Opeth - Still Life (first time album reaction)

[@kirawasareactor]

three week break ( i had an exams.. and my birthday ...) so excited to return :) thank you all for watching! all my opeth reactions: kzbin.info/aero/PLrn6n6RQvOqMwBIqQKeX1YcsOpfwiJbbn&si=slQ18e53C4T_yGXx

[@fancotasargentina8165]

I just discovered your channel three days ago thanks to your Opeth reactions and today you react to one of the best albums from this band, which is my favourite of all time. For the future, I suggest you react to the new Opeth album that is realeasd tomorrow (The Last Will and Testament) or to Watershed (I think you will love this one). I love the way your dance at Opeth heavier songs! Cheers from Argentina!

[@kirawasadiver]

@@fancotasargentina8165i will be reacting to their new release, yes!! Welcome:)

[@HCXWinchester]

Happy birthday🎉🎉🎉

[@AntonNidhoggr]

Happy Birthday!

[@Capitaomac1]

Happy birthday! My present to you is a suggestion of another amazing swedish band called Pain of Salvation. If you love concept albums with awesome vocals and music telling deep stories, this band fits you like a glove. Goosebumps assured. Remedy Lane and The Perfect Element pt.1 are highlights. Along with Opeth, my personal top 2. Big kiss from Portugal 😊

[@MamPuia321]

you're gonna love Ghost Reveries

[@jettjackson]

Yeah, you really are!

[@AkZeal76]

fr, their best album imo. it has their best song, but I can't decide which it is between like 5 candidates

[@MystFGO]

Serenity Painted Death just goes so hard 🔥🔥

[@kirawasareactor]

EXACTLY

[@jinxie1080]

Maybe the greatest solo I've ever heard outside of jazz honestly. I know Tornado of Souls is the de facto pick usually but man Serenity Painted Death's one is just perfect in every right way!

[@notalastorr]

Holy shit Myst has the best music taste

[@Lloocii]

One of my favorites by them.

[@stinkyfirefly]

Hearing you say, "I love the growl" is so illustrative of how far you've come. I love it.

[@kirawasareactor]

Such a good point. I’m so proud of myself 😭😭😭😭

[@W4Rx1Sx0V3R]

​@kirawasareactor tbf Mikael also has the best growls in the business so, enjoy them!

[@noor6668]

Moonlapse Vertigo is one that surely grows on you especially when you've heard more of their discography, it's my favorite song on the album tied with Serenity

[@ragunathtikiri480]

She didn't like the cleans in Moonlapse but they're my favourite aspect of the song

[@The_Fool91]

​@@ragunathtikiri480Opeths cleans are why I keep coming back. Sure, he is one of best growlers ever but his cleans provide such a nice contrast between his darker side. Moonlaspe Vertigo is my favorite track mostly because of his cleans.

[@antoniosagomes6152]

Love the cleans on this album. Probably more than in any other. Sound very full and rich

[@Aname23]

Opeth are touring Australia November 2025! Go see them, you won't regret it.

[@pizzashorts887]

Omg go see them. But DON’T AT THE SETLIST! I got a piece of it spoiled and I would have loss my mind when I hear the second of those songs (still did though) but anyway go see them, one of the best live bands and it’s an experience!

[@Othraerir]

depends what they play i guess

[@wolferbent8882]

There is no way I just found out about your channel yesterday, watched all the Opeth reactions, and today you put out an Opeth album reaction. Amazing.

[@kirawasareactor]

it's meant to beeeeee :)

[@Arvin_Shishegari]

the moor is probably just my favorite song of all time. the melody on 7:20 is my favorite part

[@richy_B]

Love your Opeth reaction videos! And belated Happy Birthday!

[@kirawasareactor]

Thank you so much!!

[@jmcsquared18]

Every single note on Still Life is not a waste and has such a profound effect on the sound. And that record was made in 1999. It's remarkable.

[@joewilson2929]

I feel like Opeths sound really conveys longing, despair, hope, anger, reflection, and beauty really well emotionally. 😊 So glad you are enjoying Opeth!

