Opeth to me is like comfort food for Metalheads, lol. I don't know why but i tend to listen to them most in the fall or at the end of the summer when the weather's turning. Driving around to and from work, etc. with a hot coffee. Gives me the warm fuzzies. :)
That’s such a great connection. They always take me somewhere I feel no other band takes me. The change in seasons gives me the same feelings. Could be the whole cold climate thing.
@@thayeryates8941 the song Closure by Chevelle is another fall time song for me, it just fits man. Only song by them i listen to tbh but damn the chorus is beautiful
Ya'll would LOVE Windowpane. I hope the growls grow on you though, opens up such a new world of music and really allows the artist to express themselves in such a more visceral, vicious way.
"O-muthafuggin-peth, man." I had heard of Opeth before, but never really checked them out until I saw your reaction to "Ghost of Perdition." Once I gave them another chance, Opeth quickly became one of my favorite bands of all time. "Harlequin Forest" is the song I listened to immediately after watching your reaction, and it is still my favorite Opeth song to this day. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. Perhaps it's time to check out some of their earlier stuff? The albums "Still Life" and "My Arms, Your Hearse" are filled to the brim with AAA songs. You pretty much can't go wrong, regardless of which ones you pick. If I had to insist, though, "The Moor," "Godhead's Lament," and "April Ethereal" would be at the top of my list. EDIT: I agree with the other comments, though. Anything before "MA,YH" would probably be too rough (recording-wise) for your tastes. Another EDIT: Opeth's "Serenity Painted Death" has a 'transition' better than most metal bands could hope to create. Anybody who has heard the song knows precisely which one I'm talking about. "Holographic Universe" by Scar Symmetry would be another excellent selection for you guys, I think.
One of my favorite bands for years, a good balance of light and dark, complexity and solid groove, raw emotion with subtle nuance, angry brutality and vulnerable horror.
MAYH and Still Life are my favourite albums, but honestly I think that those two albums are kind of too packed with growls for Ryan and George to be able to get into them.
Opeth and Gojira have a thing in common; they are not ones to shy away from playing the absolute heck out of a riff if it's tasty enough. Some bands seem like they are scared to stick to the same groove too long; but these guys....they know when they have the Gold, and they let it shiiiine.
I agree, many people complain about things being too repetitive, but I see it a different way. Having a great repetitive riff will create an atmosphere and even has the capability of putting you into a trance, it also allows you to add little layers in the background that build up to a climactic moment. Tool is also a masterclass in how to use repetitive riffs correctly, those guys are on another level lol.
Literally all my favorite bands have a tendency to hang on a riff and I love it because the riff (as a guitar player myself) is the DNA of a song and what I want to hear the most especially if it's nasty. Opeth, Gojira, Tool, Deftones, Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains... My favorite bands in no particular order really and they all do this and I love it.
fun fact: this ENTIRE song is in the standard 4/4 time signature. But the way in which they arrange the beats is so bizarre and sophisticated that it sounds otherwise
You just blew my mind. It indeed is, but it doesn't feel like it. Well played Opeth for keeping it simple when most would have gone the over-sophisticated way !
I think this is hands down one of the best songs from Opeth. This track shows every single thing of what Opeth does. You get it all in one song and it's just near perfect.
So true. People are naturally expecting vocals to add a harmonic element but growling has no harmony and should really be considered as another rhythmical layer to the music.
That’s half of it. The other half is the aesthetic/thematic element that growls add, enhancing the impression of chaos and darkness but also of power, energy, and intensity
I've been listening to Opeth for almost two decades, but man for some reason when I see you guys react to this song, it gives me chills like I'm listening to it for the first time ever, again!!! \m/ You guys are awesome, shoutout to the free thinkers!!
I've been listening to this song for 15 years and only just realized a few days ago the underlying rhythm at the the beginning is the same as the pattern in that sick outtro. Listen for it, it'll blow your mind a bit. Opeth always has infinite layers to discover. Also, yes definitely do Windowpane! Lowkey but one of their top 5 songs ever. Don't wait 3 years to get back to Opeth please!
That's the sickest 'easter egg' I've ever heard. If you don't hear it; listen to the snare hits. Edit: I changed my mind, the patterns are different. At best, the first one is a simplified version of the last rhythm.
George, I am the same way when it comes to progressive metal. Long car rides are the best to sit with long progressive albums, especially Opeth and Dream Theater. You just get transported to another world, and you forget about what is going on in life. Glad you guys enjoyed this one, Opeth are just masters of their craft.
I love listening to albums like Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Watershed, Lateralus, The Dark Side Of the Moon etc... while driving because usually halfway through those albums it just hits me how freaking genius the music is and how much talent that it takes to create musical journeys like that. Nothing is better than an entire album being flawless rather than just listening to songs on shuffle.
The ENTIRE Ghost Reveries is a near perfect album. The performances, the songs, the PRODUCTION, the mix. everything. Opeth is the perfect long drive band. Get in your car and let Opeth take you on a trip. Your Opeth reaction are by far the best of all the reactors.
