Fretplay.com Opeth CD reviews Opeth guitar tabs Opeth CD reviews Opeth tabs Ghost Reveries


Opeth - Ghost Reveries Audio CD

A fair review of the Opeth "Ghost Reveries" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Opeth reviews here, or go back to the Opeth tabs.

Opeth Band: Opeth
Title: Ghost Reveries
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-08-30
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ghost of Perdition 2: Baying of the Hounds 3: Beneath the Mire 4: Atonement 5: Reverie/Harlequin Forest 6: Hours of Wealth 7: Grand Conjuration 8: Isolation Years

Continuing to proportionally refine
But, praising innovative death metal is almost as sadly easy as praising innovative hip-hop, with almost as little true innovation taking place. Many death-metal groups cannot even muster the energy to make marginally compelling music, so it is no surprise Opeth is often cited around the top of many metal lists, a band who has consistently at least attempted to raise expectations as to what a growl and crunch-chord can achieve.
.


AMAZING
Amazing riffs. Well this album is amazing. Amazing vocals. Amzing everything! Opeth is amazing.


Unique and full of contrast
It seems to offer a more unique but consistent sound across the disk than the two previous I have, while remaining full of the contrasts (singing versus screaming, folk sound versus heavy sound) that goth bands like Opeth offer. This is my third Opeth album and my favorite. You'll listen a lot more times before feeling sated.

For what it's worth, I listen to prog metal, goth, shoegazer, musicals, opera, and some classical music. I highly recommend this CD, although as a first Opeth CD it may leave you less to look forward to in your second. In that case, Blackwater Park is also a good Opeth starter. And I recommend Pretre conducting the opera Carmen. But you were here to see a goth review. :-).


Hmmm, not too bad
At times it sounds like prog rock, at other times death metal. I think what this band is trying to do is bridge the gap between progressive rock, and death metal on this album.

A fan of prog rock and death metal would probably like this. However if only one of those is your preferred genre, you'll probably hate it.

I myself think they show a lot of talent as musicians, but they aren't legendary. If you want a legendary guitarist, listen to Dream Theater or Symphony X for your prog rockers. For you death metal people, I'd suggest some Deicide.


Uneven yet still remarkable
However, the band can still be subject to criticism or disappointment but it's usually viewed in context with their own past material than with the music itself. It's often been said by fans and critics that even their worst is better than most band's best. Opeth, a long-respected and praised metal band has never really done an outright terrible record despite the occasional glitch in a song or 2. Ghost Reveries, their 8th and first under the Roadrunner label, is not really their worst as it contains moments of genius and compelling stuff but on the other hand, as one reviewer said, it's too schizophrenic and a bit frequently uneven.

Ghost of Perdition: 7 seconds of peaceful guitar chords before it explodes out of the gate with a heavy (and rather long) guitar riff until a neat section that mind remind someone of Tool stuff. With many riffs, a gorgeous acoustic section, and a bit of decent parts till the reintroduction of the acoustic section, it's quite a great opener in its own right. 9/10

The Baying of the Hounds: Another intriguing and compelling heavy section with the keyboards featured a bit more prominently before the track dips into a quieter part with high piano notes and echoing tones. The middle section afterwards slightly works but I love the outro. Like most tracks, parts get repeated too frequently but overall the track's worth a listen. 8/10

Beneath the Mire: Quick strummed chords and a synth backing at the start and it's one of their better structured ones on the album and seldom bores (even that repeated stattaco riff during the solo that kind of annoys). Short, compels and leaves without overstaying its welcome, this is a good one on the disc. 9/10

Atonement: Well the album was kind of flawless up until this point but this derails any momentum since it's one thing that infrequently is an Opeth song: bland. Middle Eastern influences, organs and a repeated guitar riff make this a very decent listen and one that I frequently skip. 5/10

Reverie/Harlequin Forest: This is another one where it entertains with its massive prog riffs, Akerfeldt's melodic vocals, a cool groove riff 3 minutes in and a gorgeous acoustic riff but the long harmonic section kind of bores, the outro kind of sucks and it meanders a bit (especially that "slithery" part near the end). Good but not really compelling beginning to end either. 7/10

Hours of Wealth: Quite gorgeous track that recalls the Damnation album with some fingerpicked electric notes, almost renaissance-esque instruments in the back, a cool acoustic riff and a gorgeous piano riff mimicing the guitar underneath, soulful Akerfeldt vocals and a Pink Floyd-worthy ending solo. Definately recommend this one. 9. 5/10

The Grand Conjuration: Originally I didn't like this one. Eventually I grew to love it with the main riff that shows up repeatedly super catchy, the more darker and ominous verses and effective use of the keyboards during the heavy parts (which save the repetitive outro). It's probably one of my favorite of the heavier tracks off the record. 9/10

Isolation Years: A more quieter and Damnation-like album closer with some blues-y playing, clean arpeggios and some of Akerfeldt's best clean vocals on the record. It's maybe a bit too short and doesn't really have the punch that a closer should have but that's forgivable for how good the track is.

So far I've only heard Still Life straight onto Watershed so I can't really say outright if Ghost Reveries is the weakest of Opeth's 9 albums but of the 6 that I've heard so far, it's good, great and average all in one listen and not as consistent but definately worth checking out if you're into metal.


You can see a complete list of all Opeth discography, or go back to the Opeth tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]