Drum Teacher Reacts: MARTIN AXENROT | OPETH 'The Devil's Orchard' (LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE)

[@Peanutfiendsblog]

Opeth is one of those bands that no matter how many time's I listen to one of their songs, it ALWAYS gives me goosebumps. Amazing and unique, one of my favorite bands of all time.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup they give me goosebumps also!

[@POWERGOAT1]

Hi Andrew, please please check out some of martin Lopez drumming. He was a huge part in making opeths sound throughout many of their albums that put the band on the map. The lamentations performance has a bunch of good ones with him. Deliverance is a must. Opeth has a bunch of "older" albums that are incredible.

[@PiranaOutdoors]

@@POWERGOAT1 Axe is as good as Lopez.

[@MrGreyGh0st]

Every time every song I get goosebumps they're one of my top five bands of all time right next to Zeppelin Floyd Katatonia Megadeth and my final entry is none other then the kings of northern darkness Immortal

[@dadish90]

@@PiranaOutdoors finally someone who recognised it. Everybody are "Lopez was much better". Yes I love Lopez but man, axe is a beast...and the drumming in opeth' songs, I don't know if is because they changed to an old style prog or because of axe, is on an higher level since heritage

[@nakazumiojama]

OPETH DELIVERANCE NEXT. Welcome in opeth world.

[@martinhansson7928]

Lamentations version!

[@radiotouch1066]

Yes!

[@mvunit3]

@@martinhansson7928 - Yup, thats the one \m/. Mikael's voice in full strength and the band in full fucking aggression.

[@russellzauner]

Issue him the Ghost Reveries documentary B roll and let him watch the band just BRUTALIZE Martin until he's GLORIOUS. Soen is GREAT. I didn't see Leprous on the list. Baard did a playthrough for The Sky Is Red that's really great and it's more recent. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJuZl4BogNWshaM

[@ahmetkapcoglu7078]

thousand times yes ! cant wait for watching!!

[@lukesabin691]

I was devastated when I learned Axe had left the band a couple months ago. He’s the most underrated drummer of this century IMO. Not only can he blast and hammer out double kick stuff (see Bloodbath) but he plays musically. It’s so rare these days to hear a drummer in a heavy band play with any dynamics or subtlety. He will be sorely missed.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

He's unreal Luke. Fantastic player

[@KIRA-jk3xl]

Chill my man, Waltteri is a FKING BEAST as well, just heard them live on October, amazing drummer and still entire lineups kicking on!

[@lukesabin691]

@@KIRA-jk3xl glad to hear it dude! Fingers crossed that he blows my mind in his own way, just like Axe and Lopez before him 🤘

[@linkiny]

I watched them in Bucharest Romania, the crowd requested Ghost of Perdition which wasn't part of their set list, Mikael consulted with the others, especially the new drummer as it was gonna be his first time ever playing it live, and he just gave him a casual thumbs up like "sure mate I got this go for it". He nailed it to perfection, unprepared, unrehearsed, I was absolutely mind blown. They are in very good hands. (For the anecdote: Mikael swore the crowd to not tell anyone about this "I don't want people thinking we're a pub band taking song requests, this is the only time I'm doing this just for you guys", initially he didn't want to play it funnily enough, he was annoyed almost: "we played the song a million times guys come on! We played it a million times!", sorry Mikael!)

[@INTENSPENCE]

Hearing your startled reaction to Opeth reminded me of one of my MATES buying one of their albums after hearing me play their stuff in my car one time. He then called me after leaving the store and said, "dude, the album I bought is fucking awful". I told him that is impossible....and after further analysis he realized he accidentally bought an Otep CD... LOL

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

😂👌💯

[@ATLeft]

LOL

[@aubreymasseyjr.676]

Hahahaha

[@bertberw8653]

LMAAAOOOOO POOR DUDE

[@darkstar8196]

I told my friend about Opeth and he refused to listen to them for years until I found out he thought I was saying Otep lmao

[@samuelkirschbaum5635]

I'm just genuinely happy, that my requests brought you that much joy!

