TOP 5 ALBUMS OF THE WEEK OPETH EDDITION

I recently went on a road trip to the United States and for the whole trip all I did was listen to opeth so this week top five albums are my top five opeth albums I am excited to share this with you because it is probably my favorite heavy metal band of all time.

These are in no specific order these are just my top five opeth albums

1. ORCHID-OPETH

2. STILL LIFE-OPETH

3. BLACKWATER PARK-OPETH

4. PALE COMMUNION-OPETH

5. GARDEN OF TITANS- OPETH LIVE AT RED ROCKS

ORCHID (1995)

With orchid being the band's first album and the "original" lineup of the band with many different members in the band over the years the first album was the lineup of vocals/guitar Mikael Åkerfeldt, drums Anders Nordin, bass Stefan Guteklint/Johan De Farfalla, guitar Peter Lindgren. this Album would provide the steppingstones that opeth would build off forming as a death metal band but also incorporated acoustic guitars and clean vocals into their music the band would only go on from here to cement themselves as one of the greatest progressive death metal bands in history.

STILL LIFE (1999)

The line up once again had changed once we get to 1999 the members of the band include Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals, Peter Lindgren – guitars, Martin Lopez – drums

Martín Méndez – bass. With still life the band really dove deep into the progressive elements of their sound with more unique time signature, chord progression, without forget the death metal roots they came from once again opeth one up themselves by creating still life it included what would be known later on as the opeth sound blending folk acoustic guitars and death metal would provide them endless creative freedom.

BLACKWATER PARK (2001)

The band had stayed together for a couple of years then in 2001 released what some consider to be their greatest album it has everything from beautiful acoustic guitars Meldoy's like on the song harvest to one of my favorite songs of all time a 12-minute prog epic of blackwater park the once again built upon the albums from before and in 2001 really did establish themselves as prog gods.

PALE COMMUNION (2014)

I had a hard time picking these last two albums, I felt that they were what I listened to the most. Once again, we have a lineup change in the band the constant Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals, Martín Méndez – bass, Martin Axenrot – drums, Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocals, Joakim Svalberg – keyboards, backing vocals. staying true to the opeth sound this album is a masterpiece of dynamics and rhythmic styling that is provide with the syncopated drums and atmospheric backing vocals that builds along with a driving guitar riff. once again opeth does what was thought to be impossible that is do evolve their sound to a new era of progressive death metal,

GARDEN OF TITANS OPETH LIVE AT RED ROCKS (2018)

This live album is one of the best live albums from a metal band in my opinion. with the recording being as strong as it is it allows people like myself at the time you never saw opeth live to be able to experience what this band was capable of doing in a live setting not saying that the other two live albums aren't great. (Round house tapes and opeth live at royal albert hall) . for me garden of titans provides what 30 years of experience in the music industry and as a band even with all the lineup changes. it is sonically a perfect live album that I can and do listen to about once a week.