The Last Will And Testament by Opeth - METAL ALBUM REVIEW

[@Frank-ut4oc]

Album of the year for me . MAJESTIC

[@JimNewstead]

We can agree to disagree! Totally respect your viewpoint. However, as you probably know, I absolutely LOVED this record!

[@ChrisR2912]

This was an incredible album from start to finish, a wonderful blend of their old death metal sound and their later prog rock/metal influences. It has such crisp production too, every instrument sounds distinct can be heard clearly.

[@TKRepository]

I mean. The growls are 100% phoned in and the songs aren't given enough time to breathe and explore their passages for the most part. Still the best they've done since Watershed I guess.

[@OldEarth-bs7eh]

@@TKRepository there's nothing "death metal" about this album, whole vibe is like disney film or something.

[@ramoncardinali]

For me this is up with Pale Communion in their prog era. Amazing album!

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

Honestly my only problem with the album is the lack of proper names for the tracks. I feel like the individual songs have less identity for that reason. I get the idea with the paragraphs, but they could've still named them something like § 3: Skeleton Key, §5: Damnation's Winter, or something. It's a small detail, but it helps the music stick out better, rather than just referring to it as track 4.

[@mirkecWii]

Agreed 100%, literally my only complaint

[@TundraCH]

Agree, kind and f like how The Dear Hunter did their last album

[@Zuracooking]

That's only a problem if you listened to the album once or twice. After listening to it a lot I can definitely point out each track differently

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

@@Zuracooking Obviously it's easier once you familiarize yourself with the album, I'm just saying that proper song titles help.

[@Zuracooking]

@@DanielSantosAnalysis true but tbh i cant distinguish songs on couple listens to any new album

[@danieldelrio1411]

My New Ranked has change : 1. Time Will and Testament 2. Ghost Reveries 3. Still Life 4. Watershed 5. Black Water Park ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@samkilgore2373]

Definitely give it some more listens. It took several times for it to really click for me. Now it’s one of my favorites of the year

[@30yearsoldiam1]

I never feel like this dudes thoughts are very developed. He seems to be meandering here.

[@father042]

The new drummer used to play with Paradise Lost

[@thadavidrain]

And he's really, really good!

[@matt_mkv]

Old school fan here, While I was extremely disappointed with Heritage when it came out, Pale Communion is one of my favorites and I felt they found the new groove and atmosphere they were searching for on Heritage. With TLWAT, the first 3-5 listens I had a similar opinion as you, that it was too dense and doesn’t have room to breath. After living with it for a while, though, I absolutely love it. Maybe controversial, but I prefer this album to Watershed and maybe tied or slightly ahead of Pale Communion as well. Time will tell if it has staying power, but as it is it’s worthy and a good pivot after ICV.

[@danieldelrio1411]

For me sorry but this is the GOAT Opeth álbum 💿 for me ❤❤❤❤❤, fantástic

[@ChristianLSD]

Album of the year for me. But all opinions, as long as they have some base, are welcome. Love your channel! You made me discover so many bands and great music. 🎉

[@Desmond450]

I agree on a lot of things in your review. I listened to the album a dozen times so far and even if I really like it and feel like it's a strong album, it didn't click for me yet. But the same happened with In Cauda Venenum, where it took a few months before I really started to love the album, so I'll defitively keep listening to it once in a while.

[@hervelangevin1985]

The new drummer is Finnish btw. Great video as always

[@radul1992]

Just listen more. I think it's a masterpiece

[@kenturner367]

Always love to listen to your analysis.

[@dee-taylor]

*walk in* This guy: "Pale Communion is my favorite Opeth album." *slowly back out of room*

[@NotesReviews]

@@dee-taylor yeah man, it's a great album

[@underlordsuniverse7823]

@@NotesReviews definitely. Pale Communion is perfect.

[@beachhockey]

Bro I love the 2010s albums that they did too so no need to be ashamed 🤘

[@beachhockey]

Heritage is my favorite of the 2010s Opeth era

[@tylerbailey9329]

I'm new to Opeth and this is my favorite release I've heard from them by far

[@jesseward3121]

Art is subjective. I find there being no room for the solos as being indicative of the narrative. It's chaos for the people at the reading of the will. Yeah, it's not a movie so you should but the songs first rather than the story... But I don't care, I love this album.

[@rodrigoconcha9]

some opinions are simply wrong

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

I love this album so much!

[@JosephRunkle-kh1pf]

I think this is easily their best album since Pale Communion. Maybe their best since Ghost Reveries.

[@nicholasleblanc6592]

What's the album on display? I love the art!

[@like_ross9502]

A Signal Heard Throughout Space by Parius. It's an excellent prog metal album from 2022, ffo Btbam, Haken

[@ginodinunno]

Love all of this album and it satisfied the long wait. Heritage was a tough one for me, though not because of the most obvious early complaints...it was too abrupt a change...but I got used to it. LWAT just hits right.

[@lance98541]

Album of the year and their best since Ghost Reveries.

[@professorwalter1284]

It’s a good record. A grower.

[@beachhockey]

I think it’s a great album, love it

[@MartinaHorvat-g3g]

It is true that only time will put this album in the right place. All your remarks are based on personal taste and comparison with something that you miss from past albums. But there are different tastes. Realistically and objectively speaking and based on musical creativity, the combination of all styles that they have had so far, even with the introduction of new things... there is not a single prog band in 2024 that has made a better album.

