Opeth - Hessian Peel (REACTION!!!)(Top 3)

[@Mikeanglo]

I can totally appreciate the fact that Mikael is doing this incredible vocal performance with such range WHILE playing lead guitar. Brilliant band.

[@captainmorgan1978]

Agreed!

[@peyman4357]

"Moonlapse Vertigo" could be your number 1 Opeth song

[@captainmorgan1978]

uh oh the challenge...looking forward to it!

[@EpicTeaTimes]

I love this song so much

[@VeBa1907]

Yeah! He is right.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@VeBa1907 done! :)

[@pharod]

Moonlapse Vertigo is so good. It’s the best one from Still Life IMO, really close to The Moor as the song that introduced me to Opeth

[@MrKoolaidjam]

Subbed for opeth! Literally just watched all your Opeth videos. Always nice seeing someone discovering this music when they actually have some experience with proggy style music instead of some hip hop head listening and being confused for like 12 minutes lol

[@captainmorgan1978]

Thanks man, a lot more Opeth coming in the future so keep watch!

[@xenochrist15]

Watershed was their watershed moment as a band and why it's my favorite album of theirs. It's like an amalgamation of all of the best bits of the previous albums packed into one beautifully composed album. It's the closing of the death metal chapter of their career in favor of 70's Suspiria boomer prog.

[@petegrusky2715]

Actually this song goes into Hex Omega, deceptively, another great song with majestic outro to this album. Hessian Peel - Hessia is a region in Germany, where people tend to be tough. You could say the title is Thick Skin

[@fabiopeixoto1571]

"I don't like the sudden transitions between heavy and mellow parts". That's what I admire more in Opeth sonority.

[@singer3188]

Exactly my thoughts this band knows very well how far they can take heaviness and when the listener could use a little break. They play with riffs and repeat them just long enough to not get boring

[@snehashisparashar2414]

@John Doe you're literally the only person I've found who complains about the deliverance outro m8. As for me, i can never have enough of that outro 😌 like it should go on for a few mins more.

[@futurewavecs]

This is the first album where Opeth actually had a guitarist that could shred solos. He joined Opeth after leaving Arch-Enemy. Jeff Loomis(one of my favorites) left Nevermore(amazing) and joined Arch-Enemy.

[@jasonallen5318]

Jeff Loomis is phenomenal, a lot of people don't even know who he is.

[@Nephzi]

Hessian Peel is my go to Opeth song to show people that have never heard them, it doesn't have a lot of harsh vocals so it's palatable for people that don't necessarily like them... but it still has all the things that make Opeth great, like killer riffs (acoustic, clean and distorted), constant progression with incredible transitions that cover the full Opeth spectrum

[@captainmorgan1978]

I loved it...but man, Grand Conjuration I can't stop listening to! lol

[@Therealchicken239o4]

Same here! Exactly as you said it!

[@auriculus3058]

Yes, Hessian Peel and Reverie / Harlequin Forest are their best long songs for introducing them to people who don't know them. They start soft, beautiful and build into the death metal parts very well

[@andrewr2ft]

The moor is a must 🔥

[@captainmorgan1978]

Already did it... Search and you shall find 😊 cheers

[@andrewr2ft]

@@captainmorgan1978 Nice, will do 🍻

[@kalas-kurt]

Oh yes! You couldn't have picked a better one to continue with, era wise and composition wise. Nice! Also the lyrics for this album is encrypted in the physical copy, and a few songs, if not all, have their lyrics mashed up with other songs, meaning you'll have to puzzle them together. I personally love this stuff. I think this one and porcelain heart goes together for example. Haven't really tried to crack the lyrics even after 10 years of fandom but maybe it's time! And 16:54 - Yes. Exaclty that. After this album (which was quite experimental to begin with) they went off exploring the prog rock oriented sound, which they to me didn't really master as Opeth until this latest album. The sound, play style and harmony is back in a few ways. They even brought back the very same keyboard sounds they used on Watershed for this new record. Which says a lot. For funsies, compare the intro of Dignity to Derelict Herds from Watershed. Loads of similarities. Aaaanyway. Yeah. Can't really recommend anything that'll beat harlequin forest. That album is killer. Check out more of still life maybe? Face of Melinda is a softer yet potent song, or if progressive and heavier is more fitting i'd try Moonlapse Vertigo. Rich in both melody and heaviness. Ok i'm building a wall here, but to end this madness The Grand Conjuration is off of the same album as harelquin, a little more structured than usual (at least at the time) and quite headbangy. *IMPORTANT THOUGH!* Do not pick the music video, it's shortened by half, and ruins the song completely. So don't do that. Haaaave a good one!

