OPETH The Last Will And Testament REVIEW + Albums RANKED

[@alvarojflorez]

Seeing Damnation in the bottom tier hurts, I absolutely adore that album.

[@jarrettchristensen_music]

yeah, I get not liking the other prog rock albums but that album is nearly perfect

[@raymondmacadams5395]

Tough spot for Damnation, it's a timeless perfect album

[@jarrettchristensen_music]

@@raymondmacadams5395 yeah, and Orchid being ranked in great makes it even worse

[@dv1860]

​@@jarrettchristensen_musicHeritage and ICV are above Damnation to me.

[@IgorSinitar]

Using the set of criteria for evaluating heavy metal music Damnation is about a two out of ten album. Making use of the criteria for evaluating prog rock music the album is about a seven out of ten. Okay tier sounds about right. It used to be my go to for getting ready to sleep.

[@brunomantovaneli6076]

After finally retiring his hot take on Still Life, my man puts Damnation at "OK" tier and starts another shitshow 😂

[@MetalTrenches]

There’s no pleasing everyone, that’s why I will always be free.

[@brunomantovaneli6076]

@MetalTrenches never change

[@tomasjonsson7141]

Still life is one of the most boring and overated albums ever. 😺😺😺

[@deanvassalloroxxx]

@@tomasjonsson7141 it’s an amazing album

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

@@tomasjonsson7141wrong. lol

[@humbaba67]

I think BWP is one of the greatest albums ever written honestly.

[@AzorAhai224]

Agreed

[@mcezop3019]

that intro was spot on

[@richardsinclair7661]

Adding my voice to the choir: I understand preferences and all, but seeing Damnation that low wounds me. That album is like a rainy day personified, and I absolutely love it.

[@DanteSonOfDeath]

agreed

[@ryanhanlon7001]

Pale communion is a top 3 opeth record for me. I absolutely adore the 70s prog rock sound on it. They took what they were doing on Heritage and really perfected it on Pale Communion

[@RBProductions1988]

It’s easy top 5 for me. I love it. One of their most re-listenable albums front to back too.

[@Nick_K1te]

Yeah I adore it since first listen when it came.

[@Kymystery]

If nothing else, Damnation deserves more respect because that album is responsible for getting ALOT of people into Opeth.

[@dr.kennethspeers8014]

For sure, it was the first album I ever owned by Opeth, and then I went and bought Ghost Reveries when it came out. Favorite band ever now.

[@WilliamRyan-h2y]

So happy to hear Still Life finally clicked with you. It's my 2nd favorite Opeth record and always seems to pull me in for another listen when the mood strikes.

[@n.o2164]

Watershed is perfection

[@AzorAhai224]

My arms your hearse might be my favorite tbh

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

My Arms, Your Hearse is a dark horse, and it’s one of their best albums.

[@MoSweiti666]

I got even more excited for the upcoming album after I had heard your review. Gonna be an awesome record!

[@chillyinalberta]

Damnation is one of my favorite albums. Always interesting a lot of folks don't seem to love it much. Great list cant wait for the new one.

[@a_guy_in_a_metal_tshirt]

2:56 historical moment

[@henrywalton5967]

I'm so happy about this

[@TheJML1975]

Great video! Love your breakdown of each album, and your reasons for where you place them… and definitely differing from my personal choices! But that’s why Opeth are so amazing, they have such a diverse catalogue! 😙👌🏻

[@DrewCheech]

I’m so happy to hear your reaction to the new album, I haven’t been this amped about an album release in a while. I only became a fan of Opeth shortly after In Cauda released, so this is their first new album for me as a fan! Appreciate the work you put into these 😎

[@masterknife8423]

Damnation doesn't deserve to be that low. I'd also swap Still Life for Ghost Reveries too. Other than that solid ranking

[@Hamptainment]

Heritage above Damnation melted the internet with its hellfire hotness

[@sand_la]

Damnation and Pale Communion both would be in my Fantastic tier, I like how everyone has such different lists

[@manuelgarciamiranda5178]

Same

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

Pale Communion for me probably connects less than any other Opeth album, although I agree that everyone is entitled to their own takes. It’s interesting how a lot of people really like that one.