[@behindthen0thing525]

glad you can take credit for opeths great performance

[@samuelkirschbaum5635]

@@behindthen0thing525 Where did I do that?

[@behindthen0thing525]

@@samuelkirschbaum5635 because opeths performance is what brought him Joy. Not you recommending them

[@samuelkirschbaum5635]

@@behindthen0thing525 Wow.. Oviously its the song and the bands amazing performance! Where did I take credit for it?! I even said "my request" and not "me requesting". I'm just happy I could show it to him..

[@EAGLEADITYA]

Mate, can you please request him Eternal Rains Will Come as well? I will die peacefully after listening to it.

[@nooaparkatti4571]

Martin did the original drums for this track so all this is him! What a fantastic drummer he is indeed!

[@RTSRAZORBACK]

He's not the one who's playing it here, though... you can't disregard their current drummer's talent just because he "didn't write it"

[@dadish90]

Mate what are you talking about, Lopez quit in 2006, heritage is 2010. This is axe 100%

[@nooaparkatti4571]

@@RTSRAZORBACK just to clarify I meant Martin Axenrot in my original comment. The parts are also written by Axe. Though I admit i should have been clearer about that.

[@dadish90]

@@nooaparkatti4571 Fair, opeth got too many Martins 🤣

[@n4rf645]

"These guys should score films" One of the influences of this proggy Opeth is Goblin, the legendary 70s Italian prog band who scored many an Italian movie.

[@AlexTheCynic]

Not just them, Try listen to "museo rosenbach - zarathustra". Mikael had their shirt in an interview. I think he listen to Area too which are the most important one.

[@POSMaggott67]

Isn't Mikael doing the score for an upcoming Netflix series?

[@mcmlxxxviimcmxcvi8641]

I was about to comment the same thing about Goblin...

[@russellzauner]

@@AlexTheCynic Yep, Mikael, Khurangbin, and a few others really opened my eyes a few years back to the wide wide world of music that we missed before the internet existed. There's a LOT of music in the world.

[@Gary_M]

Suspiria

[@svnijihall]

Mikael Åkerfeldt is making the music to the new Netflix series Clark.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Oh wow!

[@jaimeduendeozzzkr]

I didn't know that holy shit i have to watch it.

[@starr0401]

Also did not know that. Will watch.

[@cubertuner492]

What series????

[@agdp15]

Thank you

[@MagnusTorell]

The singer/guitarist has in fact made filmmusic since this was recorded - look up the miniseries "Clark" ...

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks Magnus!

[@i77ed33mable]

Pretty sure it was Axenrot that wrote the drums for this track. This was from the second album (Heritage) the band did with him as a member.

[@thecuymr]

No, Mikael writes absolutely everything, including drums

[@levinskevich2180]

@@thecuymr stop saying that, it's not true

[@thecuymr]

@@levinskevich2180 www.google.com.mx/amp/s/www.rockzonemag.com/entrevista-a-martin-mendez-la-otra-cara-de-opeth/amp/ Suit yourself then, you can also watch the making of Heritage, Mikael does write everything

[@briantopps5638]

He (axenrot) did write drums on this album and he wrote drums on watershed. He played live on ghost reveries but Martin lopez recorded and wrote the drums.

[@briantopps5638]

@@thecuymr he only writes a skeleton. It's up to the drummer to add fills and color it how the choose to. It's also up to the newer drummers or any fill in to be able to replicate the parts like the drummer who recorded them. Axenrot wrote the drums on this song after hearing the rough track of the guitar and programmed skeleton of the drum ideas

[@skabeche81]

This is the first song I heard from Opeth and didn't realize what was coming until I browsed their discography, they immediately became my favourite band so far.

[@demonshinji]

Welcome. In my opinion, ‘Ghost Reveries’ is their best album. Its the perfect balance of what they where and what they would become and also my favorite lineup. They have such a diverse discography. Mikael is one of my favorite composer/writers along Ihsahn. Enjoy the ride and hopefully you get to see them live soon. Mesmerizing, and Mikael is such a great entertainer in between songs.

