Review: Opeth 'In Cauda Venenum'

[@zacharyseibert6788]

Album is a masterpiece. It's addictive af! "All things will pass" is my song of the year. :)

[@w-james9277]

People complaining about Opeth sounding different really confuses me. Iv always thought that every Opeth album sounds different. Still Life and Blackwater Park are night and day. Yet both still sound like Opeth. And the newer albums, even without the growls they still sound like Opeth despite sounding so different.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I TOTALLY agree!!

[@igorlemes1123]

two years later and I'm still loving this album. I'd dare say it's my favorite of their newer, post-watershed, album... for me the swedish version is a lot a better though, it just sounds more natural the way the melodies and vocal harmonies blend together, it feels like it was really composed that way. anyway, love it!

[@chirpywiggins5796]

The guitar solo in Lovelorn Crime is worth the price of admission alone. I genuinely think this will be looked back on as one of their finest records 👍

[@kaosmonger73]

I got the CD last Sunday and finally I was able to listen to it a couple of times through the weekend (almost over here in Finland). So far I am loving it. I haven't listened to the English version. I'm sticking to the Swedish for now as it is the original and the one that seems more natural to me. This is heading to become my favorite release from 2019 and maybe my favorite Opeth album. Opeth have reached their most sublime moment in my humble opinion. I can hear lots of different styles just as you rightfully mentioned Pete. I listen bits of spacey stuff. Tangerine Dream comes to mind. Bombastic and symphonic. Beautiful folkish passages that remind me of Renaissance or Gentle Giant,Genesis or Eloy. I hear Jethro Tull as I can hear some Rainbow. I can even notice some King Diamond-ish stuff (Mikkey Dee era) in certain thing's Axe is playing. Love the production as well. I'm enjoying this album so much and the best part is that it's just the beginning. Thanks for your review! I was waiting for it ;) Greetings!!!

[@willfitzpatrick1107]

One of the releases of the year! Yes it is. It’s great to find bands that push themselves and aren’t afraid to work outside the box. Akerfeldt strikes me as a musician in total command of his art. This one will be one of my top five, no doubt.

[@batfang5583]

I consider Opeth one of the most brilliant bands of all time. Whether they have the death growls or not, it still sounds like Opeth. Two of my favorites are Ghost of Perdition and The Leper Affinity. But his voice is so pure, that the non-growl stuff is just as good. In fact, I don't like most death metal because the growl eventually ruins the music in my view. But Opeth bridges that gap and puts it into the greater context. Two others I like are Children of Bodom and Eternal Tears of Sorrow. Sadly, I have a friend who now calls them the band formerly known as Opeth because they've moved away from the death growls.

[@alanthorne3921]

Totally agree with your review.Takes a few listens but you know you are going to love it.Hey I am still digesting Heritage.I love complex challenging music and Opeth have become one of my top ten bands.For those lamenting the passing of the Cookie Monster vocals there are plenty of other Death Metal bands out there.As much as I love Blackwater Park I think I would be losing interest in them if they were up to Blackwater Park#7.Besides Mikael would probably talking like Tom Waits by now.Special mention:That guitar solo on Lovelorn is brilliant,up there with Comfortably Numb.This has been a great year for me with Candlemass,Dream Theater,Tool and now Opeth releasing great albums.

[@longingbydesign]

I can see and respect the level of musicianship that is required to create such an album. That being said, almost nothing since and including Heritage clicked it for me. The past 4 Opeth album to me boil down to: "Eternal Rains Will Come" - definitely the best track they've made after the Watershed album. Then there's the beautiful, very Jethro-Tull-esque "Will O The Wisp" off the otherwise soulless Sorceress album. And last but not least, the title and opening track on Heritage is a beautifully crafted piano and contrabass intro. It's not only the growls I'm missing, it's the overall credible contrasts between sheer aggression/brutality and haunting melancholy/beauty, the elevating and almost classical compositions of tracks like Harlequin Forest, April Ethereal, Heir Apparent, The Drapery Falls and countless other pre-Heritage tracks. I see there's many new fans Opeth found with that style change. I couldn't be sadder to say, but they've lost me on the way. The new stuff I just cannot connect to, and trust me, I've tried over and over and over the past years for dear love of what this band has created previously.

