Opeth vs Tool
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34251
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Topic: Opeth vs Tool
Posted By: Jeff Schu
Subject: Opeth vs Tool
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:31
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I figured that both of these bands are pretty popular and are both very good bands. I thought that they were evenly matched enough to be put into a poll together. Which is the better band???Songwriting
Creativity
Originality
Musicianship
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This is meant to be an objective poll btw. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:32
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An objective poll would go X - 0 so good luck sir.
------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Jeff Schu
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:34
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I'm afraid I don't follow what you mean. -------------
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Posted By: Chris H
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:34
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Not a big fan of either, but I think Opeth is much more musically and technically talented and produce some more complex pieces than Tool. ------------- Beauty will save the world. 
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:35
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Not being an expert on either bands: Opeth: Songwriting: 8
Creativity: 8
Originality: 6
Musicianship: 8 Overall: 7.5 Tool: Songwriting: 7
Creativity: 5
Originality: 7
Musicianship:9 Overall: 7 ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Morda
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:36
| Opeth ... Opeth are one of a very few death metal bands which are not melodic which I like. |
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:36
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I mean that, were a team of certified musicologists to deconstruct the best album of each band they'd all come to the same conclusion - a truly objective poll would have an unanimous result, no?
------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Jeff Schu
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:40
I suppose it would but people have different opinions on things as well. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things turn out. -------------
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laplace wrote:Posted By: enteredwinter
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 12:51
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These are my two favorite prog-metal bands. In terms of the criteria, I believe Opeth wins by a small margin. Honestly, I think they're basically equal, but I prefer Opeth because I like their sound a little more, and they've produced more quality work in terms of sheer quantity. By the way, laplace has a valid point. A poll like this can't actually be "objective", because it obviously is related to our opinions no matter how we approach it, which makes it by definition "subjective". ------------- 
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Posted By: CrazyDiamond
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:02
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Opeth
even if now I'm beginning to consider the beauty of the song "10.000 days - Wings pt.2"
 That song kick a***s, but I still consider Tool a bit boring after a while. That is a momentary opinion, maybe.
In every Opeth album, the songs, one by one, show something different and original that differs from one to another.
Creativity and Originality.  ------------- 
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Posted By: endlessepic
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:08
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Tool Definatly Although Opeth is a little bit interesting... |
Posted By: proglil49
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:10
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Opeth for me. I'm not really into Tool's music. ------------- I want to be an astronaut |
Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:15
| Tool wins here. |
Posted By: trauma0
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:17
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OPETH... FOR ME ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/trauma0/?chartstyle=itunesrecent"> 
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Posted By: Prometheus
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:21
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these two bands are close, thats true, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are comparable; they have two incredibly different artistic directions. in terms of sheer musical quality i would vote that Opeth wins hands down. they are more technical and generate a strong visceral reaction with not only their booming loud portions but also with their perfect transitions to soft portions. in terms of lyrics and artistic intent, however, Opeth is still a melodic death metal band. in terms of how the lyrics are sung, i love them, but to construct what they mean is to see a trite, gothic atmosphere. Ghost Reveries, my favorite album of theirs, is a prime example of course. "The Baying of the Hounds", "Beneath the Mire", "The Grand Conjuration"...they are slightly more intellectual versions of Viking-metal acts. (BWP is no different...my other favorite) Tool lies on the absolute opposite end of the spectrum. while thier pieces are not the same degree of technicality (at least not all the time...) they are not easy. but alot of Tool songs fail to make the same visceral reaction. Stinkfist, lateralus, Fourty-Six and 2, schism...these are actually boring songs on the first listen if you aren't concentrating on them, i know i was unimpressed with Lateralus at first. but the music grows, and moreover, it creates an incredible emotional tie with the lyrics. Here, then, is the strength of Tool (in my opinion): the completely original, surrealistic dreamscapes created with every song. every song is not simply musical, it is also an intellectual, artistic statement (let's avoid the "Hooker with a Penis" as simple rock). Tool is spiritual music, and thus, is a grower if you ever get it at all. honestly i love both bands, but i love them for what they are. i take the unmade third option and abstain. (Tool is trailing in the polls, hence my more overt support) ------------- "Tell me why world, unfathomable and good, The beauty of everything is infinite and cruel." --Kayo Dot |
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:26
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There were hundreds polls of that kind with the same options.
