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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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