Opeth "Watershed"

Opeth “Watershed” (Deluxe Edition)

By Dr. Monkey • July 13, 2008

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Coil
Heir Apparent
The Lotus Eater
Burden
Porcelain Heart
Hessian Peel
Hex Omega

Official Bar Score:

Widely considered by some to be one of the most consistent and best pure metal bands of this generation Opeth return with their 9th studio album and their second album for major label Roadrunner Records. Before moving on let me just say that the reason the album art may be different than the art you are used to is because I bought the deluxe edition (being the Opeth nerd that I am) and thus will also focus on some of the special features.

First up let’s talk about the album first, and break it down track by track. The album opens with “Coil” a melodic track that sets the mood for the album. It’s short for an Opeth song at just over 3 minutes but it’s really setting the tone for the disc and in a way is the calm before the storm that is about to follow in the form of the next two tracks.

Heir Apparent and The Lotus Eater are the two heaviest songs on the album and are the songs the most feature the trademark Opeth sound. The latter of the two has the potential to be considered one of the best Opeth tracks of all time and is sure to become a live staple for years to come.

“Burden” is next and once again slows the album back down with 7 minutes of melodic vocals and equally melodic jamming by the band. The track is followed by the single (though the single version is shortened) off the album “Porcelain Heart” which uses mostly melodic vocals with a mixture of melodic music and more heavy traditional metal, the song really picks up at the midway mark.

“Hessian Peel” and “Hex Omega” wrap up the album. Hessian Peel is one of the most melodic songs on the album and also the longest. This is actually the only song on the album that I’m not a huge fan of, it’s grown on me now after a few listens but it takes a little while to get to the goods so to speak, but once it does it fits in well, I just think it was best suited with a little less melody to the vocals at the beginning. Hex Omega ends the album and is a somewhat similar track as Hessian Peel but does so on a smaller scale.

As for the bonuses, the 5.1 digital mix of the album that is included is an awesome bonus and if any band really benefits from this type of mix Opeth is it. Known for there crystal clear production this mix really brings out the power of their music and it’s an amazing thing to hear each individual instrument so strongly.

Also included are two covers “Bridge of Sighs” and “Der Standiga Rosen” as well as a new original track entitled “Derelict Hands”. The problem is that these tracks are featured on the DVD and not the album which was really the only downside of the whole thing.

You also get a pretty in depth behind the scenes of the Making of the album to round out the special features.

Overall I’d give the album 4 beers and the deluxe edition 4 1/2. So if you got the extra cash shell it out for the deluxe version, that’s assuming you have a good surround system.