My fave Prog-Metal bands,and I'd definetely go with TOOL |
Posted By: polyrythmic
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:37
| Tool by a long way for me, Danny Carey is amazing! |
Posted By: Forgotten Son
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 13:47
| Opeth by far. I've always found Tool's songwriting to be quite bland and I've never thought of them as original and creative as some make out. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 14:54
Musicologists are something else even before being musicologists:
HUMANS - they feel and sense. Objectivity in a 100% level is improbable.
But who the hell wants music to be OBJECTIVE????? IT'S AN ART, not math.
You want objectivity? Go look at the sell numbers and the billboard charts. that's the only objective thing you'll find in music, because it's palpable and not disputable. BUT: it's based on SELLS. So when you put your emphasis in sutff like that, the results are a world full of sh*t and CRAP passed as MUSIC.
You know? The Greatest masters of all time (bach, mozart, mahler, etc). were not like that much by "musicologists". Now, I'm not comparing them to our prog bands, but as an example: if we let "scientist of art (???)" decide what's to live and what's to die, SO MANY OF THE BEST MUSIC EVER WOULDN'T EXIST.
Go ask a "musicologist" and, as they were trained to think in a manner, (not all of them of course, If any is reading, that's proof you are not in the same wagon), they will dissect music as if it was an equation. the results: they will say Justin Timberlake is better than Opeth. For sure. It has short melody, perfect harmony, pure rhythm, and it serves the purpose of a little insignificant pop-song. "Musicologists" won't accept auch an "abherration" as prog-death-metal as Opeth.
With exceptions of course, musicologists, as every other kind of trained-critic, have never created a single note of music.
It's good that they exist. they serve a purpose. They analyze historic facts and music history and the relation with the music of the time, so thanks to musicologists we know about some lost masterpieces and who they belong to; they guide us through music history by telling us what laws governed music in a particular time and how a piece deviates off the norm or accomodates to it. they explain us that some figures have extra musical significance (example: diabolus in musica, the three note pattern that was associated with the devil, things like that).
They shouldn't tell us what to think. And probably, they don't want to.
So please, don't make music an objective science.
Its uselessness, its subjectivity is what makes it the art of arts.
Answering the question, I prefer Opeth.
EDIT: I'm sorry, I think I got the comment the wrong way or rushed to conclusions. I also think my answer is erratic, and could people to believe I discard and despise musicologists. I admire them, but it's just that I overreact when I think music is put in the same basket as exact sciences. I've grown with art surrounding me since I was a child, and can't accept any intention to fit any art in "squares" or "formulas" . Sorry again. but I won't delete what I wrote because that's my opinion, if maybe a little bit erratic because of excitement.
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Posted By: CaptainWafflos
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 15:12
| A musicologist is no better at interpretting the quality of music than the average listener with no musical training, really. It all comes down to subjectivity in the end. |
Posted By: MadcapLaughs84
Date Posted: February 10 2007 at 15:39
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Maynard is my man, but Opeth has better musicianship ------------- 
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Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 11:56
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Opeth, why even ask ? ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: magnus
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 12:04
This is like asking me which of my parents I love the most  No clappies for this poll  ------------- The scattered jigsaw of my redemption laid out before my eyes Each piece as amorphous as the other - Each piece in its lack of shape a lie 
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Posted By: Jeff Schu
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 19:26
HAHA!
 ... Yeah both bands are great aren't they. To be honest I didn't think this poll was gonna be as close as it is. So, What poison did you choose??? -------------
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Posted By: MajesterX
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 20:34
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They are both great bands, but I think Opeth is the much better band. Opeth overpowers Tool easily when it comes to musicianship. Tool are original and creative, about as much as Opeth, but most of thier songs are extremely similar to each other. They use most of the same techniques on most of their songs, which are either heavy and angry or spacey/ eastern. I think Opeth is more varied and have a much wider selection of moods and styles than Tool, giving them a better chance at being very creative and original. ------------- 
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Posted By: JJLehto
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 21:10
| Opeth, no doubt. Honestly, I can't take Tool for very long and they start to bore me. |
Posted By: kazansky
Date Posted: February 11 2007 at 22:36
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Opeth for me ------------- The devil we blame our atrocities on is really just each one of us. |
Posted By: Novalis
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 06:08
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I'm going with Tool, but only just.
I can't really see how this could be objective - I mean, if you like something, you like it. Everything else is secondary.