[@capoditutticapos19]

metalhead basement dweller.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

This will be one of my favorites of the year as well. Ive been playing it for ten days straight. There's been a lot of great albums this year, so it will be hard to narrow down my list. Another album that really grew on me is The Mortal by Merlin. They sound a bit like a progressive Alice in Chains with a lot of saxophone in the music. Sometimes the sax parts feel like they were lifted right out Dark Side of the Moon.

[@jamesbennett2254]

This is so relaxing and therapeutic with a smidgin of heaviness threading through, this is my coronavirus isolation soundtrack for sure whilst walking my dog. Keep safe Pete and everyone👍🏻

[@cdavidlake2]

Just wanted to thank you for the work you do, Pete. I have never come across - in print or anywhere else - a music conisseur with such wide-ranging, eclectic tastes (and, I might add, such good taste and critical discernment). Your only peers would seem to be figures like Lester Bangs and Robert Christgau - and, to me, that's saying something. Thank you again...and rock on. 🎸

[@dreamermagister8561]

I dunno, something Opeth has, no other can. Evet since my highschool years, i ve been addicted to them.

[@moishe43]

I love the album. But I am in a minority I know when I say I prefer 'sorceress'. I find that album far more varied, with more acoustic and folk leanings. I find this album a bit samey in textures. Still amazing, with 'lovelorn crime' one of the best songs Opeth has ever released. Genius.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I'm pretty partial to Sorceress as well, but In Cauda is VERY good!

[@moishe43]

@@seaoftranquilityprog I completely agree! But then anything by Opeth is brilliant. I have never heard a band that could be so brutally heavy and melodic at the same time!!

[@adam872]

I think it's great and get more out of it with every listen.

[@ni_n__ho.oh__n_in]

I love the album aswell. Very mysterious and epic. It has heart. The vocal melodies are amazing, especialy in swedish. The cover fits the atmosphere of this album very well. Agreed. Another great Opeth album.

[@matthewfeduzi4751]

Great review. One of your best. In fact I’m watching for the second time and because of this review I downloaded Opeth’s last six albums.

[@dakotajohn8506]

I wanted to thank you Pete, in a previous video you were talking about the German hard rock band "Gift" from the early 70's. I checked them out and can't stop listening to them, they're awesome

[@PaulThoresen]

Love this review! Watershed is my fave by then. Do not need cookie monster vocals, but did like there's heavier vibe of early record S. Thanks, I have a nice Realistic preview now.... Heads off to KZbin to listen to a couple songs 😃

[@ShempDavidNiven]

Izzat a Tim Bradstreet PUNISHER shirt? I'm impressed!

[@richard1966groovy]

I've been a fan of Opeth since first hearing "Windowpane" off their Damnation album. I'm not a big Death Metal fan, with only a scarce few exceptions, mostly because the vocal stylings remove me from the mastery of the great technical music. So glad Åkerfeldt choose to go in this direction because these last few albums are their best.

[@Deauxtje]

richard1966groovy Ehhhhhh.... no

[@KickflipGnasty]

This band has way too much good work. Fuckin love it. Great music on this album.

[@gwts1171]

As much as I respect and appreciate the "newer" sound, I still usually find myself listening to the pre-2005 stuff.

[@joelhartley5108]

Gets better with every listen. Love it!

[@stuartzimmermann2307]

Pete, I really love your show and you are responsible for a good chunk of CDs in my collection. Try not to miss any episode. But you really have to tell me, where you found even the slightest touch of Hatfield and the North or other canterbury-infused stuff in here...

[@GMHG777]

I'm late to this review (working my way through tons of content), and I like the album but oddly feels like I've heard most of this before. I got into them back when BWP came out and while I think Still Life and BWP are masterpieces, I wasn't too bummed when the death vocals went away and in fact really dig the 3 previous "prog records", I've just not really been completely wowed by this one for some reason. The material is all strong it's just as I said before, feels like I've heard much of this before in some odd way.

[@elliotwalton6159]

I'm new to Opeth, so I'm good with all of it, luckily.

[@nicolas7060]

Totally agree with your review !

[@robmlisanti]

Thanks Pete! Great album! this and Insomnium are superb!!

