Greetings all.. This month I have a real treat for you all..I wanted to introduce this band to you for a very long time, but for various reasons, I have not until now..Hopefully it will have been worth the wat, as Opeth are an extraordinary band..The album in particular that I will be discussing here is called "Blackwater Park", and is a spectacular piece of work from them..Those who are fans will know that this is in keeping with previous albums by Opeth, and like the rest, it delivers exactly what you have come to expect from this dynamic band..For those who aren't yet acquainted with them, sit back and get comfortable, and above all, enjoy the ride..

"Leper Affinity" starts out just the way you like it - nice and rhythmic and crunchy, with the voice like God in the background, and dual guitar intros, and heavy double bass drums..You can see they go to extreme lengths to display their musical capabilities, moreso than vocals, although it must be said, their lyrics are nothing short of songwriting virtuouso..Resisting the urge, as many other bands have, to go too soft, to over-utilise clean vocals, to place melody over brutality, Opeth have crafted a perfectly balanced album, the music spreads out of the speakers like long, porcelain white fingers, but rather than the well manicured nails one expects at the ends, the flesh tapers into unkempt claws, that grab a hold of you and send your senses reeling as it grips your mind and assaults your ears.. The progressive chord changes scream talent, sounding more like warring guitars battling out a macabre metal opera..While the music may soar and elate, it also rends and tears. They demonstrate excellent songwriting capability within this song, as they do with all their songs, but this one can be taken in any number of ways, and maybe they played with the words, to speak to each of us individually as we listen..

"Your gaze, covered with virgin snow Rigid features'. It's the shallow deeds who's to blame Deafening shrieks pierced the night

A step from oblivion Moving into the dim lights Hiding within a reverie It was worth it for the wait alone"..

The next song on the album is called "Bleak", and is one of my favorites..It also begins with some thunderous chords, and God-like vocals - you know, the deep growl, but this is mixed with regular singing, and whispers thrown in for a bit of mystery..This song speaks out to me of a vampire sanguinely feeding, and perhaps enjoying it too much..To me, it has elements of mythical and real, giving it an otherworldly feeling..I really want to share the lyrics, because they reach out and grab you - just the way I explained previously..Instead of well manicured nails, you are met instead with unkempt claws, reaching, grabbing, and piercing you deep, leaving their marks in your very soul..And you bleed..Deeply..

"Beating..
Heart still beating for the cause
Feeding..
Soul still feeding on the loss
Aching..
Limbs are aching from the rush
Fading..
You are fading from my sight

Break of morning, coldness lingers on
Shroud me into nightmares of the sun

Moving..
I am moving closer to your side
Luring..
You are luring me into the night
Crying..
Who is crying for you here
Dying..
I am dying fast inside your tears

Plunging towards bereavement faster yet..
Clearing thoughts, my mind is set..

Devious movements in your eyes
Moved me from relief
Breath comes out white clouds with your lies
And filters through me

You're close to the final word
You're staring right past me in dismay
A liquid seeps from your chest
And drains me away

Mist ripples round your thin white neck
And draws me a line
Cold fingers mark this dying wreck
This moment is mine

Help me cure you
Atone for all you've done
Help me leave you
As all the days are done

Night falls again
Taking what's left of me

Slight twist, shivering corpse
Ornated with water, fills the cracks
Clasped in my limbs by tradition
This is all you need"..

It really does grip you, and pull you straight in..This song is pure genius..If you don't own any Opeth albums, I would suggest taking my word for it, and go buy this one immediately..It'll be the best investment musically, you have made in some while, or ever, for that matter.."Bleak" gives so much imagery, that you can almost see within your minds' eye what is happening, as it happens..The great thing is, the whole album is this way..One song melts into another, and it is often difficult to point out where one ends and another begins..

Maybe it is just me, but it seemeth to me that all the lyrics are somewhat joined to speak of intimate moments between vampire and donor, but then this is just how I am perceiving it, and no doubt the lyrics will speak to you in their own way..You will see what I mean when you take in the lyrics to "Harvest"..

"Pledge yourself to me
Never leave me be
Sweat breaks on my brow
Given time ends now

Spirit painted sin
Embers 'neath my skin
Veiled in pale embrace
Reached and touched my face"..

"Harvest" is more melodic than thrashy..It has a sense of..seduction, almost..Like your skin being carressed by gentle, warm lips..The singing is in tune with the music, slow and deliberate..I have been an Opeth fan for a couple of years now, and have all their albums, but one - Deliverance..And each album has something unique to offer, but they all have the same seductive quality to them..And it's understated, almost subtle, as though when the music and lyrics were being created together, there was no thought as to purposely instill it within, but it came out that way, because these songs came from the heart, and were not merely concocted..

Another one of my favorite songs on this album, is "The Drapery Falls", and I suppose it is so for various reasons..It reminds me of a time in the recent past that I allowed myself to feel deep love, and then the drapery fell over me, and I realised I was in the hands of a toxic individual..Even the lyrics give way to the same emotions I felt at that time..

"Please remedy my confusion
And thrust me back to the day
The silence of your seclusion
Brings night into all you say

Pull me down again
And guide me into pain

I'm counting nocturnal hours
Drowned visions in haunted sleep
Faint flickering of your powers
Leaks out to show what you keep"..

And then, the realisation of what has occured, and the promise to onesself that there will never be a vulnerable moment such as this again..

"Puzzled by shrewd innocence
Runs a thick tide beneath
Ushered into inner graves
Nails bleeding from the struggle
It is the end for the weak at heart
Always the same..

A lullaby for the ones who've lost all
Reeling inside
My gleaming eye in your necklace reflects
Stare of primal regrets
You turn your back and you walk away
Never again"..

More than this, I won't say..Just go with the way the lyrics and the haunting melody, embrace you..Like autumn leaves left in the wake to fade away..Spiralling to the ground below, and the crisp air that kisses your cheek, and freezes your heart..No pain..No pain..

One more song..An instrumental called "Patterns In The Ivy"..Just imagine, if you can, walking along, somewhere remote..Lonely..And it is quiet and serene..You notice the beauty that surrounds you..Breathing deeply as you walk along..And gently down flits the snow..The sky is a silvery blue-grey, and mimicks your mood so perfectly, that you and your surroundings, everything around you and within you, all merge and become one..No joy..No sadness..Just peacefulness..Nature sings Her own mantra..

Well I truly hope you all have enjoyed my interpretation of Opeth's music, and I hope that many of you will give their music a listen to, and take from it what I have..There are many bands out there, but let's face it - most bands tend to be fly by night..This is a band with talent..Of that you may be sure..Thanks go out to the guys in Opeth for allowing me to access their images and make use of their lyrics here, much appreciated guys :o) For those who are interested, their site can be found on http://www.opeth.com/ ..

Amazon.com of course, has a listening section, so if you click here you can listen to all but a few songs on this album, but of course they have more than just this one, so feel free to listen to them all..Well readers, until next time, may I say it has been a true pleasure to introduce you to Opeth, one hopes you will enjoy them as I do..

Dark Blessings..
Silver~

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