[@Celatra]

@@demonshinji i need to say, Morningrise is quickly becoming my favorite despite it being messy.

[@bloodysmurf]

@@Celatra Morningrise does have a mesmerizing vibe. I enjoy it as well. I also feel like Windowpane captures a hint of that mood with greatly matured composition... one of my favorites.

[@Celatra]

@@bloodysmurf oh indeed. But morningrise just feels so winterish

[@darrenbooker8144]

​@demonshinji gracefully disagree, Blackwater Park my man

[@eloann]

Fun fact: there's an episode of Criminal Minds featuring Opeth's song "death whispered a lullaby" (co-written by and featuring a certain Steven Wilson, who produced a bunch of their albums)

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Oh wow. Thank you!

[@Denvercoder]

Yep. My wife watches that show and I was in the kitchen and I hear, “Whoa, sleep my child...” and I ran into the room like, “WTF?!?!?” 😂

[@CLWNC4R]

@@Denvercoder I was binge watching with my girl and it came one and I lost my shit 🤣🤣

[@Ianforcements5669]

Oh holy crap!

[@andrewlamont3053]

I don't know if you're aware, but Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree (Gavin Harrison) had a massive influence as a producer for their shift in sounds. Steven is absolutely clinical in creating platforms for his favoured artists to leap from.

[@philiph.5113]

Keep at it. Opeth has more hits then Babe Ruth.

[@Vreth6]

Yeah they're all killer, no filler

[@stevus23]

Fact.

[@TheMatadrum]

Just Axe being Axe. Chop, chop, copping away at his chops just like a good Axe.

[@jonkwape3097]

Good ol' Legolas

[@OsmonArtist]

Axe was an Opeth member when they wrote for this album, im pretty sure he wrote this track.

[@apollyonexe868]

Most of the drum hooks are written by Akerfeldt still. So that's why you can hear a fair few callouts to previous rhythms from previous albums.

[@parallelearthstudio8385]

I’ve been fortunate to see Opeth three times live. I saw them for their Heritage album, in which there were no growling vocals at the show...this album was pretty much All-Prog. The second time I saw Opeth Was for their 25th anniversary tour. They performed there long epic masterpieces in this show, one song from each album. The third time I saw them, the first half of the show was all chill and no death vocals, the second part of the show was all heavy. Enjoy the Masters

[@JeffreyBezeau]

Them drums feels like the heartbeat of a loving freshman. Fast, furious, yet full of passion.

[@benghiskahn3673]

SUCH a good concert. The sound is Crystal clear and the music top notch.

[@michaelford4360]

Actually Mikael the vocalist did compose the soundtrack for a Netflix series I believe

[@Thullin13]

yeah he did the musical score for a swedish show called clark..... it's excellent and really shows how versatile and talented he is......

[@aaronwynn8114]

Opeth are phenomenal live, you will definitely not regret it!! Their earlier stuff is a lot heavier but still just as atmospheric. 20 years ago, this band made me realise the depths there is in metal. i envy your journey of discovery \m/

[@robgas7507]

They are (Art) in a definition. They bring so many elements together to create one part.

[@Maflrudi]

Hey! Love seeing you doing all this Opeth stuff. They're one of the best bands we have here in Sweden. This track is from the album Heritage (2011) which had them sort of shifting from their usual folk inspired prog-death to much more progressive rock oriented music while really keeping that folk inspiration as well. This meant that the album they released before, Watershed (which is absolutely mindblowing and dark by the way), was the last album they recorded where Mikael did any growls at all. All albums past 2011 including Heritage are much more mellow with a 60's/70's progressive rock kind of sound, which I gather may be more of your speed from having watched your other stuff. All the best mate.

[@TheZeusch]

I think you may like the drum play through of ne obliviscaris's and plague flowers the kelidascope. Kinda same vibe but not the same at all!

[@DanMullally]

I envy that you're experiencing Opeth for the first time. Absolutely unmatched project.

[@mikewright7391]

The heritage album came out to a lot of criticism because people were angry they stopped being heavy, it is an underrated album tho. Damnation also kind of got the same hate but then was praised.