[@jameskpolk9137]

I agree that The Moor is among if not the best song they’ve ever made

[@henrywalton5967]

Almost cried of joy when you put Still Life in perfection!

[@hectorThechilldudeonacouch]

Black water park still my favorite. Looking forward to the new one.

[@calebbegley3833]

Blackwater Park remains one of my favorite metal albums and The Leper Affinity is definitely one of the best songs I’ve ever heard from any band, metal or otherwise. I’ve always respected Opeth, but I’ve never travelled through their discography as a whole. I’ve heard Blackwater Park and a number of singular songs from other records, but that’s it. It’s one of those things I’ve been meaning to do because everything I’ve ever heard by them has been good to great.

[@Markus_4-s9i]

In my opinion, Watershed is a extremely underrated Opeth Album. My personal Nr. 1

[@unknown_pleasures1979]

Finally Still Life seem to grow on Trenches, duh, the album is so good I could listen to it for anytime and won't get bored. Heritage seem to be overhated and this album is fantastic, and I don't care what anyone will say. 🤫💣

[@fionnsheehan7569]

It's in my top 10 along with with bwp at 5 and ghost reveries at 1

[@MotoXjunk]

The intro was all of us Still Life fans seeing you put it at perfection lol Also, it's funny how you've now come around to Still Life. I have very recently went from having My Arms, Your Hearse as my least favorite of theirs with growls. To now it could very soon knock Ghost Reveries out of my top 3!

[@superdrag65]

The closing title track of BWP is pure eargasm. Maybe my favorite metal song ever.

[@israelthacker8568]

It's perfection

[@DrProfessorMD]

As someone that hasnt heard a single Opeth album beyond their 3rd one, it's nice to get this info. Will definitely be checking out some more. Thanks!

[@Lukkern]

No opeth album is even close to bad. They're all between great-masterpiece.

[@davidburns6284]

Perfection: Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries, My Arms Your Hearse, Still Life Fantastic: Deliverance, Morningrise Amazing: Orchid, Watershed, The Last Will and Testament Great: Damnation

[@paradoxrift2600]

Opeth is one of my all-time favs. Glad to see you came around on Still Life, and Watershed respect is always based. Also, Orchid > Morningrise all the way (I figured that was probably my hottest take regarding this band).

[@quentinbringthenumetalchil5125]

We finally made it, boys. After a delay, it’s finally here.

[@rubensilva5204]

There hasn’t been a single negative review of this album… I’m so hyped right now! Are we getting another masterpiece from opeth?!

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

I figured the return of death growls wasn’t too far away after their last album, which was the first of their albums without that element that kinda felt like it captured their old songwriting dynamics. I’m definitely excited to hear this one.

[@theovermatt]

I'd swap Sorceress with Pale Communion and bump Ghost Reveries to the tippity top but otherwise good list, really excited to hear the new one.

[@wigs666]

Kerrang! gave MAYH 2/5 when it came out... shocking. It's absolute perfection, the Reign in Blood of progressive death metal.

[@EmpireEnglishSchool]

Perfection: still life, my arms your hearse Fantastic: blackwater park, ghost reveries Amazing: pale communion, sorceress, Great: morning rise, in clauda venemun Good: orchid, watershed Okay: heritage Last will and testament: ??

[@nukritik2933]

1. Orchid 2. Sorceress 3. In Caude Venenum 4. Ghost Reveries 5. Damnation 6. Watershed 7. Blackwater Park 8. My Arms, Your Hearse 9. The Last Will And Testament 10. Morningrise 11. Pale Communion 12. Heritage 13. Still Life 14. Deliverance

[@RBProductions1988]

My thoughts: Perfection - Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Watershed, Still Life, Pale Communion Fantastic - Damnation, Deliverance Amazing - My Arms, Your Hearse Great - In Cauda Venenum, Heritage, Orchid, Morningrise Okay - Sorceress

[@billcowan5539]

Cool tier list, I would put Ghost Reveries near the top right under Blackwater Park

