FINAL UPDATE So. I have finally assembled my Top 10 Opeth songs in light of their new album Pale Communion coming out. I will be buying it in the next several days. If you listened/read even a bit of what Ive posted on this series of posts, I hope you enjoyed! This band or type of music indeed may not be usual for everyone, but I believe there is some objective musicality that can be deeply appreciated. As a musician and composer myself, through the critique and observation of different music styles, I leave with this: Music is more than something to listen to, nor is it a valid material to be spoon fed. Go beyond the surface, dive deep into places youve never gone. Study and observe the meat of the music, and youll find many shades of true genius within composing, without losing a genuine love for it. Instead, youll grow a deeper love and appreciation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I usually dont do stuff like this. But every few years a reason for it comes up. Opeth, a band that has consistently been my favorite band for many years, is coming out with a new album titled Pale Communion on August 25th. Their music has influenced more than just my tastes. It has changed the way I listen to music, write music, and view the boundaries that are set by common knowledge and genres. I have never experienced music that hits so many musical aspects. From perfectly crafted riffs and aggressively expressive vocals, to the most stunning acoustic progression, and the simple notes that leave you without words. Yes. Imagery is flattering. But in summation, Opeth has taught me a quality within music that I have yet to see done so perfectly. In light of the new album coming out, Im posting top 10 favorite songs, one a day until it is out. I will also write a few words describing what the song means and entails. Believe me, choosing the 10 was a hard decision! I will update this list every day. 10. The Leper Affinity https://youtube/watch?v=5ppq3u66_xs This song holds a complex song structure, and is one of the songs that goes through a variety of musical elements. It is one of the songs that flows incredibly well as a long progression of many emotions. 9. The Baying of the Hounds https://youtube/watch?v=vQbH4vFYYVs This song is hardcore. Yet moments in it makes you feel as if you were walking through a late autumn forest. It progresses through so many phases and emotions, and the way it strings you along with its riffs and acoustic segments is quite awesome. 8. A Fair Judgement https://youtube/watch?v=EUU0Q9Ry58I Tender, mysterious, soothing, yet like a storm of intensity that catches you through every melody, note, and rhythm. This song has some of my favorite vocals and acoustic pieces, and the way they flow in and out of each other is absolutely beautiful. 7. The Moor https://youtube/watch?v=Gkw0aVvxikg This song is a masterpiece. There are so many emotions in the music, but even the lyrics speak of a story that describe heartbreak and love. The vocal lines, the guitar melodies, everything, is so beautifully crafted together, creating an epic and complex display of musical storytelling. 6. Windowpane https://youtube/watch?v=FZXBj4suD08 Many of Opeths ballads/cleaner songs are very simple and melodic, filled with emotion. This is song is extraordinarily progressive, with many movements, and so many beautiful melodies and harmonies from vocals and solos. It embodies sitting by the window on a cold rainy day. 5. When https://youtube/watch?v=ZjkNe4UkYSs Now that Im in the top 5 songs, Ill go into deeper descriptions. When is probably one of the first Opeth songs I was exposed to. It starts with an eerie cadence that flips into an intense progression. The aggressive vocals in pairing with the complicated guitar riff fits perfectly together. The rhythm and paced strumming of the guitar grows into a beautiful vocal, followed by solo at 2:03. The solo then fades into a acoustic progression backed with an amazing clean melody, ultimately right back into a heavy piece. The latter part of this song, starting from 5:40, is one of the most dramatic, soulful, intense endings to a song, in which at 7:41, the clean vocal line carries the song into an epic and passionate end. That last vocal line may be one of my favorites. This song, through lyrics and music, tell a story of many emotions, with so many highs and lows. Although this is the oldest song of Opeth on my top 10 (quality isnt as great), I always consider it up there on my favorites. 4. Burden https://youtube/watch?v=FMOY-x9b1qA Burden is not a very conventional Opeth song. It has a simple structure, with a simple progression, yet it gives me the more intense feelings than almost every song. It is a beautiful ballad that instantly brings me into a cold, nostalgic and peaceful place. The first sign that this song was gonna be an emotionally melodic and intense song is at 1:20, where the electric melody just drives the entire mood like a sweeping wind. And at 2:24, the initial verse structure breaks into a riveting keyboard solo, almost a throwback to 70s organ, similarly to old rock ballads with a similar intensity. When Mikaels (singer) choral vocals come it at 3:42, Im absolutely breathless. 4:15, one of my favorite sequence of solos are played to a simple progression. And wow, it never cease to amaze me how such technical and quick notes can still be filled with such deep feeling and melody. It is somehow so extremely complicated yet so simple at the same time. At 5:18, a closing electric melody takes the road into a folk style acoustic segment, and ends with an eerie twist. God of love this song. 3. Godheads Lament https://youtube/watch?v=r10zK743XNo Godheads Lament is the second song off a concept album called Still Life. #7 on this list, The Moor, precedes this song. This is probably my favorite album, just because it has so many movements within the music itself. The story of the album is very deep and emotional, and the sonic background provides the perfect means to convey it. Godheads Lament is intense and emotional. It truly is one of my favorites. The song starts with a bang. The progression is simple, and the lyrics talk about a painful state. At 1:42, a crazy groovish riff goes on, where complicated and technical meets melodic. The heavy aggressive drive jumps into an beautiful segment of electric and vocal lines at 2:55. The vocals at 3:25 is one of my favorite clean lines, and it transitions into a soothing electric and acoustic duel. Then, when I thought the vocal and electric melodies couldnt get better, 4:27 has a shift in a highly touching electric line, and 4:49 has a vocal melody that is just as unique and full as before. This parts acoustic strumming along with the singing, brings me into a standstill. 