This holiday season I’m rocking out to some truly classic metal. “Blackwater Park” will be 10 years old in February and in my book that makes it classic. I remember it’s release like it was yesterday. I had just started to really get into Opeth about a year prior when a friend recommended “Still Life” (great disc as well) and remember the underground buzz that had started prior to the release of this masterpiece. This disc is one that any fan of metal needs to give a chance. This album is a massive fusion of progressive death metal with a hint of black metal thrown in. I could not tell you how many people that I have talked into picking up this classic album since its release in 2001 and time and time again those same people get hooked on Opeth. Blackwater Park is 8 tracks of audible ecstasy that is addictive. One listen and you’ll come back for more. From the opening growl of “We enter winter once again” from “The Leper Affinity” you realize that you are indeed in for one hell of a ride. the disc flows into “Bleak” and then riffs into metal beauty. “Harvest” is the third track and is a track that will catch you by surprise. Acoustic blended metal at its finest. “The Drapery Falls” is an excellent tune that blends acoustics and heaviness into an incredibly diverse song that builds into a monster and slowly calms back down. The next track, “The Funeral Portrait” is a fan favorite and kills. Hear it to understand, that’s all I’m saying. “Patterns in the Ivy” is a mellow acoustic guitar and piano driven song that is a relaxing 2 minutes to recover from the incredible music you have heard up until that point. Finally the last track “Blackwater Park” is an epic closer that brings every element of what makes Opeth unique into one final taste. Acoustics, heavy guitars, growls, groove and feeling.
Tracklist
1. The Leper Affinity
2. Bleak
3. Harvest
4. The Drapery Falls
5. Dirge For November
6. The Funeral Portrait
7. Patterns In The Ivy
8. Blackwater Park
Check it out and you will agree that “Blackwater Park” by Opeth is a “new” classic.