[@starr0401]

It's their best prog album IMO. Terrible mix, but superb writing and performance.

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

People are so fickle. Yeah, it's not a metal record per se but it is instrumentally heavy.

[@ClandestineMerkaba]

@@UncleAnaesthesia Expectation is a powerful thing.

[@rabarebra]

@@starr0401 Terrible mix? Heritage has a great mix.

[@thomashverring9484]

I saw them at a small venue with excellent sound in Aarhus, Denmark. That was perfect! Time for stories, jokes, and small talk :^D The singer is a master entertainer!

[@mortaryon9760]

opeth is one of the best live band around the world. they played in the christuskirche in bochum, germany an whole set of songs in acoustic versions, there were also death metal songs played as acoustic versions, the best was "demon of the fall". the song is normally a total death metal track but they played it like a blues or jazz version...absolutly great band and always funny on stage!

[@Robert_Herring]

This is the track that made me a fan of Axe. He can do the heavy blast beats and massive double pedal stuff required in death metal, while also doing the absolutely tasty stuff here. On the latest album, In Cauda Venenum, he even lays down a nice jazz waltz.

[@j.t.3798]

And this is live... Fk. Unreal!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Utter madness

[@satanihelvetet]

Great reaction! Next by Opeth for reaction should be 'Harlequin forest' l live at Royal Albert hall. Great song, amazing performance and you'll get stunned by the ending...

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

THANK YOU

[@JudgeLazar]

This show is the most perfect and flawless mix of a live performance that exists. You can pick out each individual instrument and voice and nothing drowns out anything else.

[@blakecorkill]

one of my all time favorite bands. their tone is ON POINT IN EVERY WAY!

[@aubreymasseyjr.676]

Saw Opeth in Memphis at The New Daisy and in Nashville at The Cannery Ballroom. Delivered both times were great shows! Would've loved to see them at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

[@horisview]

One of the many great aspects of Opeth: I always discover some new nuances in their music when I come back to their songs after some months or even years. No matter if it's the older albums with the growls or the clean prog-albums. One of my greatest discoveries in music!!

[@tschaderdstrom2145]

That 6/8 pattern is is TONS of Opeth material. It's definitely a staple Mikael likes to put into his songs.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks for the info!

[@johnroberts1009]

Red Rock is a great outdoor place to go see a concert. Saw Fleetwood Mac there. The sound was fabulous. Thanks for sharing this great drummer. Fantastic skills. 😎

[@fletcherrutland6293]

the venue, “red rock” is the most beautiful. it’s outside denver, colorado built into the mountains (more of a mesa). wonderful

[@mothernorth64]

Martin is a stunning drummer! I love Opeth!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Absolute brilliant drummer! So impressed

[@mothernorth64]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums I recommend your attention Martin Axenrot's drum solo in Porcelain Heart! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2bHf4aXgqx7nZI (30:10 - 37:04)

[@bharatjakati5531]

Not that it matters, but which Martin? :)

[@OsoSospechoso]

I was there! Red Rocks is unbelievable. If you ever come to Colorado, save a half day to check it out. It’s actually owned by the city of Denver, so you can come visit during the day even if there’s no show. It’s one of the musical wonders of the world! Oh, and go see Opeth too :)

[@OsoSospechoso]

Also, you will LOVE Opeth performing Era, one of Axe’s best drum performances. And Deliverance, which features one of the most iconic grooves in metal.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks Jack! I was in Colorado in 2005! Wish I knew about it then

[@TheLivirus]

Hadn't seen this live performance. Incredible vocals!

[@BlackDeathThrash]

Axe has also played/recorded with BLOODBATH, NIFELHEIM, SATANIC SLAUGHTER, TRIUMPHATOR, NEPHENZY CHAOS ORDER, and WITCHERY.

[@jenskm325]

and 10 other bands,dan swanö syndrom XD

[@victorsupreme214]

Witchery is awesome

[@BlackDeathThrash]

@@victorsupreme214 I prefer all of the other bands listed over Witchery. Although I did see Witchery when they toured the US with Emperor and Borknagar and they were good.