[@kirawasareactor]

Yep 100% the emotion is just incredible

[@vesuvius115]

Blackwater Park usually gets all the attention and is many people's favorite album by the band, and rightfully so. However, this album I love just a bit more, the concept and the riffs, this is where opeth really built way more on the sound pieces they found in "My Arms Your Hearse", the album prior. Also White Cluster is such an underrated Opeth song, I love it

[@Terminxman]

Blackwater Park as a song is a 10, the album as a whole, I think this beats it.

[@vesuvius115]

@Terminxman For sure. I will say Blackwater Park is the better closing track, but still, I love Still Life as a whole album more than BP as an album but its really close

[@potato4534]

The melody in godhead lament is so beautiful

[@Harrisee]

Still life and damnation change my life...from Chile ❤

[@kirawasareactor]

damnation changed mine toooo

[@joewilson2929]

CHILEEEEEE!!!!! I was just learning about Chile the other day. REALLY neat country! :D Cheers from Oregon!

[@gabrieldalton4307]

I have absolutely LOVED your Opeth reactions, and this is no exception! I have a special bit of fan-canon regarding this album, which is that the main character/narrator is actually a werewolf! Its totally ridiculous, but the album is full of moon imagery in all the art (and referenced in lyrics), and also the main character always seems to have a supernatural aspect to him. The people in the town "sense" his presence, which is how he gets caught. When Melinda dies, he goes into a berserk rage, "claiming his flesh," which also, "came with the moon," and this is how he slaughters his way through the town of people after they kill Melinda. Its all very... spooky. Plus I think the opening track "The Moor" is a dead giveaway, as moors are often referenced as being a domain of werewolves or their kin. American Werewolf in London is a good example of this haha! Anyways, I love this album DEARLY, and I'm glad that you've enjoyed it as well!

[@AMushroomEnthusiast]

Think ghost reveries would be your favorite

[@kirawasareactor]

oooo i'm excited to check it out :D

[@oregonwoodelf]

Whatever comes after masterpiece is what this is🙌 It's a lot to take in on a first listen, but the melodies, the growls, the drums, the transitions are just🤌 After a lot of reps and getting into the story more, this album can become a life changing experience! Near the top of my all-time favorite pieces of art🖤❤💀

[@Dani-x01]

great opeth's album! love how you're jamming into it with a wide open smiling however dope Daria shirt btw you rocking girl.

[@dcfromthev]

As a longtime BTBAM fan, I can definitely hear the Opeth influence in their music. I need to get more into this band, I must admit. Great stuff!

[@jmcsquared18]

BTBAM and Opeth are the gods of prog metal.

[@BObbert179]

“The Moor” is my favorite Opeth song. This album is one of few that I’d consider COMPLETE perfection.

[@Hejeval]

This is my favorite metal album EVER and even possible my favorite album from any genre!

[@willl676]

Since you enjoy Opeth, I would highly recommend checking out Edge of Sanity. Dan Swano, its founder, is a genius and he paved the way for all prog death bands that came after. He is also a childhood friend of Mikael's and even produced Opeth's first two albums. My recommendation would be either Purgatory Afterglow or Crimson, if you want a concept album like Still Life.

[@kirawasareactor]

I have been introduced to Dan Swano over on my Patreon, his clean production reminded me of Opeth

[@willl676]

@@kirawasareactor Awesome! He's a very good producer and had a hand in creating some timeless records in both death and black metal history. I believe he did the audio engineering for all the Dissection records.

[@MoSweiti666]

I absolutely love this album. It tells a beautiful tragic story and the music never fails to make me emotional. Their first full on concept album. I have just finished listening to the new Opeth album and it definitely blew my mind. I'd love to see your reaction to it.

[@sputhoor96]

The moor is one of the greatest songs ever

[@kirawasareactor]

legit what an amazing start to this album

[@SomethingLegit1]

Opeth, the masters of tension and release! I love how their songs are built like mini 4 part symphonies. 1. Strong catchy start. 2. Melodic slower transition. 3. Tention building melody. 4. All out massacre.