[@feno8983]

I was surprised once i learned that people adore still life - i myself thought its a decent album, but nothing besides Godheads Lament truly grabbed my attention. I asked others and one explanation truly captured it to me - it was about the times it was released. Back when it aired there was nothing like it so it hit a perfect spot for many people who previously were craving such songs but those were nowhere to be found. As a person who started listening to Opeth only like 4/5 years ago i knew their later catalogue and would compare still life to albums like blackwater park or ghost reveries. After some time the album grew on me while bwp and ghost reveries i recognized instantly as awesome. The Moor is an interesting song i think it has many awesome parts but for some unknown reason i dont really come back to it, Godheads Lament was an instant favourite off this record and still remains to this day. Some cleaner and calmer songs such as Benighted and Face of Melissa may be more interesting than most of those clean songs on Damnation i especially love the heavier part of the latter. Moonlapse Vertigo is fine, but when it comes to White cluster and Serenity painted death i just cant - i mean i cant get through them. Serenity Painted Death feels so overdone for me, its just like somebody is trying way to hard to create some death metal, evil sounding song. It makes me cringe. White Cluster however, is quite different type of bad - it feels like they run out of good ideas for the record and its just kinda washed up and bland. Overall id say its 7/10. When it comes to the latest record and also everything that came after Watershed people were complaining beacause lack of growls. To me the problem is lack of heavy and menacing riffs. They dont write any of such stuff anymore and guitar parts for modern era Opeth are so uninteresting to me for the most part. They got soft and far from metal genre, where are those monstrous distorted riffs and dissonances? Guess not there :(

[@isaacpunch9295]

Wow, that Still Life opinion change blew me away lol. Congrats lol

[@mrcoolguy32]

I think I like this band more every time I listen to it. Your arms my Hearse is my favorite at the moment very rainy day album and band really

[@skarrx2416]

Opeth are one of the few bands that don't have a single bad album 🔥

[@fcamiola]

SO true.

[@dzb3k]

(((((((Heritage)))))))(((Sorceress)))

[@tomasjonsson7141]

All albums after watershed are bad. 😺😺😺

[@scosstard3542]

Awesome ranking! I agree with most of your ranking (Damnation is Amazing! and Heritage just OK for me, while Pale Communion is Good). Honestly I have not cared much for Opeth in the past years, and even hearing the Death growls on the first single, while surprising me, did not fully sold me on this album. However your review really made me curious and I will most definitely give it another listen :) Thanks and keep up the great work!!! PS: I realized that 2004 was 20 years ago already and that it was an incredible year for metal with incredible releases (Miss Machine, Si Monumentum Requires Circumspice, Nightwish's One, Leviathan by Mastodon and many more great albums). Do you plan on doing retrospectives with the best albums of each year?

[@JeezyFrankie]

Both my favorite albums in Okay tier 🥲

[@MetalTrenches]

Hey, we like what we like

[@andrewpequita6569]

First four albums are my shit. I’m probably in the minority here. Orchid is a perfect album.

[@cbn6635]

The two first albums especially.. 👌 I' ll happily join your minority.. 😉

[@Nicolas1909_]

S. Still Life A: MAYH, Blackwater Park, Orchid B: Ghost Reveries, Morningrise, Deliverance/Damnation C: Watershed, Pale Communion D: The Rest

[@49TheWall]

The real hot take here is putting Damnation at 'OK' 😀 I disagree with every ranking except Black Waterpark but that just shows the crazy strength of Opeths discography

[@MetalTrenches]

Indeed

[@whiteglovepc]

Nice one coming around to Still Life. It rivals BWP at the top for me (for different reasons). Also, how can you talk about Ghost Reveries tracks without mentioning Reverie/Harlequin Forest my guy

[@j-pf4635]

I'm not too much into Prog. So I guess this explains why Orchid is my favourite. Its atmosphere rather reminds me of old Katatonia.

[@flyingdutchman8093]

I think this is pretty much how I’d have it too. I’d move watershed up to perfection but otherwise…. Yeah good list.

[@Slayereyez]

I do remember ppl not caring for watershed upon release. I enjoyed it though.