[@Therealozzy47]

I saw Opeth at Sounds of the Underground in Tulsa, Oklahoma many years ago and it was 100 degrees in the shade not a cloud in the sky. Opeth comes out and they literally conjured a storm while they played and then they were done and the storm poofed....blew my mind.

[@guessure]

Significant altitude as well. Red Rocks is in the Denver, Colorado area

[@MissSoundgardener]

They were freezing cold playing that gig, too. If you watch the whole show, poor Mikael spoke about how cold his hands were and yet he and the rest of the band were able to smash out an absolutely stellar performance! I wish I could have been there. 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

[@zacharyjohnson5569]

This is great. After seeing your last Opeth review I was actually listening Heritage and when Devils Orchard came on I immediately thought how you should react to this song. Low and behold, a day later, here it is on my feed. Thank you!

[@nathanmcintyre694]

So glad you are getting into Opeth, they are truly masters at their game!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Super awesome man!

[@Christian-vq8rd]

I'm just glad "Hide the Pain Harold" showed up.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

He’s back!

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

So awesome watching someone discover this phenomenal band. Discovering Opeth was one of the defining moments of my musical life ~20 years ago (can't believe it's been that long! Seems like yesterday...). If you want to hear their earlier, more "death metal" side, you can stick with this live show and listen to Demon of the Fall. That was from their third album. Opeth were always proggy in a sense--ambitious, complex, multi-layered--but it was only recently they got really into 70s prog and ditched their death metal side.

[@futurewavecs]

I love your videos with one exception. LOL. You keep using the angel choir like sound which happens to be my SMS ring tone so that I'll notice when something breaks that I need to fix as a network engineer who works from home. As I watch your videos I keep looking at my phone for an alert/alarm every time I hear you use the same sound as my SMS sound. :)

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHA!!! Love it

[@alund1306]

I think the frontman of the band, Mikael Akerfeldt, is supposed to score a Swedish movie. But I haven't checked for any updates on it since the coof hit

[@thecuymr]

It’s actually a Netflix series, but I don’t know how long till the premiere

[@HellionImmortal]

9:00 "these guys should be scoring films" as a matter of fact, they recorded a song for the video game God of War. the song is called The Throat of Winter". in my opinion, a peculiar yet very well crafted and enticing song.

[@adrianbird1964]

I think your my go to drum reaction vid guy now.... You remind me of a kid in a sweet shop 😊 and that's exactly how I feel when I watch extraordinary musicians at work like in this video.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I appreciate that Adrian!

[@adrianbird1964]

Omg I just realized I wasn't subscribed and haven't been liking your videos. Don't worry that is rectified now 😊

[@hcpwnography6157]

OPETH - Deliverance (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London) - An amazing song. Martin Lopez, the previous drummer performs.

[@jimmybekis4693]

Have one of Axe's drum sticks next to an Opeth setlist on the shelf. All from their show in Tempe, AZ. \m/.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Oh wow Jimmy! That's awesome man

[@scrubsscrubs694]

So good to see Martin getting the credit he deserves. Would love to see Opeth Demon of the fall live at the roundhouse

[@jackmatthews9682]

Its songs like this where you realise how insanely good Axe and co are.

[@janneheikkila3913]

Well, Axenrot did write the parts for this song. He's been a member since 2008, so everything after and including Watershed is by him. The Pale Communion is one of the best prog-ear Opeth albums, the drumming there is stellar. I guess it's safe to say, that he is primarily a metal drummer, been in Bloodbath since 2004 and other metal stuff as well. When I heard that the old drummer left and was replaced by Axenrot, I got worried for a while since I loved Lopez' parts and the latin influence that was present. I guess now it's safe to say, that they made the absolutely right decision getting Axenrot to join, such a versatile and professional sounding drummer.

[@thecuymr]

Actually Mikael writes the drums, and then Axe delivers

[@janneheikkila3913]

@@thecuymr That's a bit simplified. I believe Mikael "paints the picture", gives the general idea, maybe has a few parts written for a cool groove he has thought of, but he won't write the fills or go in to specifics that much. Or do you think Michael brings perfect notation to a coffee table in the morning and Axe just practices off them? I don't think Michael is cocky enough to not take any advice or ideas from the others.