[@drummusicinc4027]

Sounds cool and interesting. Been reluctant to dip my toes into Opeth. Can’t stomach growl vocals. Maybe it’s time.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

They haven't used growls in 4 albums

[@drummusicinc4027]

Sea of Tranquility I’ve heard some of those albums.... Just meant to pull the trigger and buy them✌️🤘🎶

[@cirjames2540]

If this album was release in the 30 years ago it would be an all time classic.

[@elbowrinkles]

A masterpiece

[@RichardW001]

I grew up listening to prog in the 70s, and I love Opeth up until Ghost Reveries, but the last 4 Opeth albums don't connect with me for some reason. It seems to me more of a regression than a progression. Just my opinion. If you like it ... great. But it's not for me.

[@GUR-ARYEA]

Try please my rock content youtube stuff.thanks.

[@benedictdonald4338]

this is in line with my view, as well. for years, I was yearning for an Opeth without the death vocals. Now that that's become reality, I've been continually disappointed. MA just seems to be a better song-writer in the old style of Opeth, and just not as good as a writer of pure prog.

[@RichardW001]

@@benedictdonald4338 It's strange. I love 70s prog and I really liked Damnation when Opeth did that album. But the recent albums are quite samey to me. And the once stellar production values now seem muddy in comparison.

[@FrantikDisarray]

I agree. I think of vocalists as doing voice over work for movies. If an actor is doing voice work for a character of an angry, lonely, depressed demon.. then adding the "growling" technique to their voice fits well. So the lack that side of emotion in the newer stuff, just seems to make these releases more like Dramas rather than Horror/Thriller. Still like them but not nearly as much.

[@robertfripp1979]

Hi, Pete! Big Opeth fan. Seen them live three times and they sound perfect live. May I ask, what do you think of the new Tool album - Fear Inoculum?

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I like it. Little long in the tooth in spots but a pretty fascinating listen.

[@seanpeterlynch]

All things my fav cut on this record.

[@johnnypairoux4356]

Saw them on the Alcatrazz-festival in Belgium. They were amazing, one of the highlights of the weekend! Their early days never did much to me but their last albums...great!

[@JohnnyRecently]

My copy arrives today. Hope to God I didn't make a mistake.

[@coldginuk1]

Is it just me but it reminds me of Steven Wilson's The Raven that refused to sing album.

[@robmlisanti]

BTW Got my Tix for Feb 21st at the Apollo!! :)

[@marvinbattlejr.9365]

I’m interested to see if opeth are going to be part of the live wars.

[@vpovince1001]

I listen to the original Swedish version every time.

[@oldjack-mi8gk]

I don't mind Opeth dabbling with Floyd style space rock. What I don't like is them aping Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Rainbow, etc. Imo, this is their best post-Watershed offering, one that I will revisit. The three before this one, nah.

[@stephanea5364]

Best record since Watershed.

[@John34bruh]

Better than watershed imo

[@milton1448]

Loved it- great album

[@j.resihead1835]

Ghost Reveries is my fav from them. I need to check this out. How does it compare to Pale Communion? I didn't care for that one. I loved Heritage though.

[@samus88]

I consider "non-dm Opeth" to be a different band altogether, so I will never compare it with their DM albums. So as this new album goes... it's great. It's right there behind Pale Communion. Amazing album. Much better than Sorceress. Tracks 2 and 3 alone are fantastic. Maybe in a few years, when ICV has been solidified alongside their other albums it might even surpass PC, but for the moment, it's better than Sorceress but I still love Pale Communion better.

[@tonylema5334]

What could possibly warrant a thumbs down??? People are assholes

[@LukeWatts85]

I haven't liked any album since Watershed. I've liked songs here and there such as Faith in Others; but on an album level, I've just found them boring and unoriginal. The lack of contrast is the issue. Not the lack of Death Metal. However, this album got me excited about Opeth again for that reason. The contrast is back in the composition of each song. Each song has multiple parts and shades. There are even parts that remind me of Ghost Reveries. I really like how in Dignity he literally shouts "ROAR" as if to poke fun at those of us who want the "ROAR" back in Opeth. And that part had the compositional structure of old Opeth. Ligh into a "Dark" or heavy moment. Again, the contrast. This made me realize personally I wasn't missing just the death metal, I missed the variety of styles in each song/album. I'm also not into Opeth's folk. I'm just not Anyways, as a fallen Opeth fan of late, if this is the direction they continue down I'm back on the horse I think!

