Opeth - Watershed

[Nicky007]

After listening to the album for a couple of weeks now, I think it's safe to say that it's among their best albums (which are Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries in my view).

I definitely agree with that, Tom. Now the big question is whether it's better than GR 

I'm catching more and more of Martin Axenrot's drumming. I'm really swept away by it. The guy's in a league of his own - well, maybe in league with Mike Portnoy; they have similar styles and both are superb. I'v added MA to my list of fave drummers.

Well, I'm not so sure about that...I know, its cool and original the first couple of times you hear it, but it grows old really fast. Now I mostly skip this part and that's a shame, because Burden in itself is such a great track. Great singing and an awesome guitarsolo!

Tom, maybe I don't need to tell you, but you don't need to skip all of Burden; you can just press skip when you get to the screwy part.

Well he's not really that new anymore...he's been a touring member for several years but became a fulltime member before Ghost Reveries.

Yeah, you're right, Tom. One just doesn't notice him that much on GR. He's more present on Watershed.

Hopefully they'l all stick together now. Then we can expect more great music from this great band 


However, there is a thing that disturbs me (from Wikipedia - Watershed):  "The song Hessian Peel contains a backwards recorded verse - 'My sweet Satan, I see you' can be heard. This might be a reference to a well-known example of backmasking featured in Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, which purportedly contained the phrase 'Here's to my sweet satan'."

Now, why do they have to do something like that ?  It seems outright dumb. They ought to know that there are many Christians who enjoy their music. Here in the Room we had a discussion a year ago on whether there were any snags in Opeth re Christian sensibilities, and at least Keith and I agreed that we could not find any. Now I actually hear that passage in Hessian Peel, and it disturbs me. What do you guys make of it ?

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

However, there is a thing that disturbs me (from Wikipedia - Watershed):  "The song Hessian Peel contains a backwards recorded verse - 'My sweet Satan, I see you' can be heard. This might be a reference to a well-known example of backmasking featured in Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, which purportedly contained the phrase 'Here's to my sweet satan'."

Now, why do they have to do something like that ?  It seems outright dumb. They ought to know that there are many Christians who enjoy their music. Here in the Room we had a discussion a year ago on whether there were any snags in Opeth re Christian sensibilities, and at least Keith and I agreed that we could not find any. Now I actually hear that passage in Hessian Peel, and it disturbs me. What do you guys make of it ?

I read this before but I have to say I really don't mind...

In my view it's just something that is backwards recorded, nothing more, nothing less.

You really cannot hear what is said (or you have to reverse it with some audio-edit program) and it lasts only a couple of seconds. Besides, you probably didn't know it was there until you read it on Wiki. So from now on no more Wiki for you!

Tom

[Nicky007]

Tom, there aint much of a Crusader in you !



But honestly, as a Christian, this playing around with satanism does bother me, even if it's just meant as a joke or tribute. And of course Mikael & Co. know that they're provoking good citizens, also some of their biggest fans, with such stuff. So why ?  Honestly, I don't get it. I liked Mikael's pagan poetry a lot till now, but henceforth I'l be reserved, and that's a pity 

Nicky.

[kmorse]

"Backward masking" in the traditional sense never bothered me. I always thought it was a lot of fuss over nothing. I suspect Mikael did this as a bit of a joke. I'm sorry that he did it at all but I don't think he meant it as anything else. Had the words been recorded forward, I would have a different attitude altogether.

I really like that selection on the album, aside from that annoyance.

Oh, and I found a way to get the bonus tracks off the DVD and on to my hard drive. I then burned a CD with all the Watershed songs on it.

[Nicky007]

Yeah, Keith, maybe I can take it a bit more lightly too. But you agree that it was dumb of Mikael.

I mean, here he got a bunch of Christians diggin his dark pagan music, and then he plays this dirty trick on us  or  

Nicky.

[johninblack]

Well, I bloody well love it, satanistic references or not

[Appelmoes??]

I bought it, but still haven't listened to it

[Steve Jones]

I bought it, but still haven't listened to it

Be careful when you do.  My mate Spud reckoned if he played it sideways he could hear Sir Cliff Richard exhorting him to knit scarves for the church jumble sale.  We're really worried about him, he' s not been to black mass for nearly three weeks now. 

[Nicky007]

I bought it, but still haven't listened to it

Appy, the side (a disc has two sides) with the stuff written on it should turn upward - of course supposing that your player is turned the normal way around. Then there's some sorta buttony thingy that's gotta be pressed - it doesnt help waiting for it to start by itself. And there must be a glass of beer standing next to it. If you need an explanation as to what to do with the beer, drop me a note and I'l return 



Nicky.

[johninblack]

If you need an explanation as to what to do with the beer

Sorry, you think anyone needs to know what to do with beer

[maddox]

I bought it, but still haven't listened to it

I bought it, listened to it twice, then it got lost by a little girl, and then my wife found it again in a DVD case of Bob The Builder.   

[kmorse]

Bob the Buiilder Rocks!

[maddox]

Bob the Buiilder Rocks!

It indeed does but that wasn't the issue here. 

[PH]

Bob the Buiilder Rocks!

Bob the Rocker Builds!

[Steve Jones]

Bob the Rocker Builds!

Build the Rocker, Bob! 

[Deenfan]

You rockers are all bonkers...

[PH]

Build the Rocker, Bob! 

Bob Rocks the Building!

[maddox]

And Wendy builds a rocky Bob. 

[PH]

The Gob Builder Bros.

[Nicky007]

You guys could write a Ulysses II. Just associate further to some masturbation ....

OK, so what happened to Opeth ?  Got put away in some box ?   

Nicky.

[maddox]

You guys could write a Ulysses II. Just associate further to some masturbation ....

OK, so what happened to Opeth ?  Got put away in some box ?   

Nicky.

Yep, the wrong box. Posted to the wrong address so to speak. 

But it's resurfaced again a few days later. But I still have only listened to the album twice.

[Steve Jones]

But it's resurfaced again a few days later.

Bobbed to the surface, in fact.