5:52 has a great riff, that is half melodic, yet still rhythmic at the same time. The mood changes completely at 7:23, where it evolves into this weird jazz, bluesy jam that flows perfectly into the intensity that this song is all about. And as the heavy vocals take one last swing at us, the same stunning vocal line recurs, at 8:51, along with an even intensified epic progression. The song ends with a heavy breakdown, and only if I could share the acoustic plucking of the start of the next song (Benighted) that proceeds it. It is so polarizing, yet so perfect. Godheads Lament is long and complicated, with so many stunning twists and turns. It is top 3 for a good good reason. 2. Ghost of Perdition https://youtube/watch?v=MDBykpSXsSE Honestly, the Top 3 songs are so hard to choose. But especially the top two. And now that Im at here, I will definitely say that Ghost of Perdition has been my favorite Opeth song for the longest time. In fact, its the only song that I have successfully dedicated myself to learn to play. I love this song. It comes from the Ghost Reveries album, which was the phase of the band in which I first started listening. This song, in my vision, is one of the most complete, rounded, Opeth songs. This is the first song off the album, and immediately, you are struck in the face with a massive, surprising intro. The vocals are extremely heavy, and the riff of the guitar is grooves so well with the beat and rhythm. At 1:06, a change in direction is groovy as hell. It drives back into the heavy riff, and flips so suddenly into a beautiful yet slightly eerie acoustic, choral piece at 2:33, jumping to a high level at 2:48. The way the next segment plays with the rhythmic elements of the drums and guitar is so...groovy. Cant describe it any other way, especially at 4:23. And what on earth...such an emotional epic melody proceeding at 4:54. At 5:40, a turn in tone shifts the focus onto a very aggressive riff, and the way it carries the clean vocals makes it so heavy still. This song has so many clean vocals with heavy guitar progressions, yet it doesnt sound light AT ALL. It sounds eerie, distorted, and dark. It follows into a deadly bass drum led segment, with deafening heavy vocals, and at 7:07, seamless becomes a organ and acoustic led progression that brings you into the forest that the album is set in. Oh boy, 7:27 has a short chantish clean vocal line, and leads into an even more beautiful guitar melody at 7:37, one that makes you question how something so heavy can be so harmonious to the ear. 8:18 is a breakdown of the song, into the end, but the disharmonic riff of the guitar drives it so perfectly into the ground. Then it somehow jumps into the same previous eerie acoustic sliver at 9:06 and somehow take that acoustic line and bring it all the way home, ending on a ridiculous, high speed end, crashing so perfectly at the end. Ghost of Perdition is so craftily composed. There are so many parts to the song, yet somehow keep a uniform, natural, movement through the entire song. It is the first heavy album that incorporates keyboards fully, so the organ that rings so perfectly with the banging guitar, completes the tone of the sound so well. It is top two only because theres one song that has blown me away in an even bigger, more unique kind of way. 1. Hessian Peel https://youtube/watch?v=MgV-bCxE6ZI Well, its finally come to the end. Top favorite song of Opeth. Hessian Peel comes from the Watershed album. It actually is NOT my favorite album, but this song captures an element of Opeth I deeply love. It is not a song of very complicated structure, but the entirety of it really does bring you through a complicated spiral of feelings and movements. I often describe Hessian Peel as a song with some of the most dreamy, tender progressions, while also containing the most intense and aggressive combination of vocals and heavy instrumentals. It is the most polarizing song I know. The soft half of the song is so well coordinated in its simplicity, yet in an instant the song is flipped into a brutal rush of some of the heaviest, yet melodic elements of any Opeth song. Odd thing is, you dont only see this song in two parts. Looking at the first by itself is good, and same with the second. However, when you combine both, and see the song as one, the value and effect is so much greater. The songs starts with an empty room, with an acoustic line that acts as the first voice of the piece, ending with a perfectly placed bluesy touch at 0:33. At :43, the acoustic progression begins with the electric melody along with Mikael singing one of the most soothing, nostalgic vocal lines ever. Then comes the flutes (i think?) at 1:37 to complete the entire picture. The drums and rhythm comes in at 2:13, and it takes you back some old day, especially when the strings come in, and Mikael continues his singing at 3:00. One of the most epic melodies at 4:14 gives you a hint that this song is going to be BIG. Something is coming. It dies down into a light intermission at 4:51, as if ending, but in reality setting up for something HUGE. 5:19, the eerie piano builds up a dissonant realm, leading to a frightening and increasing tap of the keyboard, as if counting down to something. And then it hits! 5:44, the blast of the deep intense vocals and the drums and guitar just destroys any thoughts of the journey ending. 6:15 leads into a creative and melodic solo to attach onto the craziness going on. And at 6:30, the BIG ONE HITS. This is honestly one of the most creative, technical, deadly riffs of all time. Along with the drums, it carries you into an unbelievable state with no escape, as if you cannot breathe. But that intensity breaks at 7:24, and it mixes the vocal lines into the new direction of the song. Acoustic progression follows along with the larger than life strings. And at 8:14, a vertigo inducing segment creates a falling, disorienting sound. 9:17, the final movement of raw intensity drives the whole song into a destructive blast. And this blast erupts in multiple booms, starting at 10:17, assisted by the harmonious chords of the guitar, and ridiculous fills of the drums. The song ends with the same eerie countdown that spurred the second half of the song. But the countdown goes nowhere, and ends with your heart beating just as fast, as if something even bigger was coming. But it doesnt. The next song (Hex Omega) is quite the conclusion to the album however, and I recommend tasting that as well. This song is my favorite because of everything I described. It is crazy. THE END
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 07:35:19 +0000