[@pizzashorts887]

This is my favorite album ever made. Came from Pink Floyd’s Animals I’ve always liked Prog and folk elements, which lead me to Blackwater Park. I was amazed but craving more. Where this masterpiece hit my ears. Incredible lyrics, incredible atmosphere, incredible musicianship, everything about it is special to me🖤 Glad you liked it

[@alexkenley1]

If you like the heavier side I think you'd like My Arms Your Hearse its just as amazing as this album

[@kirawasareactor]

I’ve heard good things about that one!

[@Lukkern]

YEEEES! BEST ALBUM EVER MADE! Would be awesome to see you react to one of their newer album as well! Pale communion and sorceress are also masterpieces and rarely talked about!

[@jr34v3r]

Best Opeth album hands down. My favorite album of all time and one of very few albums I'd consider completely perfect. There isnt one thing on here I'd change if i could, honestly.

[@Sarcorco]

The juxtaposition of the down right infectious joy of listening and the dark, brooding, melancholy music. Love it.

[@butterfliesandmoths]

Yes, thursday is saved! ❤ Haha the funny thing is that I first thought Moonlapse Vertigo was one of the "weaker" tracks on the album. But 20 years later it grew for me to be one of the more solid. That's the nice part about Opeth, that songs can have a renaissance like that. When it comes to old stuff I would recommend: 1. Deliverance - since it was meant to be released as a double disc with Damnation to mirror different emotions (or something along those line), but they werent allow for the record company. So it's a heavier album. It where however released as a (remixed) double disc in 2015, called "Deliverance and Damnation" (duh). 2. Watershed - Arguable their heaviest album, and the last album that Åkerfelt growled on. 3. Ghost Reveries

[@emilianotorres6831]

Love your videos, Kira. And also, happy birthday! Greetings from Mexico 😄

[@wesleyb1458]

Really sleeping on Moonlapse Vertigo! I think after a few more listens you would like it more! There’s a lot of nuance and also that intro section with the distortion guitar it’s very beautiful imo

[@donc5428]

White Cluster and Godehads Lament are such bangers and they really grow on you after a lot of listens.

[@aeris622]

36:51-38:31 gotta be my favourite moment on my favourite album

[@guitearist]

It fucks so hard.

[@BrandonBames]

"He has like the best growl ever." Correct. Also that's a great Daria Darko shirt

[@jeffers0315]

This is my favorite album of all time. I understand why everyone always talks about Blackwater Park and I love that album, but there's just something about Still Life. Just seeing the album art makes me feel some kinda way.

[@HaRhaquinn]

Admiro la facilidad que tenés para fluir perfectamente con la música. Se nota que realmente estás disfrutando lo que estás escuchando. Saludos desde argentina

[@aureliodettori8878]

I love your reactions. Cheers from Italy 😊

[@qlqnen]

Fantastic album. The second opening lead in Moonlapse Vertigo is amazing, especially after the drums open up. And the live version of Face of Melinda on Roundhouse Tapes is just *chef's kiss*.

[@wolferbent8882]

He has my favourite growl as well. It just has so much wholeness and power to it. It's also one of those growls where you can tell that he is singing something (you can tell most of the words he growls without looking at lyrics), unlike many other growlers, where it just sounds like noise for the sake of being noise. The growls also contrast the cleans greatly. Also, even if we ignore the quality of the growls, the way he paces them and matches them with the feel of the music feels amazing. The growls just levitate the effect of the songs greatly. They don't feel overused and very appropriate. 40:50 you don't have to worry about that I think. Their production has gotten better than before, and they are definitely still Opeth. A lot of Opeth moments in new Opeth. Also, the new album will have growls back, which is the first time after 2008. And the single they released with growls in it sounded awesome. I will be happy to see how you enjoy the evolution of their sound since, as you said, the albums you've reacted to have been 20+ years old. Yes - Opeth acoustic parts are so beautiful. And their uses of acoustic in their opeth-y transitions from heavy to soft and from soft to heavy is truly unique. 44:11 yessss. The guitar layers. Makes the sound really detailed and whole. Very much something Opeth use a lot as you have seen in the Blackwater Park album. Nice genuine reaction, enjoyed the video.

