money.

So what about the discs contained in this Limited Edition Box Set? For that I would recommend you read the original album reviews, since they are much more accurate than a review of all four albums at the same time. For me the rating would be easy. What's the average between 4 stars (BWP), 5 stars (Damnation), 3 stars (Deliverance) and 4 stars (Lamentations Live) ? Yeap: 4 stars exactly!

'Limited Edition Box Set' - Opeth (Boxset)

What a great deal! I am reviewing this product based on the price I paid for it, which was $39.99 Canadian. And I have to say, it's one of the best deals I've ever paid for music. Each album is great, and although there isn't any original material on this album, and I cannot see why anyone who owned any of the CDs already would buy it, but from a personal standpoint, buying the Limited Edition Collector's Slipcase was a great move, and saved me quite a bit of money, as opposed to purchasing the 4 items separately.

Keeping this boxset in context, there is NO reason to buy this if you have any of the albums this boxset consists of. After all, theres no point in having duplicates of albums. However, if you're relatively new to Opeth, and enjoy the music they play, you should keep an eye out for this boxset. While the original boxset material is rather bland and forgettable (what more than the slipcase?) the music the set consists of is fantastic... It's a really great feeling to listen to five new Opeth CDs in a row, and digest them all in tandem.

Of everything in this set, Damnation stands out as being my favourite. I won't go into detail about it (I already have a full-blown review for Damnation) but it's a sentimental work of art that I found very moving.

Blackwater Park, while I find it just a little bit overrated, has some really great songs. 'The Drapery Falls' in particular is probably the quintessential Opeth song, among some other greats on this album. Definately stands out as being one of Opeth's best though, despite being overrated.

Deliverence might even be my most listened CD of this boxset, even though it's probably not as good as the other two studio CDs. The last four minutes of 'Deliverence' is one of the best outros I've ever listened to, and is of particular note. There are some really fantastic moments on this album, but is marred by it's rather straightforward, lackluster feeling. Still not bad at all though. Just not the most progressive dish of Opeth you'll ever listen to.

The Lamentations concert is pretty good, although I don't listen to it nearly as much as the Studio CDs. It's definately worth a few enjoyed spins, but you'll find yourself tiring of the live material much faster then the studio material. Opeth have never been a live band, but Akerfeldt is definately one of the best frontmen in metal, and this concert helps show that.

This is a really great slipcase, and I'm really fortunate to have been able to get it. For a relatively low price, there's no better deal than to get 5 great CDs. There are droves worth of enjoyment to be found here.