So unless you are God, your opinion is just an opinion.
 |
Posted By: Eerichtho
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 07:17
Right. Of these two bands I love Opeth more by far. Tool have their good moments but mostly are quite dull for me. In terms of musicanship, creativity, songwriting and originality Opeth are superior. In my oppinion. |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 10:48
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I'm very suprised!
Both bands are great, but Creativity is definately Tool, Opeth cant stand up to parabola or Reflection
originality, no question, Tool again. Why? simple, give me one other band that sounds like tool that came before them
Musicianship is the only one where Opeth stands a fighting chance, but Danny Carry and Justin Chancellor may be the greatest rythym section of any modern band right now
Lyrically, Tool, both have very dark lyrics, but Opeths are ALL about death, tool has a wide area of morbidness
there... Tool obviously ------------- 
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Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 12:51
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Tool.
------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: Prayermad
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 13:30
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Here are my opinions in a x out of 10 point system...
Opeth
Songwriting: 9 Opeth has so many classics it's sometimes hard to pick them apart.
Creativity: 7 Many of their songs sound a bit the same, but that's how it goes if you go the metal way, as they cannot reinvent themselves the same way that say, King Crimson did.
Originality: 9 They are very original and unmatched as progressive death metal, if you ask me.
Musicianship: 8 Great musicians.
Tool
Songwriting: 7 Good, but sometimes a bit boring
Creativity: 6 Not as creative as opeth
Originality: 9 Also original, to me they are more like Art-Metal
Musicianship: 8 Great musicians
So Opeth wins by three points (IN MY OPINION, FOLKS)
Both are some of the greatest of todays bands, however i was deeply let down by Tools album 10,000 Days. Opeth on the other hand has made 8 all great albums.
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Posted By: enteredwinter
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 13:43
Give me one band that sounds like Opeth that came before them. Sure, some bands were combining death metal and light passages before them, but they really have a distinctive sound that was never done before them. I agree with the Tool statement though, they also were very unique when they first started. Opeth's lyrics are not "ALL about death"! If you truly believe that, you have a very limited understanding of Opeth's lyrics. Even if you have only listened to Ghost Reveries, as shown in your signature, how can you say that the lyrics to Atonement and Hours of Wealth are "about death"? In fact, I would argue that most of the lyrics on that album are not "about death". -------------
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Posted By: Eerichtho
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 13:45
I absolutely agree on this point of view and on how the points for creativity etc. are handed out. |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 14:23
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In terms of musicianship I greatly prefer Tool. Danny Carrey is probably my favorite modern drummer and the best to come out of the prog-metal subgenre. Besides Morningrise Opeth's bass work has never really grabbed me whereas it's quite the opposite for Tool. Akerfeldt's vocals come nowhere close to the great variety, sustain, and emotion of Maynard. However, I do prefer Akerfeldt slightly to Jones.
Opeth have the more original sound. However, this has progress very little from album to album. Now you pretty much know the light/heavy piecemeal songs to expect from an Opeth album. Tool on the other hand has had a strong progression from album to album and have suprised me (10k days excluded for the most part).
Tool's songs overall do more for me, but they tend to have a good bit of filler on their albums whereas Opeth are consistant the whole way through.
They're pretty evenly matched to me but I'll take Tool due to the superiority in musicianship. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 15:58
... I believe you need to bring out the album sleeve and read the lyrics, Atonement is about death coming to him (or something like that). No offense inteneded-------------
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Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 16:09
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Tool
Opeth is good, but... |
Posted By: Spacemac
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 17:36
| Tool |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 18:31
My friends hate it when I say Opeth. Seems there's a bit of a spray that I emit  Too much emphasis on the "eth".
------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 19:59
I spray when they ask me how can I like Opeth! -------------
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Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 21:27
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Even though Lateralus is the ultimated masterpiece of this millenium (I never get tired of saying that)... as a band I must vote for Opeth
------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 22:02
Er, isn't that like saying that Tool is your favourite music, but you like Opeth's albums better ? ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 01:42
| Tool is better in my book. |
Posted By: Joseth On Kings
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 02:01
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Dude anybody who thinks that Opeth {psh} is better then Tool should feel a bitter pain in there soul!!!
Tool's musicinaship is far more superior then that of Opeth and the originality is also way better then Opeth, now the song writing I can't decide between the 2 I think it's about equal there but everything else TOOL dominates in over Opeth.