[@giacomojamesPunkRockHeadReact]

My favorite album; as a reactor ; and so far ( 7:00 ) lovely reaction from you ( The Moor )

[@mattibelli1]

Kira, I always have to laugh so much - unfortunately I only understand about 30% of what you say, but just listening to you and seeing your enthusiasm for the songs is just fun! Thank you for that! And by the way - Opeth is so fantastic. I wish you a wonderful Christmas time

[@AkZeal76]

Story note: Melinda became a nun in the period the narrator was away. When the lyrics refer to her as 'promised to another' and her love for another, he refers to God and the church, which the narrator tries to convince Melinda to leave for him. P.S. Love the shirt. Daria is awesome

[@Shift_Work_Life]

I just adore your Opeth reactions! I could write a novel to you but I'll keep it simple: 1) knowing the final line of Face of Melinda is "But my heart is thine", listen to Serenity Painted Death again with the lyrics. The music hits the emotions so deep, and the hard parts are the heaviest of Opeth. 2) The new album, without spoiling too much, is also a concept album! Their first since this album 25 years prior.

[@Terminxman]

I've liked Opeth forever, but I've like really gotten deep into them in the past few years. Just saw them live for the first time in 2024 and it gave me like a whole new appreciation (They played Face of Melinda). I think this album might be my favorite. There isn't a single weak song on it. It has a great variety also. And if this is the earliest album you've listened to, you still have some gold like Orchid and My Arms Your Hearse which are also hard to choose between. I kept skipping through this to different parts because there's so many great ones I can't wait for

[@blakfloyd]

Very excited to watch this video but I had to stop the instant I saw the Daria shirt and compliment you on your style.

[@kirawasareactor]

Oh thank you!!!!!

[@AntonNidhoggr]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoy Opeth music. There's some particular flavour of melancholy there, which I hardly find in other metal albums. That's why I love them so much. I would humbly recommend listening to Watershed when you have some time. It's like the peak old Opeth album in my opinion. A farewell to the old Opeth so to speak. I think it won't disappoint you. p.s. My first also was Damnation btw.

[@billyboostah6308]

Blackwater Park is still over this one for me but yeah it’s pretty close! This is my 2nd favorite album of all time so…😂 The story is what really does it for me on this one! I loooove how it feels so medieval and every track really paints a picture of what is going on in the story! It’s like watching a movie in your head listening to it!🤩 But yeah it’s called ”Blackwater Park Junior” for a reason and I think it’s mainly the production and the song writing (instrumentals) that falls a little short on this one🍻

[@whiteglovepc]

Best written Opeth album

[@Metallicazor]

My favourite album of all time, to think how Mikael wrote it... incredible

[@HCXWinchester]

Omg new Opeth video!!!! I just re-listened your reaction to Damnation like 2 days ago. Such a good timing. You are my favourite reaction channel and I have watched a lot :) so excited for this. Also I would like to make a suggestion to another band/album. I know its a long shot but I think you would love it. Its Oceansize- Frames. Oceansize is a british prog/math/post rock band, I would describe them as fusion of Radiohead and Tool but with more punk. They are underrated in reaction-verse but also critically acclaimed by many musicians. If some day you would react to this, I would be the happiest person on earth :) Cheers.

[@gearspider]

This is One of the Top 5 Best Metal Albums of All Time.

[@Nebuloid1]

There aren't many albums that I remember listening to for the first time, but this is one of them. Know exactly where and when I was when I popped this in my discman. Never forget.

[@heathen-heart]

One of my fondest Opeth memories was seeing them at the Milwaukee Metafest in 2000, their first show in the USA. Years later I met Mikael backstage at the Party San Metal Open Air in Germany and we talked about that show, great memories, very cool.

[@Metallniete]

Little information about the new Opeth album "The Last Will and Testament": It is special because the growl is BACK! You have probably read in other comments that Mikael stopped growling after the "Watershed" album and the following albums became less death metal and more progressive rock. Well the latest record is the most progressive death metal I have heard them. And: you should definitely look into the concept beforehand.