[@levinskevich2180]

@@janneheikkila3913 exactly, this guy keeps talking out his ass replying to everyone with this nonsense

[@thecuymr]

@@janneheikkila3913 Then read this interview with Mendez, he says clearly that Mikael is really good at programing drums and if the drummers contribute, it’s not much www.google.com.mx/amp/s/www.rockzonemag.com/entrevista-a-martin-mendez-la-otra-cara-de-opeth/amp/

[@janneheikkila3913]

@@thecuymr "....yes, they can put their touch into it, so to speak, but they can't change that much either." Mendez, talking about drummers. I'll meet you at half way, but truth to be told, I think 80/20 rule applies here. 80% of the drumming performance is done in the last 20%, which are the details. Working within strict guidelines forces even more creativity. I don't know if you're in a band or written songs with a band, but I'd say that's pretty normal. I get feedback from the guys who write the initial song concepts, and work along those guidelines. Sounds exactly what they're doing.

[@SauceBoss69]

Funny you should ask that, Andrew. They have a song called Ending Credits on their Damnation album.

[@douglaswilliamson5641]

I was at this show, it was “Lightning in a Bottle.” Even in their older heavier tracks Opeth has always been good at atmospheric breaks and setting a mood.

[@Kinheimr]

Their album Heritage, on which this track is on, is one of my all time favourites.. Thank you for reacting to this video.

[@Taunic]

It’s a divisive one but it’s my favorite. And I like their heavier stuff. Heritage just has a one of a kind feel to it.

[@Kinheimr]

@@Taunic Opeth's heavier stuff is definitely excellent as well. Blackwater park and Watershed especially.

[@liquidportnoy]

This track is from the second album he recorded with Opeth, anything from 2008 onward is Axenrot! Also highly recommend checking out his playing in bloodbath :D

[@Ianforcements5669]

This particular performance is exactly what I had in mind for you when I watched the last video. So glad I wasn't alone! I didn't actually care much for this album when it came out (saw them on the tour though) , but actually this live DVD cemented this song as particularly amazing.

[@badgerello]

I sat and watched this entire show last night (again). IMHO It’s one of the best recorded live shows ever.

[@mangethegamer]

Mate, you should definitely see Opeth when you get a chance. Opeth is one of my favorite bands to see like. Professional, funny, tight, pure beasts of darkness.. Opeth evolve their sound between albums, lots of influences coming from early prog, the band Yes, jazz, Norwegian black metal... Axenrots background is being a black metal drummer.

[@cruzwolf2056]

This is my favorite band.and by far the best live performance at a concert ever

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

SO good!

[@hypnosis4207]

Wow he's bad ass. Great band also! I need to add these guys on my Spotify! Also summer nights at Redrocks Co is the bee's knees. Warm mid 70s at night 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@BeckyTregear]

I really love this song, vocals and instruments are on point! You should listen to Master's Apprentices and Deliverance for Opeth's growly sounds! Some epic drums at the end of Deliverance too.

[@Agaryunaer]

Watershed is the last Opeth album featuring Åkerfeldt's harsh/cookie monster vocals. It is also their most progressive one (excluding Coil/Burden songs), and something of a crossover from Ghost Reveries to last three albums. I would recommend checking out almost anything from Blackwater Park, Deliverance & more of Ghost Reveries as those albums conjure distinctly "Opeth" atmosphere.

[@DrMcKay66]

Opeth is one of the best live bands ive seen,all included..period 👍Your brain goes on an amazing ride and after taking it all in......WOW 😲😎😂

[@erikmaronde2244]

The Keyboard player of the Devin Townsend Project, Mike St-Jean, did the Light work for Devin on the last tour and toured with Steve Vai. I think you need musically talented people if the whole experiance (Sound&Vision as Bowie said) shall be as wholesome and beautiful as in Opeth or the others mentioned.