[@jakobthonen9411]

Just like you said opinions always change and I can certainly say that's true for me. I didn't like Suffocation or Cynic on the first listen and it took some getting used to but man do I love them now. All that said, I tried to listen to some Opeth while working a few weeks ago and started with Blackwater Park, since that's the one everyone loves, and I was shocked to hear how slow and dark and depressing it is. I can't believe so many elitists love Opeth considering all the clean vocals and ballad like songs they have. Usually all the old timers don't believe in any music with emotion in it. Anyway, I didn't find it to be my thing. Maybe it was the day and the work I was doing so I'll revisit it again eventually.

[@jeanfrancozaratemarcial7916]

Man I CANNOT wait for the new record. I´ve been training my ears listening to Opeth since the beginning of this year, and the journey has been absolutely wonderful, I regret not hearing them on years prior, whether it is the death metal era or the prog. rock era. No rankings with letters this time, I love´em all, but I´ll list them in order of from the one I listen the most to my least listened one: Most: Still Life Ghost Reveries Watershed My Arms, Your Hearse Deliverance/Damnation (yes I consider it 1 huge album) Blackwater Park Pale Communion Morningrise In Cauda Venenum Orchid Heritage Least: Sorceress Fucking November 22nd just arrive already....

[@ger7387]

i love the black prog era (first 2) prob cause i started with that, but BWP Damnation, my arms and Still life are the perfection to me. pretty close

[@janoadam930]

3:15 you described that really beautifully, thats why i love to watch your Rankings, thanks man

[@MetalTrenches]

Thanks so much.

[@salvacc2221]

I love Still Life and my favourite are Morningrise and Blackwater. Deliverance is very heavy. The first era is beautiful! I need to hear the new one!

[@Dhavroch]

Apart from a few albums that I’d shuffle around, pretty exactly how I feel about the discography

[@Kered-9]

My faves are: Still Life, Ghost Reveries and Watershed.

[@josephmajor7761]

Spot on with this. I have no beef with their decision to go full prog after watershed. It just ain’t my cup o tea and definitely not what I came to Opeth for. Still, very excited for the new one.

[@jesseleavy5841]

I'm excited to finally hear it in full. Honestly, I didn't have a huge problem when they dropped the death metal sound with Heritage, I just thought the album was SUPER boring. And I hate how it does the thing where it's like super quiet and then gets louder and upbeat and then gets super quiet again. It's fine to use that dynamic every once in a while, but I felt like they never got into any sort of groove with it and it just got irritating. Anyway, I haven't really sat down and listened to any of the other post Heritage albums just because I lost interest, but I do want to sit down some time and give them a proper go.

[@Nick_K1te]

Perfection: Damnation, Pale Communion, In Cauda Venenum Fantastic: MAYH, Watershed, Blackwater Park Good: Ghost Reveries, Sorceress Okay: Deliverance, Heritage Meh: Morningrise, Orchid, Still Life

[@SergioDeMuerte]

So u ve put the best ones in meh, okay

[@Nick_K1te]

@SergioDeMuerte everyone has it's own best and worst ones

[@samuelblinne6040]

Nice list

[@northnick3317]

Watershed was the first Opeth album I listened to, it's still S tier on my list ❤ (also, please do Omnium Gatherum soon 🙇🏻)

[@MelodyMaker218]

I agree with you for the most part except for Morningrise. I love that album.

[@NeptuneTowers]

I would put both Damnation and My Arms, Your Hearse in great. I agree with the rest of this list

[@sorenvanaheim776]

I tend to have Deliverance+Ghost Reveries above My Arms, Your Hearse and Still Life, and Morningrise over Orchid but our lists are fairly similar otherwise. Also between the new album and your videos I was inspired to actually go re-listen to everything as mostly I just went with Ghost Reveries every so often. I'm so excited for the new one and I think it may very well be my favourite album of the year. In Addition I'd like to ask if you've every heard of the band Mechina they're another Prog Metal band that has been between there and Prog Death with a sizeable discography. I found em recently and I figured I'd send word your way.

