Opeth
Morningrise
[Candlelight]
This is a CD that completely defies definition and is actually pretty original… it ain’t Black Metal because it gives off a peaceful and romantic (!!!!!!) atmosphere, it ain’t Death Metal because it isn’t brutal in the least, it ain’t Doom because it is usually fast paced, and it ain’t Ambient/Atmospheric because it just ain’t… But even though this CD is musically unique and in a style of it’s own, that alone doesn’t make them any good, as the lyrics would fit more on MTV-ish pop then they would on Metal music (being that they’re love songs!!!), they shove acoustic parts in their songs every two minutes (for no apparent reason…), and the beat seems far too aggressive for the laid-back music that they play… It’s not COMPLETE shit, though, it has its good points, a great bassist and good production for example, it’s few points of interest, however, are not nearly enough to salvage this ridiculous and much-hated (Opeth have a VERY bad reputation within the [Black] Metal underground…) disc. For your reading
pleasure let’s break it down…
Guitars – The two guitars on this CD actually work very well together, but the riffs they play are very quiet and get quite boring as a consequence of their peacefulness and their infinite acoustic parts. This is good music if you have insomnia and want to get to sleep but definitely not music for the middle of the day. The guitars also have a very progressive feel, almost as if it’s doing a permanent solo, or something, this may be because the distortion isn’t heavy at all… Bearable – 6.5/10
Bass – One of the finer points of this album (if not the finest), the bassist on this CD is no less then amazing. Never before have I heard a better bassist for a Metal band… but I think it goes a bit too far, when an entire song sounds like a long bass solo that’s then called over-indulgence, and gets, of course, quite annoying. Great – 8/10
Drums – Nothing extraordinary, a bit too aggressive for the music that they play, and really boring and repetitive at times, *sigh* there just isn’t much to say about the drums on this disc … Average – 6.8/10
Vocals – The vox on this disc are somewhere between a grim Black Metal scream and a Death Metal growl and are actually quite good, in an original sort of way. There isn’t much singing on this disc though, which is a pity… Great – 8/10
Production – This CD was produced in a very clear and crisp manner. The instrument balance is also pretty good; the two guitars are at EXACTLY the same volume and sound good, the vocals and drums were also nicely produced, but the bass is far too loud and doesn’t have a very well-done low-end. Besides the too-loud bass, everything was done fine… Good – 7.5/10
This CD wasn’t intended for people like me, I can’t stand this music. They play their instruments well, but everything else about this band is just pathetic. I personally would avoid this CD and anything else that this band has to offer, be wise and do the same ; ).
Pros – Great bassist, okay production, good vox, it’s an original band with no clones (but who would WANT to clone them??)
Cons – Boring drumming, boring riffs, romantic lyrics, gay imagery, poor guitar sound
Style of music – I really don’t know how to describe it. Just read the review, you’ll get the basic idea.
Will likely appeal to – Women, a mainstream audience, and your parents
Overall – Poor (not because they’re aesthetically bad, quite the opposite actually, but because I just don’t like what they do, their lyrics, and the music that they play) – 2.5/10
© 2000 sauron anarazel
Guitars – The two guitars on this CD actually work very well together, but the riffs they play are very quiet and get quite boring as a consequence of their peacefulness and their infinite acoustic parts. This is good music if you have insomnia and want to get to sleep but definitely not music for the middle of the day. The guitars also have a very progressive feel, almost as if it’s doing a permanent solo, or something, this may be because the distortion isn’t heavy at all… Bearable – 6.5/10
Bass – One of the finer points of this album (if not the finest), the bassist on this CD is no less then amazing. Never before have I heard a better bassist for a Metal band… but I think it goes a bit too far, when an entire song sounds like a long bass solo that’s then called over-indulgence, and gets, of course, quite annoying. Great – 8/10
Drums – Nothing extraordinary, a bit too aggressive for the music that they play, and really boring and repetitive at times, *sigh* there just isn’t much to say about the drums on this disc … Average – 6.8/10
Vocals – The vox on this disc are somewhere between a grim Black Metal scream and a Death Metal growl and are actually quite good, in an original sort of way. There isn’t much singing on this disc though, which is a pity… Great – 8/10
Production – This CD was produced in a very clear and crisp manner. The instrument balance is also pretty good; the two guitars are at EXACTLY the same volume and sound good, the vocals and drums were also nicely produced, but the bass is far too loud and doesn’t have a very well-done low-end. Besides the too-loud bass, everything was done fine… Good – 7.5/10
This CD wasn’t intended for people like me, I can’t stand this music. They play their instruments well, but everything else about this band is just pathetic. I personally would avoid this CD and anything else that this band has to offer, be wise and do the same ; ).
Pros – Great bassist, okay production, good vox, it’s an original band with no clones (but who would WANT to clone them??)
Cons – Boring drumming, boring riffs, romantic lyrics, gay imagery, poor guitar sound
Style of music – I really don’t know how to describe it. Just read the review, you’ll get the basic idea.
Will likely appeal to – Women, a mainstream audience, and your parents
Overall – Poor (not because they’re aesthetically bad, quite the opposite actually, but because I just don’t like what they do, their lyrics, and the music that they play) – 2.5/10
© 2000 sauron anarazel