[@kalas-kurt]

Check out this documentary from the record if it interests you btw kzbin.info/www/bejne/anOVdHuQeMirjrM a few spoilers of songs but nothing major that'll stick with you. Quite funny at times.

[@captainmorgan1978]

awesome, thanks for the ideas! Another commenter gave me the link for the full version so I will use that. I still have the first 3 albums I guess I haven't touched yet so A LOT more to come! Cheers!

[@futurewavecs]

Good synopsis you gave him. I have to agree with you on everything you said.

[@futurewavecs]

Ghost Reveries is definitely the best album for me and yes Harlequin is my favorite Opeth song. I can't get enough of the Ghost Reveries album. I can leave that on loop or shuffle endlessly and be content.

[@tonygeorgiou6939]

Id say pale communion is a mastery of prog rock.. Just needs a couple of listens to get into

[@jaizernadal]

Thank you for actually commenting on the song instead of just screaming "WOAH!!!!"

[@captainmorgan1978]

Haha I try my best.... 😊

[@rosea4118]

New favorite reactor by far! You have such a great ear! Opeth has been my favorite band for 12 years 🖤

[@captainmorgan1978]

Wow thanks... Nice to hear good things every once in a while 😊

[@kratos9293]

I think you'll really enjoy the song "moon above, sun below", definetly worth your time. The grand conjuration is amazing, definetly showcases more of their brutal side, if i had to guess i would say you will like it but not love it.

[@captainmorgan1978]

let's see if your prediction is right! :)

[@stephenhaunch3468]

Serenity painted death is my favorite for riff and variety.

[@captainmorgan1978]

a few suggesters agree so I Will definitely note it!

[@dr.pepperr1409]

Yes plz

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@dr.pepperr1409 another +1

[@levinskevich2180]

I prefer Godhead's Lament if I'm going off of the Still Life record, but I would suggest "When" from My Arms Your Hearse as an even better track. Both songs have great transitions with beautiful melodic sections and super heavy riff sections.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@levinskevich2180 Noted, keep reminding me in other videos so I don't forget! :)

[@ryukan250]

Advent, April Ethereal, When, The Moor

[@captainmorgan1978]

Already did the Moor 😁

[@ryukan250]

@@captainmorgan1978 Nice man i'll check that out

[@captainmorgan1978]

More Opeth coming I think this weekend, maybe even tonight

[@gabrielmekler4757]

They went sideways right after watershed in 2011 with Heritage to be precise. So the change of style was right around the corner. They have released 4 albums in that manner since then. No growling since 2008.

[@captainmorgan1978]

wow, interesting piece of info! Thanks!

[@futurewavecs]

@@captainmorgan1978 Basically to add to what Gabriel said. They have gone more and more towards psychadelic prog rock and not really metal at all in their newer stuff. It is still compositionally amazing. It also sounds good but it lacks a lot of the power in their older albums. They also stopped the growling. For me Opeth was an example of how to growl as they used it tastefully and I thought it gave interesting textures. I think they are still great, but I have to agree with Gabriel that from Heritage onward their style changes a ton.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@futurewavecs So, interesting to hear that from fans as this happens with so many bands, including DT...so many people don't like Post MP albums. Though I liked MP better than Mangini I still think they are rocking (minus-Astonishing..lol)

[@futurewavecs]

@@captainmorgan1978 - As to DT did you watch their youtube videos on their drummer tryouts that Mangini ended up winning? Out of that I actually liked Marco Minneman the most. I got a chuckle watching him and he is so good. I think Mangini is damn good there was just something about Marco that made me enjoy watching him. Mangini is like a machine. He can play anything. Marco and Portnoy in my opinion feel more like artists. I have zero doubt Mangini could smoke them on sheer speed and perhaps technical ability... especially since he holds the World Record for fastest drummer.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@futurewavecs yea, I saw it... Was well produced...i said this in a Steven Wilson reaction... Marco would have won if it were not for his personality differences... He is a little goofy and off and Mangini besides being so good also had the age and personality fit for the guys of DT.

[@pasit1738]

The beauty and the beast, that's what this song is. Not the story, but musically. Mikael has described his singing some time like the crawl and the clean are two different characters. At least on some of their songs. Like the good and the evil.