[@Houldey]

The dichotomy of the Pusheen waterbottle and the Daria Darko t-shirt really does show you're absolutely the right kinda person for Opeth lol, we all live in that kinda venn diagram :P *edit* Not sure how I forgot, but I actually did a project at university based on this album, given it's a whole concept - if I remember correctly, I animated the story of the album to a bunch of the instrumental sections.

[@kirawasareactor]

Wow that’s incredible what you animated!! And yeah my taste spans from the cutest stuff to the darkest💀

[@TaylormaxTV]

you are so lucky to be experiencing Opeths for the first time.

[@kirawasareactor]

We all did at some point, but yeah I’m super lucky to be able to document it and share it:)

[@waldmeister0815]

In my book this is the best Opeth album. It has everything. Darkness, sadness, rage, love with a bit of jazz anf growls.

[@nielsenjesp]

They were inspired by Nick Drake (Pink moon) on this album, not least in "Benighted".

[@iDEATH]

Oh man, I forgot it was out tomorrow! The idea that Kira might start doing some newer music is even more exciting, though. We're gonna have some fun with that! I look forward to what the old Patron's get her on to (UnleashTheArchers).

[@kirawasareactor]

Eeexactly the new music should be exciting if anything!!!

[@cranboogie]

Yes, almighty Opeth! 🌀🌀🌀✊✊✊

[@schism46]

Few years after this album Mikael got married and a girl was born in their family. Guess her name)))

[@Lloocii]

Fred?

[@matiasramirez6059]

For me, it's all based on what you're looking for. For example, Blackwater Park is the best album, but my favorite is still Still Life because Still Life gives me something that the other one can't, and I'll explain it in one word: melancholy. From the cover with that red that's almost turning to light orange to the riffs. That, added to the lyrics, takes me back to a time that I don't remember or lived through. It happens to me with the band Death too. Their album Spiritual Healing is the slowest of all, but not because they don't know how to make fast, technical death metal, but because it's done on purpose.

[@brack6794]

A little tidbit/context before you listen to the new album: prior to this new one, the last record that featured Mikael growling was 2008's Watershed. There were 4 albums between then and now with zero harsh vocals, and although Mikael would still do growls live when performing older songs, the band really made it seem like growls on new albums were a thing of the past. You can imagine the elation from the fanbase when the first single dropped from the new record and THE GROWLS WERE BACK. So exciting! IMO it's worth it for you to go through every single one of their releases, they all have value.

[@aphelionvoid4491]

Am i the only one thinking Leprous would blow her mind? We need a full album Bilateral reaction.

[@joewilson2929]

Karnivool, Leprous, Gojira~!!

[@Lloocii]

Gojira for sure. She loves the drums and Mario, the whole band really, have the best rhythms. Also, they have a very good growl with great pitch ranges within them.

[@Wreath83]

Very nice reaction!

[@HanzMerx]

Please! React to the album *"The Perfect Element Part 1"* by the band Pain of Salvation. Like Opeth, PoS is also a Prog Metal band.

[@Krigarar]

I don't know whether you mention it in your video, but the vocalist/lead guitarist named his first daughter Melinda :-).

[@OmarChouikha]

I still think that before listening to the new album you should listen to Pale Communion or In Cauda Venenum to get a glimpse of how Newpeth sounds like

[@karenvilaza2963]

I was lucky enough to hear The Moor live and it is something monstrous 🤩 If you have the opportunity go see them live, you will not regret it!! it is quite an experience 😅

[@fromhighestbelltower]

Their album 'Heritage' from 2011 it's would be the perfect thing for classic prog lovers - example of perfect old-school prog-rock stylisation and most archetypical version of that style. Highly rec' you another Swedish prog metal - Dan Swanö band WITHERSCAPE, album 'The Inheritance' 2013, that have more beautiful melodies, vibes and male vocals than Opeth! Also, if you wanna some cinematic metal music with atmosphere kind of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' - pay attention on Swedish band THERION and Finnish band NIGHTWISH.