[@NP-ip3nj]

I agree with you. It hasn't grown on me yet, but it's going to take more listens.

[@davedefrancesco2685]

Sounds like the last couple of releases nothing new. It doesn't connect with me.

[@RyderWestwood]

Do you listen to Gojira Pete? I think if you like Opeth you'd be a big fan.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I have a few of their releases, good band for sure.

[@iilias1]

Top 5 opeth albums-needs time though

[@filipdzero8739]

I feel like people believe that Opeth fans, who don't enjoy newer albums, are just bummed about Mikael not growling anymore... No, it's not just that, there are more reasons. 1) They dropped the distortion. There are some heavier songs on recent records - in particular a lot of Sorceress songs - that can bring satisfaction to the old-schoolers, but Opeth's heavy style needs distortion in order to sound like O P E T H. 2) There are no classical ballads anymore (after Watershed, I guess) that have the old school feel. Before, they had almost depressive acoustic riffs in combination with the guitar and the (fretless!) bass. Now they experiment with synths and sounds and some songs even sound "happy". I mean Mikael himself said: "Happy music is forbidden". I know that last is a joke, but still. 3) They adopted the 70s Prog Rock stuff. Opeth shouldn't sound like something else, they have their own recognizable, unique sound, ffs! Even though I can appreciate them making new music and doing what they want, that doesn't change the fact that Opeth are something different now. BTW, I like Pale Communion and Sorceress more than In Cauda Venenum.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

'Something different' isn't necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. People just hate change.

[@grady3691]

7:51 yeah about that…. 😂

[@drsmainemusic]

I love me some Opeth but this album hasn't really latched onto me...

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

2019? Michael Schenker Fest - Revelation The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled Dream Theater - Distance over Time Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars Danko Jones - A Rock Supreme Opeth - In Cauda Venenum Rival Sons - Feral Roots Sammy Hagar & the Circle - Space Between Whitesnake - Flesh & Blood Tool - Fear Inoculum What else did I miss?

[@ShempDavidNiven]

IQ's Resistance and Flying Colors' Third Degree.

[@benedictdonald4338]

MikeOldfieldMan Matheos/Arch, Diamond Head, Borknagar

[@drsmainemusic]

Alter Bridge - Walk The Sky!

[@Haxprocess]

Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race

[@arneberg9072]

Thu I'm too old I wish they would remake all early album with No growling ---

[@ilves6664]

I got that swedish version.. And its better than english.. My opinion.. 🤓

[@stuartraybould2404]

Like the album but they are starting to stumble. Couldn't put my finger on what the issue was with this album until I listened to the last four albums one after the other on my small mp3 player, I feel asleep at one point and when I came around I wasn't sure which album was playing and that is the issue. On just the last four albums, any track could be off any album. They are all great albums but there is no progression, they are repeating themselves and I never thought I'd say that about Opeth, still great though but how many of the same thing do we need. I hope the next one is a change of direction of some sort.

[@jmsbk12345]

Their best album since Ghost Reveries. Loads of moving and interesting musical passages. Really good music and arrangements, great production. Thank goodness there are no more death metal cookie monster vocals which spoil so much incredible music. This is in their top 3 albums, no doubt.

[@ertertwert1]

Do you like tool? I dont listen to opeth but ive seen some tool fans mention them.

[@elbowrinkles]

I discovered Opeth only about two years ago and love them. They are a truly great prog-metal band now. I tried listening to the pre-Heritage stuff but couldn't stand it. To my taste the growling stuff is just dreadful. I'm glad they outgrew that.

[@Justin_Kipper]

The story of this album? They wanna be Ghost ;) I do like the album though, especially in the original Swedish. If they actually use a mellotron on this, how has anyone kept such a device working after all of these years?

[@Heatwave9000]

They used to be an excellant death metal band, now they are just a solid prog rock band but these albums don't sound very special to me. Certainly not masterpieces, people throw around that term way too much.