[@MetalTrenches]

I have. They are decent. I’ve liked some albums.

[@rickdeckard2240]

Perfection : Blackwater Park Fantastic : Damnation Amazing : none Great : Ghost Reveries, Deliverance Good : Watershed, Still Life Ok : My Arms Your Hearse, Orchid, Heritage I don't care much but not awful : everything else Didn't listen to yet enterily: The Last Will and Testament

[@Drinckx2]

Damnation is one of their best albums. Yes, it's not (musically) heavy, but as a showcase for Akerfeldt's songwriting and the quality of his melodic voice, it is perfect.

[@MrOmac09]

13. Heritage 12. Pale Communion 11. Sorceress 10. In Cauda Venenum 9. Orchid 8. Morningrise 7. Watershed 6. Damnation 5. Blackwater Park 4. Deliverance 3. Ghost Reveries 2. Still Life 1. My Arms, Your Hearse

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

Awesome to see Still Life finally elevated with the MAYH and Blackwater Park. I probably like Deliverance more than most people and think the title track is one of their best. I’d probably have that up one. I’d also have Ghost Reveries in perfection. Damnation has also never really grabbed me that much, although I like Windowpane a lot. Minor critiques though, as I think this is a very good list.

[@Mirrorreaper76]

I don’t know if I’m emotionally prepared to watch this, but watch I shall

[@Mirrorreaper76]

Oh man I have so much to say 😅 may I recommend hiking to Damnation and Deliverance together? Those are both fantastic tier albums to me. Kind of surprised Ghost Reveries didn’t go into fantastic tier, but I respect using all the tiers available. Pale Communion is hugely slept on, I love the jazzy feel of the drums on Eternal Rain. Personally very excited to listen to the new album

[@WFly101]

FORGOT TLWAT, METAL TRENCHES FINALLY PUT STILL LIFE IN S TIER AS DESERVED I'm kidding partially but I'm so excited for the new album

[@mehdilif4490]

Blackwater Parc and Ghost reveries are beyond perfection

[@bryanmack5410]

I've always held Pale Communication in higher regard than most people. First time I saw them was that tour, and it was such a relief for me after Heritage.

[@TheAltarOfMadness]

That soloing and end to the last track is amazing. One of my favorite parts. Not sure what you were thinking lol. Also, check out the Eternal Rains music video i did on my channel. You might appreciate the song more. I also did one for Ghost of Perdition.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

12:29 I fucking love Enslaved. A tour with Opeth and Enslaved would melt the earth!

[@mefistofeles41]

Kinda intriguing whenever I could see the change of other’s tastes.

[@skylancer-zer0205]

There's a few albums I really need to give a relisten to know for sure, but right now here's my ranking: 1. Blackwater Park (A++) 2. Ghost Reveries (A+, almost ties BWP for me tbh) 3. Deliverance (A, criminally underrated imo) 4. My Arms Your Hearse (A) 5. Still Life (A-) 6. Damnation (B+) 7. In Cauda Venenum (B) 8. Watershed (B, I know many love it but it just loses me a bit after Burden tbh) 9. Morningrise (B-) 10. Orchid (C+) 11. Pale Communion (C+) 12. Heritage (C) 13. Sorceress (C-, aside from Chrysalis I just don't vibe with this one at all) Not sure yet where I'll rank Last Will and Testament but from what I've heard from others and based on the two singles, it'll probably be up there around A to A- for me

[@garrystrudwick9400]

Great video

[@markrichardson8378]

As you say,there are no poor opeth albums, awaiting the new one ,which drops this Friday,but till I get to hear it in full,my 2 current favourite opeth albums ,are ,watershed,& pale communion,which I think is underrated. The only band that can top opeth for me is, Rush.