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Posted By: asimplemistake
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 02:07
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There is a reason Opeth's logo is my signature... Although I do like the music of Tool, I think the sound that Opeth makes is a sound like no other band. They mix lovely melancholic folk influenced acoustic passages with heavy, powerful, but still beautiful (in it's own way) death metal sections. Tool has some good musicianship too, but the bass playing of Martin Mendez mixed with the amazing drumming of (the now gone) Martin Lopez matches perfectly with the songwriting of Mikael and the also great playing of Per and (the now gone) Peter. Opeth wins for me. |
Posted By: Matt Dickens
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 11:25
How is Opeth not melodic? ------------- If it ain't broke don't break it. |
Posted By: Matt Dickens
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 11:26
yeah, your opinion is better than mine. ------------- If it ain't broke don't break it. |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 14:00
Funny, but I may have to agree with kings -------------
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Posted By: progadicto
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 15:02
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Tool... not one of my favs but they got some great albums... Opeth albums never touch my heart... ------------- ... E N E L B U N K E R... |
Posted By: Erpland316
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 15:14
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Opeth and Tool are great bands, but live TOOL is much better-saw them last week in Birmingham, Alabama and Push*t was amazing! ------------- "Science is all metaphor"-Timothy Leary [IMG]http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.jones10/amonpic.jpg">[IMG]http://imagegen.last.fm/red/artists/Yeti316.gif"> |
Posted By: Harkmark
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 15:22
Opeth is often great.  Tool are good musicians (of course), but it's too much rooted in grunge for my taste. Especially the use of the vocals...maybe an instrumental version could appeal to me more. |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 15:28
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Opeth - pretty much all of their albums are fantastic.
Not so with Tool (though they have more than their fair share of awesome music as well). |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 15:39
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opeth. only cause i can take Tool in small doses, whereas Opeth i can listen to more than one full album at a time. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: Novalis
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 06:27
It's the reverse for me, except for Ghost Reveries or Still Life.
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Posted By: Mlaen
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 15:21
| Opeth. |
Posted By: Sckxyss
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 17:21
This made me laugh
As for me.. this is a really tough choice, but I find myself listening to a bit more Opeth lately. It could just be the novely, but I'll go with them anyway. Both bands are excellent, and my two favourite of prog metal.
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Posted By: rawk
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 16:23
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first post woo.. I love opeth, my joint favorite band with some others, kind proof that extreme metal can be beautiful though I really don't like Ghost Reveries but psh... What little I've heard of Tool is not that great, maybe they grow on you. Also anyone know of any bands like Opeth out there? |
Posted By: tardis
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 16:31
| Opeth...I can only listen to Tool in moderate doses. |
Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 16:34
I would say that the most Opeth-like band out there would be Insomnium, you can think of them as Opeth's less progressive little brother. ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: Dim
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 23:14
YES, Tool grows on you! I first got 10000 days and thought it was wat to weird for me. After a couple more listens though, I uncovered a lot of new stuff that is very hard to recgnize the first time around. I've learned that with almost every prog band, Tools a bit deeper though... maybe thats why they're so good  -------------
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Posted By: THE_POLE
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 22:16
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Songwriting: Opeth > Tool
I think Opeth's songwriting is far superior to Tool's Creativity: Tool > Opeth
Tool are unlike anything else, whereas Opeth are influenced by many bands, and the influences tend to show quite a bit. I wouldn't call them the pinnacle of creativity. Originality: Tool > Opeth
This one is kind of like creativity, so same as above. Musicianship:Opeth = Tool
Opeth are better on their instruments than Tool is on theirs, although Tool's soundscapes and atmospheres are great. I would say that they are almost equal here. Overall i prefer Opeth over Tool, as Opeth's music generally appeals more to my tastes, but i have been listening to Tool (about 7 years) far longer than Opeth(1 year) and i'm still not bored of them. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/the_pole/"> 
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Posted By: randyhiatt
Date Posted: June 04 2007 at 12:55
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I like Steven Wilson's (Porcupine Tree) work with Opeth. Not at all happy with cookie monster vocals from any band (unless Kate Bush did it). Tool is cool. ------------- Randy |
Posted By: melvins
Date Posted: June 04 2007 at 13:00
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While Opeth has been sucking since they've started, Tool has only sucked for the last 4 or 5 years. Therefore Tool wins. ------------- Like stee moanin' ludlow |