[@MartinUglow]

Hey, great song! The solo is most likely Fredrik Åkesson. His soloing is incredible. If not already done, you should try some off of still life, maybe serenity painted death?

[@captainmorgan1978]

Awesome, The Grand Conjuration is next up! Cheers!

[@MartinUglow]

@@captainmorgan1978 Nice! Make sure it is the full length version!

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@MartinUglow have a link so I don't make a mistake?

[@HorusDeath99]

@@captainmorgan1978 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJyuf4dphcl3oac

[@keithberns5]

Yes, it's Fredrik's solo.

[@PaulHilburger]

Opeth rules. I love all their eras

[@captainmorgan1978]

At the beginning of the rabbit hole 😀

[@arwiviv]

Watershed in 2008 was when Opeth officially changed. Opeth is two groups: before 2008 and after 2008.

[@werewolf2003002]

This is from the album "Watershed", and they had a couple new faces in the band when recording this. The guitarist Peter Lindgren left and was replaced with Fredrik Åkesson, whom Mikael had met while touring with Arch Enemy. According to Åkesson, he ended up hanging out on Opeth's tour bus more than his own during the tour, and he quickly fell into the role of lead guitar upon joining up with the band. His solos tend to be faster than Mikael's, who seems to like more drawn-out notes, and you were correct in picking that out. Secondly, the drummer Martin Lopez left due to anxiety issues and was replaced by Martin Axenrot, whom Mikael had previously played with before in Bloodbath, bringing a new and intricate drumming style to the band.

[@captainmorgan1978]

Nice, interesting info...a band is like a family and just goes to show how hard it can be to keep that rolling over so many years! :)

[@scyphe]

The Grand Conjuration is on the same album as Ghost of Perdition and Harlequin forest so it shares their style while having it's own identity. To me it's up there with Harlequin Forest as far as my favorites off that album is concerned.

[@captainmorgan1978]

well look forward to it more now! lol

[@scyphe]

@@captainmorgan1978 Opeth는 엉덩이를 차기

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@scyphe 하하 오페트는 너무 좋아하는데 드림 시어터의 실력은 더 높아...내 생각에는 :)

[@scyphe]

@@captainmorgan1978I can't argue with that although the musicians in Opeth are more skilled than one might believe. The other guitarist, Fredrik Åkesson, can shred with the best. Mikaels compositions contain very little of that though unless it fits the song. I do wish they "flaunted" more of it than they do (without letting it become a bragging contest). And there are some amazing solo/technical snippets here and there. Ultimately DT and Opeth are very very different. When I do listen to DT I feel they're pushing the technical stuff too far, losing interest. In this particular song I believe the solo is played by Fredrik Åkesson. Mikael can pull off some very cool stuff but Fredrik is the very humble virtuoso. (ps. I've just started learning the surprisingly simple Korean alphabet so cheated obviously ;) )

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@scyphe haha I was mostly just seeing if you could understand it. The alphabet is easy but the language is balls difficult. Why you learning it? Yea, technicality is only one aspect of why I like DT. I think they are the perfect balance for me, but that is the great thing about music, different strokes for different folks... :)

[@Framesforgames]

His guitar playing got better? lmfao... He is one of the better players out there and have been for a long while. Åkerfeldt was ranked #42 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World, and #11 among "The Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists" on MetalSucks.

[@scyphe]

Yet everyone seem to forget about the brilliant Fredrik Åkesson, the other guitarist in Opeth who is a monster on the guitar when given the opportunity.

[@Toiletman24]

Even the best players still improve everyday.

[@captainmorgan1978]

Yea, I wouldn't put him up there with greats from what I have seen so far, but there is a shitload of Opeth left to do...:)

[@dguerra1969]

His playing is incredible...he can do it all!

[@breno2342]

But Fredrik played the solo he was commenting on. And Fredrik is indeed a better guitarist (mechanically speaking).

[@chopliverdude]

Grand Conjuration is pretty dark in comparison and fairly percussion focused even in the style of guitar playing. The main melody is definitely cool but not the forefront of the song. I'm interested to see what you'll think.

[@captainmorgan1978]

hmmm that is interesting to hear...looking forward to it!

[@Johannore]

My personal Opeth song might be The Lotus Eater. It has so much diversity and intensity. Try it out! I love Harlequin forest too of course! 😁

[@captainmorgan1978]

Noted! 😊👌

[@andrej9029]

No, this song is not from the last album but from the album WATERSHED from the year 2008. BTW, that shuffle beat is actually a drum beat that Jeff Porcaro used a lot.