[@JosefTreiber]

I have the album at home for one week now, but didn't dare to listen yet somehow. I see you rating the album at a lower level, but when I hear what you say, even when you critizise, I believe it is going to be a killer album. Thanks Notes, BR

[@HawksNHabsPC]

I pretty much feel the same way you do about the album. I’m about 5 listens in. It definitely got better with a few listens but overall not gonna be one I will be going back to very much.

[@thadavidrain]

I couldn't help but listen to this twice in a row. It's an awesome album! I love it 🖤 Great review though. Differing opinions are always healthy imo 😊

[@whackamole4909]

the album is ok. massively ok. superb blend of being ok and ok.

[@fafolaw]

At first I had the same opinion as you, better than Heritage and Sorceress but not as good as Pale Communion and In Cauda Venenum, but after multiple listens it has grown on me, I think it's at least as good as those two if not better, solid 9/10 for me.

[@TKRepository]

Album is better than any of the schlock that came after Ghost Reveries, but the band peaked in '05.

[@stephanechamberland8486]

Album of the year !

[@rockonthestone4907]

Maybe not their most tuneful collection but certainly their most ambitious and proggy, best album since Deliverance for me

[@CMDJS]

I bet "The story never told" guitar solo is Akeson playing. The only thing Im struggling about ... Really ... I know its pennys but 🤷. The growls are more rough but i don't know if it is on pourpouse or are the signs of age 😁 Overall love the album. For me a step forward not a step back and a massive "what the f*** are they going to do next" 🤔

[@alexperry4691]

I love this album but it takes a few spins to fully appreciate it. For me its their strongest since Ghost Reveries!...On a side note, the only Opeth album i never got into was Pale Communion! Apart from Cusp Of Eternity, it bored me for some reason!

[@jamespeterson1630]

Maybe not the final BIG release in the prog sphere but this new Bedsore album absolutely needs to be in the conversation before we start pretending 2024 is over cos holy shit is it something special even if its not quite on the exact same level as new Opeth Also damn we agree on the ranking of the 4 Progpeth albums thats rare to find someone who has that take

[@thetrentmeister]

It’s as though you’re trying to make up reasons to not like this album. 😂

[@gmbtempe]

Music is very subjective. I didnt like their last couple efforts and easily thought this their best album since Watershed. Particular tracks 1,4,7 and 8.

[@danandersson7768]

I think I have the same favorites. So good!

[@filipdzero8739]

It feels like a prog album 1st & an Opeth album 2nd. It's a great album experience, but it's so unlike what kept me loving Opeth even after Watershed (no great riffs, which are just a support for the vocals & the orchestra, barely any acoustic guitar, etc.). Wonder how much I'll return to it after the hype dies out a bit.

[@chrisryan7283]

Coming from the guy in the Ghost shirt

[@iggynub]

It's almost as unfocused an album as Orchid, without all the enduring charm. Production is getting cleaner again but the guitars sound dull and Fredrick's solos have always been lackluster compared to Peter. Are they technically fantastic? Yes, of course. They're just not particularly musical. Drumming is in a similar vein but it's a nice improvement over Axe imo. It's dense with lots of awkward passages and transitions that leave zero space in the mix for Anderson's lines. Probably my least favourite opeth record so far. A good example of the mashing of riffs/ideas I don't like is the harp section before the massive grove section on paragraph 5. It doesn't flow well. They're done a large groove section like this before on ghost reveries on beneath the mire. Compare how the two flow. It's hard to imagine they're the same composer. I hear it as if they had three bounced stems and just put them next to each other and threw a fade-in over the groove section.

[@nolopyllo1746]

I think this record is a step bellow heritage

[@flyingnimbus369]

That's how one should review an album.

[@radul1992]

Ghost reservies

[@chirpywiggins5796]

For me, this record is so layered it needs several listens to really click. I really dig it now. Great story, very eerie sound and the growls are awesome. Parts of the record remind me of Mr Bungle which is a big compliment, theres no Solo to rival that of Lovelorn Crime's on it though, even the solo on A Story Never Told.

[@ahmedfahmy7090]

After waiting all those years and hearing it many times, I am disappointed.

[@joakimskurk]

I agree with you. I'd rather cut 3 songs and have longer songs that build. This record sounds like the mind of someone with severe ADHD. Still a 7.5/10.

[@stuartraybould2574]

I feel like they have gone backwards but not as good. The more times I listen, the more disappointing it becomes. Been a fan since Morningrise but I'm very disappointed.

[@karayaziband]

all of the musical ideas in this album could be condensed into a 15 minute song. this material has no justification to be an album

[@OldEarth-bs7eh]

this album feels like written by AI

[@tdog5035]

People need to calm the heck down about this album. Its being rated their best album and best of the decade overall. This is prime recentcy bias. It s a mid tier opeth album at best. I loathe this unnecessary eulogising.

[@asmrschloch]

Fan since 2005 here: I absolutely get your point. The growls/darker elements are back and everyone is freaking out. But to be honest, I haven't had this much fun discovering a brand new Opeth album ever. Maybe it's recency bias, but TLWAT being not particularly accessible, I feel like it will hold up very well over time.

[@michaelmiller7574]

How about the growls being replaced by vomiting sounds? Not much of a difference right?