[@TatineeDey]

Hi Andrew. I looooove your channel. I'm not very learned about music and its technicalities but I would love to recommend Insomnium to you. Please check out their album above the weeping world, In the halls of awaiting and Since the day it all came down. I'm sure you'll love their work. Very melodious and poetic lyrics!

[@thibeauclaes2526]

Ah loved that you did this song. Thanks man

[@PuggetronicsPioneer]

Actually yeah, the lead singer Mikael Akerfeldt is currently scoring a television series that's coming to Netflix

[@maxviking3210]

Excellent reaction! Regarding the growling, not that you have said yiu dislike it but just a short comment anyway. I wasn’t a big fan erlier but then someone told me that you should look at growling as a rhythm instrument with lyrics. I know you have checked out Meshugga and thats a good example of how the singer follows the base guitar and the drummer.

[@MycontentisgoldJerryGold]

The very first Opeth song I heard, and still my favorite.

[@esprokr99]

The Red Rock Concert is easily one of their best recorded and produced live concerts. Enjoy the rabbit hole, I prefer their older material, but the Sorceress album is a hard hitter. Axe is an impeccable fit in the band in the direction they’ve gone.

[@davidenglund4273]

Yep, they are amazing. Probably THE tightest band I've seen live. Great reaction, rock on!

[@BassGoBomb]

An amazing guitar riff .. And bloody difficult too .. :-)

[@Meul1968]

Awesome band/drummer!

[@tylergoodguy1194]

Yes one of my favorite bands I've ever heard ever and goddamn if they aren't just as crisp live as they are in the studio. I saw them in Seattle when they did the tour for their Sorceress album. Shit was sick. My jazz drummer dad loves them!

[@jaredbryce7964]

If you want to hear them at some of their growly best, check out the album Still Life. Any track will do, but the Moor and Serenity Painted Death are gold

[@abhishekchaubey903]

Opeth have surprises for you at every turn you take on your way to their exploration. Talking about Axe, He was meant for this band and eventually became the member. His drum lines seem like Phrygian Dominant equivalent of guitars on the drums. I'd highly recommend you to do the reaction of The Lotus Eater

[@GMatt193]

Two song where he shines a lot to me are "the lines in my hand" and "nepenthe" ,both from "heritage"

[@briantopps5638]

Definitely check out Martin lopez videos with opeth as he was the drummer who wrote all the drums for the main albums after they were very well established.

[@Celatra]

mikael wrote all the drum parts from the very start.

[@josephb7183]

I'm glad this doesn't have any thumbs down. Because you seem interested in Opeth, and no one else has elaborated yet I think... Orchid (95); Morningrise (96); My Arms, Your Hearse (98); and Still Life (99); are all kind of traditional growly stuff with some lute-like acoustic parts. Mikael's singing isn't as secure. Blackwater Park (01), Deliverance (02), Damnation (03), Ghost Reveries (05), and Watershed (08), is I think the classic period that all fans adore the most. Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries are the favorite albums from fans it seems. Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree had a big hand in Blackwater park. Damnation is an all clean album in contrast to Deliverance, which is always their encore live lol. Watershed was the first to have Axenrot, and before that you'll hear Lopez's work. Heritage (11), Pale Communion (14), Sorceress (16), In Cauda Venenum (19), is where they lost some metal fans because they went prog-stratocaster, clean singing. Mikael has said in interviews that part of the reason he growled so much was because he was insecure with his voice, and now he feels confident singing. He is also an avid vinyl collector and has an extensive library of crazy stuff that not a lot of people listen to. He used to have a column where he'd essentially have Record Time with Mikael I believe. Ghost of perdition is the opener from Ghost Reveries, and The devil's Orchard is track 2 from Heritage. I hope this guides your listening. I see them live everytime they come around, and I hope you are able to as well.

[@alexandremarchand8815]

Nice description of the «Opeth timeline» although I just want to point out that Lopez was not the drummer for the first 2 albums, it was Anders Nordin at the time :) !