[@cedrictruchon4151]

Under rated track for me. Also posted on my bday so extra good

[@williamreynolds3487]

Nah, Mikael could always shred. Just listen to the solo in Forest of October off their first album. Also, awesome video! I’ve been binge watching your Opeth reactions. This song was actually a relatively new one for me as well as I’ve only listened to it once or twice. Keep it up!

[@captainmorgan1978]

What would be his best shred song in your opinion?

[@williamreynolds3487]

CaptainMorgan the one that comes to mind first it Forest of October like I mentioned. Blackwater Park, which you already reacted to, also has a pretty shreddy solo. I can’t really think of or remember any others lol, but yeah, Forest of October is just an overall killer track. Long, but so many great riffs. Very worth it. And the lyrics, like a lot of Mikael’s lyrics, are fucking poetry. So good.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@williamreynolds3487 awesome will check it out... Thanks!

[@williamreynolds3487]

CaptainMorgan you’re welcome!

[@williamreynolds3487]

CaptainMorgan The Leper Affinity off the Blackwater Park record has a pretty good solo as well. If you’re gonna listen to it live, I’d suggest in 2003 from the Lamentations show.

[@deminybs]

Nice, I go for good instrumentation first, lyrics are a bonus love me some harlequin Forest, possibly my favorite song by them

[@captainmorgan1978]

Agreed... Listen my last reaction of Caligulas Horse, the ending is very HFesque 😊

[@deminybs]

@@captainmorgan1978 ha back a year later and idk it's really hard to pick a favorite opeth track 🤣

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@deminybs that it is... So many good ones

[@paravarium]

Damn the first reaction from watershed and still haven't even touched the first 3 albums. Still have Pale Communion, Heritage, and Sorceress untouched too. Come on crew, it's your job to guide him! 😛

[@captainmorgan1978]

haha tell em, I am looking forward to it! :)

[@futurewavecs]

@@captainmorgan1978 Those albums he listed are all in their new style which is quite a bit different. Goes more the prog rock (with psychadelic influences) direction and seriously other than the production value being much higher it'd fit nicely into the late 60s and 70s prog rock scene. I'd not really call those newer albums Metal.

[@williambeaver5094]

This is what what you get when you let football fans review metal albums. 😂

[@ethanames5205]

I think you would real enjoy the song A Fair Judgment off the deliverance album . It is a very melodic song but heavy, not in a death metal way but emotional way . Very epic ,powerful and yet beautiful song .

[@captainmorgan1978]

awesome, will note it!

[@richardaling5278]

Yeah, i'm practising that shuffle groove on drums;) Right-handed AND left-handed:)

[@captainmorgan1978]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6uwkqOFpdNrj9k kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpS8paNqlLR1oqs :)

[@LukeWatts85]

You should check out Benighted from Still Life. Or Hours of Wealth from Ghost Reveries. Both amazing entirely melodic (no heavy parts) songs

[@philip863]

Love both

[@Holestic_Honesty]

Can you react to Transatlantic Duel with the devil live it’s a prog rock epic with a all star supergroup Line up. The line up is Mike Portnoy on drums Neal Morse on keyboards and Ronnie stilt of flower Kong’s on lead guitar and Pete Trewavas on bass they are the most epic

[@captainmorgan1978]

unfortunately already really familiar with that and all the Neil Morse stuff...great stuff! You have a fav of those projects? Simultitude?

[@Holestic_Honesty]

CaptainMorgan For Transatlantic my favorite is Whirlwind Spock’s beard Snow Flower Kong’s Unfold the Future Neal Morse band Similitude Neal Morse solo Sola Scriptura maybe you could check out whole mother trip by the Neal Morse band live in 2015 less you’ve heard it I’m a huge Neal Morse fan Or alive again love where they swap instrument like 3 times. I was at moresfest 2018 and also at first tour spot for the great adventure was cool

[@Holestic_Honesty]

CaptainMorgan If you know all Those song Thresholds song Critical mass is great

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@Holestic_Honesty got it! Cheers!

[@nikelodeon6852]

No fan of Opeth is a fan of Opeth because of its lyrics. There are other bands with better lyrics. The band is all about musicianship.