[@Ziltoid23]

Pale Communion and Morningrise to Amazing, Ghost Reveries to Perfection. Everything else I agree on. Damnation is fine but I'd rather listen to anything else they've done

[@Goryptor]

You're a good lad...Still Life is magical...now Deliverance/Damnation revisit in 10 years :D

[@sebastiansalazar1812]

I really like this channel, and i generally agree with your takes. The only thing that i dont like, with the complete discography reviews is that you can tell in what tier you will put the record beforhand. Because eventually every tier will have an even number of records. If a band have 12 records, they will have 2 records by tier. Its kinda not believable to me Either way, great channel

[@MetalTrenches]

Not always true, but that’s just how my brain works

[@sebastiansalazar1812]

@MetalTrenches and thats ok, its your channel. And i fully agree with the perfection tier, My Arms Your Hearse its a full 10

[@filipdzero8739]

Ghost Reveries is my #1 and one of my favorite albums ever: Perfectly paced, sublime production, iconic riffs & melodies... Just amazing! Some of their best & encapsulating writing, as well (Ghost of perdition, Harlequin etc. ), happy to see it made it in your top 5! A lot of people on youtube & reddit try to pass this album & BWP as being "overrated", even though there's a reason people love it so much. Also, even though I'd also put it at S tier, Still Life stans seem to have this inferiority complex mentality as if "it's an underrated 10/10 masterpiece!": Like, dude, the mass MAJORITY of people put it in their top 3, no one really nitpicks at it & it's rarely "put down" by BWP & GR fans, yet Still Lifers often go "BWP overrated, GR not that good, Still Life much better, how you not have it as #1, can't fathom anyone who not put this #1" Sorry to ramble about it so much, but this is my favorite band & I'll always have a lot to say about it. Here's my tier list: S tier: Ghost Reveries, BWP, Still Life A tier: Watershed, Deliverance, Damnation B tier: MAYH, In Cauda Venenum C tier: Orchid, Morningrise, Pale Communion D tier: Sorceress, Heritage Haven't heard TLWAT yet, am excited to do so & I hope there's at least some acoustic passages in there. Peace! \m/

[@StonyBlazestation]

I would literally rank all the albums through Ghost Reveries as perfect. Watershed is okay, and the rest is miserable. I haven't listened to the new album yet, but blending death metal with Mike's crude interpretation of 70s progressive and hard rock as heard on the last four albums does not inspire much excitement in me. I will eventually give it a chance, if only just because Opeth gave me so much joy over the years before they shit the bed entirely. I appreciate that you ranked all the albums as part of your review. It gives us viewers an idea of how much we will like or dislike the album based on our own tastes.

[@leocai1909]

Great video! How come you listened to the album already? Am I missing something?

[@MetalTrenches]

Early access for reviewers. I’ve had it since like August

[@puttu_racing]

S: Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries, Damnation, Still Life, Watershed, Pale Communion A: Deliverance, In Cauda Venenum B: My Arms, Your Hearse C: Heritage, Sorceress, Morningrise D: F: Orchid

[@philpwn6494]

thank you. anyone placing Orchid above PC or Damnation wants to be seen as cool in my opinion.

[@puttu_racing]

@philpwn6494 agreed 100%, I know music is subjective but I seriously don't get how and why someone would prefer incohesive, badly produced death/black metal that goes nowhere over two of the best prog rock records of all time

[@smunzio3000]

​​@@puttu_racing sometimes it's about what emotional response the album provokes. In my case, i cannot go beyond my arms your hearse, as i know the later stuff is superior from a technical standpoint, but i really feel detached from it, it just doesnt resonate. Its also of relevance that i prefer more folk-infused stuff

[@puttu_racing]

@@smunzio3000 that's fair

[@Cwin-ny6bp]

@@philpwn6494Pale Communion is probably the most boring album in their discography.

[@googleman981]

Una Tier list terrificante . Non c’è altro termine da aggiungere a questa disamina della band . Morningrise uno dei capolavori della band infondo insieme a Heritage? Ma come si fa tra l’altro a mettere damnation sotto ad Heritage ? Ho provato a farmi ingolosire dal titolo clickbite per la review del nuovo album ma direi che passo oltre e seguo altri canali con un miglior senso critico .