[@josephb7183]

@@alexandremarchand8815thanks! I realized I left out Nordin lol. I was listening to Orchid again after I typed that comment too. I feel like Andrew wouldn't really listen to early Opeth though.. just tried to give him a big overview because their periods are so different haha.

[@davidkarsai]

Loving this and Opeth in general!

[@jamieplatt333]

Glad you've latched on to Opeth !! Hell ye 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@carlnorrbom]

Great video! Opeth has sure evolved a lot of over the years. Been a fan of Opeth since Orchid was released. Back in the day, the primary focus was leaning more towards the Death Metal scene, but also included progressive elements. As they matured released (in my opinion) some of their best work on albums such as Still Life, My Arms Your Hearse and Blackwater Park - the "Progressive Death Metal" sound was perfected. Mikael has always been heavily influenced by classic prog as well as regular heavy metal. Over the past few releases however, their sound has matured further into the more classic progressive rock/metal sound. I kind of miss the heavier parts and also the growling, but in all honesty, the newer albums are also fantastic. They are creatively written and composed and the bands musicianship is absolutely stellar. As an example of the older sound I would suggest giving something like "Demon of the Fall" as listen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nISQpImFf7l2b9U

[@rayr6454]

If i am not mistaken, at the last episode of season one from Criminal Minds, they play one of Opeth's songs.

[@DarthSivius]

"This is more proggy than I expected". That's basically Opeth. They started in death metal and with each release, you can hear more and more proggy elements. The last recorded growls date from Watershed in 2008.

[@docproc5150]

yeah... what he said

[@VortechBand]

And little by little they lost what made them unique. Now they are just a 70s prog cover band, if you want to be mean. And it's not just the style, but also the quality of songwriting. Damnation was one of their best albums, and is entirely mellow. I think losing Martin Lopez was the key moment, even if Axe is just as good, but very different.

[@DarthSivius]

@@VortechBand I can totally see what you mean. Even though Watershed is my personal favourite, I think overall I also prefer Lopez over Axenrot, even though as you say, Axenrot is just as good. In hindsight, I'm wondering if the name "Watershed" was intentional, as the term also means "a big shift or change". Watershed is definitely the transition, losing both Lopez and Lindgren. I still enjoy their new sound though.

[@colinclark1981]

@@VortechBand there's nothing like in cauda venenum out there. They are extremely unique with their prog rock.

[@PengiPou]

@@VortechBand Honestly I think they have a unique sound still - but I feel they just got too over ambitious with the prog elements and they just lose my interest more often. It's like they went from black metal to a weird heavy jazz through their discography. Now that's not to say that they suck or that this change is a bad one. They're clearly at the forefront of musicianship. Jazz just bores me personally - I want something heavy and in my face, not subtle and complex. Either way I'd still commend them on their evolution and creating the art that they want to create rather than giving in to what others want.

[@xavierbonilla1164]

Opeth are so very good!! Their new album is perfection. I’m gonna spam you... between the buried and me- extremophile elite. Please and thanks 😆😆

[@kennyw7895]

Would love to see you react to their previous drummer, Martin Lopez. He brought a certain flair to the music that was so tasteful. Deliverance live from Shepherds Bush would be a good place to start.

[@IndecisiveConclusion]

Once again for some of the cleanest and tightest drummer check Opeth - Eternal Rains may come

[@BP-or2iu]

He was the original drummer for that song. That was his second album with the band.

[@Koziolrh]

The guy's headroom exceeds into his blastbeats. They're delish!

[@fhare666]

Axe is great, a fantastic drummer, super technical and advanced. Martin Lopez (98 - 05), was also great, and unique, he was in Amon Amarth and now in Soen. I really loved his style, a bit less technical than Axe but still creative and interesting. Also shout out to Martin Mendez who plays bass, unheralded but just a great musician.

[@GregBourne]

That whole DVD/Movie is a banger. You gotta check out the first song in the set "Sorceress". More straight forward in terms of playing, but it has BALLS

[@Jerry_29]

Yeah.. great stuff. You need to do more Opeth, they're fantastic :)

[@Madrigalen]

Love this show, got the blu-ray... Only one flaw. Toooo damn short!