[@captainmorgan1978]

that's fair enough, as I said, they are 3rd or 4th for me...otherwise, just be an instrumental band... ;)

[@georgiosathanassiou7642]

Opeth has it both. The music and the lyrics.

[@nikelodeon6852]

@@georgiosathanassiou7642 Their lyrics are meh like most other bands. But it's not about the lyrics.

[@mathiaz943]

I'd really like to see your reaction to "exercises in futility I" (or II) by a band called Mgla. Don't want to write here much about the band or style to not influence/ discourage you from listening to it. It's best enjoyed with the lyrics...

[@captainmorgan1978]

NICE KEEP REMINDING ME IN OTHER VIDS SO I DON'T FORGET! :)

[@forestofoctober4688]

Dude , didn't understand what you said about Mikael's guitar ?? He's a beast and one of the greatest guitarists of all time !

[@captainmorgan1978]

Well you will have to point me to a song that examples that cause so far he would definitely not be in the top tier imo... Writing construction is great but technically I haven't heard anything close to the Steve Vai Satch Petrucci levels...which is fine just is what it is lol

[@forestofoctober4688]

@@captainmorgan1978 Listen to more Opeth , Black Rose Immortal is a 20 min song but man it's a masterpiece and I guess you'll love it .

[@jackbauer24880]

What is the name of your intro song? it`s beautiful

[@captainmorgan1978]

open.spotify.com/track/3NMu1a5it2wvHe5KOwusua?si=ZuKGcMn8R-WOrdA9ESBP6A

[@captainmorgan1978]

Same group but I like this song better :) open.spotify.com/track/5ooZAWkodLbZOj7ol9Q8O8?si=IYxt6uC7TrqpJn-grP9YGQ

[@gbrucey42]

Face of Melinda and Moonlapse Vertigo.

[@captainmorgan1978]

Noted! :0

[@AbhijeetSingh-ed3lw]

Opeth- When. Might top harlequin forest. Or not, Can't choose. 😂

[@captainmorgan1978]

The Grand Conjuration is coming asap!

[@9am53]

The stuff you are calling “old” opeth is mid period opeth. The best “old” opeth imo is “my arms your hearse”. It’s not as melodic as this, though to be honest this mid era stuff is my favourite era. They are very different, which makes it like listening to different bands.

[@captainmorgan1978]

Nice thanks for the correction... HQ and Grand Conjuration are my favs so far!

[@9am53]

They have a fair bit of material to go through, a lot of it is excellent. The post heritage stuff I don’t like. I bought heritage, pale communion and sorceress and I really can’t get into it. It feels like opeth has been neutered. I’m not really into folk music or jazz or whatever genre they’ve become. I love opeth regardless and don’t mind spending my money to support them. I am still hanging on to the hope that they bring back the metal. Also, though I’m sure it’s been mentioned you may check out bloodbath. It’s a sort of offshoot band that is straight up vintage sounding death metal. It has good musicians (Michael used to be there) and they have some good quality cheese filled death metal.

[@philip863]

CaptainMorgan do you mean hp? What song is HQ?

[@moonfool4042]

React to Bleak! It'll top your listing!! P.S. The lyrics in this (hessian peel) video are not right in many places. It doesn't make sense in many places.

[@captainmorgan1978]

haha well that sucks! wtf... thanks for the info and Bleak is noted..commenter above you said Moonlapse is the best...maybe a battle!lol

[@moonfool4042]

@@captainmorgan1978 Moonlapse Vertigo is great too.. One of my favs. But it's in a concept album; Still Life. If you do react to it, i suggest reacting to the songs in order. The Moor is the first song on the record.

[@futurewavecs]

Bleak was the first Opeth song I fell in love with. Then the entire Ghost Reveries album stole my soul and has had it since.

[@captainmorgan1978]

@@futurewavecs Nice, well, Grand Conjuration is coming next week...so :)

[@HamsterCaster]

Woodpecker From Mars! Like if you get it!

[@captainmorgan1978]

wah wah, can't like :( lol

[@HamsterCaster]

@@captainmorgan1978 7:54 onwards, compare to kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaewp5t3fqtskKc

[@robertmunroe9635]

Most people dont enjoy hearing this live because its about his girlfriend who killed herself.

[@captainmorgan1978]

People have said that but when I looked at the lyrics it was hard to get the clearness of that...but a crazy detail. Great song!

[@jonc7330]

Ghost of perdition

[@captainmorgan1978]

Already did it yo! 😁