[@revylokesh1783]

The album that started it all for me. I got it when it was first released, not even really knowing what to expect.

[@damasorojasamante6354]

If you love acoustic guitar, you will like "Empyrium" band or "Agalloch", check it both and enjoy!! Happy Birthday from Spain!

[@rabarebra]

The 8:01 part is a homage to Abba's Lay All Your Love on Me.

[@Vibhutius]

One of the reasons Still Life is generally overlooked is because Blackwater Park (also Damnation) has a much better production quality - thanks to Steven Wilson. He is another genius you would be delighted to explore who spearheads an English prog rock band called Porcupine Tree. Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet are fantastic albums to start!

[@milton1448]

I'm here for the squeaks!

[@DavidB-er5ez]

My fave!

[@alexvoyd1132]

I could be mistaken here but this tone is so beautiful cause this album was recorded with amps and microphones instead of straight into a computer we get nowadays!

[@rabarebra]

It is the f#$ing best album of theirs along with Heritage. That's it! I am buying another copy of Still Life. 25th. Anniversary on 2 LPs.

[@The13thblade]

YES.

[@francomattiagiavatto1832]

Opeth is such a gateway drug to death doom too! Bands like early Katatonia, Daylight Dies, My Dying Bride, Trees of Eternity, Swallow the Sun..

[@lug23]

Bro, check Woods of Ypres 🍻

[@Johnytomm]

GRAAAAAAAAAH STILL LIFE MOMENT

[@O-Bricius]

More concept album reactions! PS: Daria t-shirt👍

[@FaceofMelinda]

i love the song face of Melinda so much i named myself after it

[@sputhoor96]

Yes more opeth

[@potato4534]

They’re best album imo

[@schpleeb]

This is their absolute masterpiece for me ♥ Ghost Reveries a close second

[@seisette]

Well...Opeth just released a new album, you know what to do😄

[@kirawasareactor]

ON IT

[@ragunathtikiri480]

Having listened to the newest album, I don't know if you'll like it much without listening to their 'newpeth' era. It's a near perfect album though. My newpeth recommendation would be Pale Communion, Heritage is my personal favourite but it's too weird.

[@guigow2004]

CLEAN VOCALS = 😒 GROWLS = 🥰

[@cabritsanscorgaming]

"I don't know why they sound so good". Well, from a music theory point of view, Opeth's head (Mikael Akerfeldt) didn't know anything about music theory. He just went with his guts and he's a hard-worker. Hence why, academically speaking, he came up with progressions that are very unorthodox, they shouldn't sound great but they do. Watch "Daily Doug", he's analysing it and he's *in awe.*

[@bassvibasics479]

Jumpscare counter! Adorable!

[@kirawasareactor]

heheheheheh

[@RenzAbano]

morningrise is still their best album. so much acoustics and melodies. raw and aggressive vocals from Mikael

[@fromhighestbelltower]

If you love new wave bands like The B-52s and other swing/rockabilly/cabaretish boppy stuff but wanna bit more metal version of it - listen Swedish band DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA! If you love moody alt' rock like Radiohead or The Verve - pay attention on Swedish band SOEN, Norwegian band LEPROUS and Finnish band's AMORPHIS 1999 and 2001 albums! If you wanna hearing some of poppy catchy melodious music but by such kind of "metal ABBA" - listen to Danish band ROYAL HUNT and their albums from 1995 and 1997!

[@jovanies9751]

Sooo good haha.

[@joshwietzke3845]

My arms your hearse needs to be next. Save Ghost Reveries

[@tjgamer9713]

wierd, Moonlapse Vertigo is actually one of my favorite ones on this album

[@WallacyWagner]

Please, make a reaction to the new album The Last Will and Testament

[@lamine3020]

You already did Blackwater Park? I'll have to watch that one. The new album drops tomorrow (Nov 22) btw!

[@kirawasareactor]

kzbin.info/aero/PLrn6n6RQvOqMwBIqQKeX1YcsOpfwiJbbn&si=slQ18e53C4T_yGXx ^ all my Opeth reactions and yes i'll be reacting to the new album!!