[@JohanGuy99xP]

my ranking would be: Perfection: Ghost of Reveries Fantastic: Watershed, Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Damnation Amazing: Still Life Great: In Cauda Venenum Good: Sorceress, Pale Communion, Morningrise Okay: Heritage, Orchid and I haven't listened to My Arms, Your Hearse and The Last Will and Testament so I can't rank those

[@aresgalamatis7022]

S: MAYH, Blackwater Park & Still Life A: Morningrise, Deliverence & Orchid B: - C: - F: Damnation, when I stopped listening their prog rock stuff, there are so many good bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s that do this style a lot better.

[@Bodom_Lux]

Pale Communion deserves a Fantastic really

[@neuroticgothguy]

the story behind Deliverance and Damnation is that it WAS gonna be one album but Mikael's mother passed away during the recording and flew to the UK for her funeral and came back and wrote and recorded Damnation in one go fueled by all the emotions of his loss. From there, they felt it best to separate the 2 albums, which in my opinion really works in favor for both as both are amazing (disappointed you put it down in "okay"). All of this Mikael journaled about this on Opeth's website back in the day which is why i'm pretty familiar with the story.

[@TheJML1975]

I think this is so wrong on many levels… but he flew back to the uk, for his mother’s funeral? I’m not even going to suggest why that’s wrong! 😂

[@Nathan98123]

Every Opeth album is goddamn perfection

[@cbn6635]

I'm definitely in the minority here, but to me, the first two Opeth albums will always be something truly special (maybe for nostalgic reasons?), and therefore my favorites.. 🤷 Cool and thorough ranking, though.. 👍

[@IgorSinitar]

I'm a big jazz fusion fan and elements of that genre definitely can be heard throughout the first two albums. Morningrise in particular is a listening experience like no other. It requires an attention span that few people seem to possess. Beautiful use of acoustic guitars throughout. Also, the sporadic soloing is brief but rather fitting. Never understood why they completely abandoned the concept on subsequent albums.

[@cbn6635]

@IgorSinitar You are so right about 'Morningrise'; a track like 'The Night and the Silent Water' represents all those things you mentioned to perfection.. 👌

[@CnMinus1432]

Always glad to see Sorceress not being blasted and interesting to see In Cauda Venenum being put above it, to me that album ended up feeling bloated compared to Sorceress. For the rest I pretty much agree, though sometimes the top two tiers seemingly change places. Before the prog became the band's totality for a time, there was a time where it took over but left a metal resistence alive. Sometimes that time takes the cake for me and sometimes it feels like they never needed to change more once their songwriting actually became concise, starting with Still Life (I actually don't count My Arms to that epoque). Orchid and Morningrise are just shadowlands where they hadn't found a cohesive style yet. Just my two (maybe rather four?) cents.

[@sleepiboio]

finally still life got the love it deserved

[@DecimatedSoul]

2nd favorite band ever right behind Nile

[@allforhim2009]

Opeth is the only band/artist in my life to lul me to sleep during a live show (Sounds of the Underground 2005).

[@MetalTrenches]

YO I went to that! LOG headlining?

[@allforhim2009]

@@MetalTrenchescorrect, still one of the best shows I’ve been to. Chimaira/Devildriver/High on Fire/LOG/Unearth/Gwar/All that Remains (Prior to butt rock evolution)

[@benwebb4424]

I have the two hottest Opeth takes I can think of and I am pretty sure the average metal fan would think I am insane for them. Blackwater Park is, imo, one of their worst albums. Every album before it has better atmosphere, and the metal albums after it have much gnarlier sounding metal while incorporating interesting non-metal elements in a way I find more compelling. I think I'd put it down around where you have Morningrise. Perhaps even stranger though, I think my top 4 Opeth albums are actually just their first 4. Something about pre-BWP Opeth tickles my brain in a way that their other stuff doesn't. I don't think I can intellectualize it - because it isn't really a logical thing. I just find those first 4 feel good to listen to. The weirdly off sounding production combined with the slightly-ass guitar tone playing folky metal riffs is like a brain massage for me.

[@Oldy-Sepulchre]

Angry Metal Guy is always shitting on Watershed. But to be honest, I think putting it that high while Morningrise is so low is insane lol. And I think Watershed is awesome