@@Jared_Letos_Panties Ghost Reveries just captures an atmosphere and the songs lead into each other so well. It gets chill for a bit as well and gives your ears a break for a song before hitting you with The Grand Conjuration. Absolute masterpiece of an album that plays like a horror movie. I say that as a big Watershed fan
Ghost Reveries was my go to album during a rough section of childhood when my parents divorced, still go back to it at least once a week for a full album listen.
I love your Opeth reactions... I feel like this is the correct way to react to this band! Astonished, almost laughing in disbelief, mind blown every few minutes. And you're right... every section of this song could be a banger. But when joined together perfectly... it's a masterpiece!
The thing I like about opeth’s growl is that you can Still understand what he’s saying. I never got too into the growling bands but they did master it.
I can't express how happy I am that you guys made it to Harlequin Forest. It's one of my top five Opeth favorites and it was incredible to watch you guys get it. 💪
All I would say to you guys is never say never. Opeth are a band that wins you over slowly. I know for me it took me like a year to really fully absorb a full album by theirs. And once I did, I never really looked back and only got more and more hooked as time went by. Today they are one my top 3 favorite bands of all time. And they just remain there now. Their music is too good. It's almost unreal that such a band could exist.
Been waiting for years for this one🤘. Long time metalhead and y'all actually exposed me to Opeth when you reacted to ghost of perdition years ago. Nonstop listening to Opeth ever since that reaction came out. Harlequin Forest would be the song I'd introduce Opeths heavier side too(maybe even Derelict Herds as well, it's shorter). So glad y'all finally heard it You guys are seriously missing out by not listening to Opeths more melodic songs. The whole Damnation album is fire start to finish. But some of my favorites off that album and others are- Windowpane In my time of need To rid the disease Moon above, sun below Burden Face of Melinda The list could go on and on. Yall gone down the Tool rabbit hole, let's see some more Opeth you ain't gonna regret it!
Really glad you guys have finally done this song. I nodded my head furiously, as I did on the Blackwater Park video, as you've reflected on how misled you've been by Opeth fans who've pushed their favorite songs rather than the songs that would best appeal to your musical backgrounds and tastes. I always figured you'd like this song, glad to see that you in fact do. Semi-related topic, Mastodon fans have misled you even worse. There are a lot of Mastodon songs that you would really like, I am confident.
@@lukefender94 agree, specifically Jaguar God is a supreme quality song with all of the elements that these guys typically find appealing. Plenty of stuff from H&G as well (More Than I Could Chew, Gobblers of Dregs) would go over a lot better than the stuff they've tried thus far.
I've appreciated y'all's journey and definitely was excited to see this song pop up as a reaction. Opeth is one of those bands that if I'm with someone that doesn't get it or like it, I understand. If they love it, I understand. Lol. There is so much happening in such a short period of time (despite the length of their tracks) that it has to be appreciated rather than casually enjoyed for the most part. Where you are and what's happening around you I think plays a large part in how their songs overall are received. Ghost Reveries in particular takes me back to living in El Paso every time while listening to this album while cutting through the mountain switch backs with sandstorms around me. Blackwater Park takes me back to those washout rainstorms of the South with the raw power of thunder and lightning almost providing those visuals to the audio that you are hearing. Thanks for your commitment and continued journey! You definitely made my day with this one. Keep up the great work y'all.
It's awesome how you guys hear and analyze things, funny enough back in the day I was a part of a prog metal band heavily influenced by Opeth, and our inside joke was that we did grown-up metal because of its sophistication. So this is really true, there is a class and a sophistication to their work. Opeth is pure art.
The transitioning between several parts of epic songs rather than 4x 3 minute songs is Opeth's Modus Operandi. I also love how they find a groove and play it four bars longer than most other bands would.
I love how excited you guys get for groovy rhythms. I always see you guys just shake your head and start laughing and it makes me giggle. Opeth songs as you probably learned only get better with more listens, it will only sound better and better over time.
Also one more thing. Opeth was the band that got me to appreciate growls, it's definitely hard to appreciate them fully, and a lot of bands misuse them; you are 100% right. Try to think of it as a very primal expression of whatever the music underneath it is saying. Opeth has probably some of the most expressive and meaningful screams.
"Oh, you know about Opeth?" You are so right. When you walk around at a show or what not and see someone in an Opeth tee, you're like, "Yes, you get it." I also think that if you want to introduce anyone to Opeth, this is the song to do it with.
Opeth and Metallica are my two biggest musical influences. Opeth has had a profound impact and influence on me and my song writing! This song is one of their best and one of my all time favorites 🤘
PLEASE do "Benighted". It's one of their most mellowed-out songs, yet was smack-dab in the middle of their super-hard era. It might actually be my favourite Opeth song, and I feel like the smooth bluesy-ness of it would be right up your alley.
@@anttisaarilampi it really sounds like Camel, but it's funny that Mikael said in an interview that he stole this from Abba. And if you listen closely, it has the structure of that camel song, but the main melody sounds like the winner takes it all from Abba.
Axenrot was a technical beast, listen to anything in pale communion or watershed. That being said, I agree Lopez although not as technical, had a certain rhythm and style that was unique and fit Opeth’s music perfectly. For metal, Lopez style imo was superior. Axenrot is better with progressive hard rock and jazz (although Lopez can jazz it up too).
I'm telling you guys, George - this is specifically for your ass if you read these comments - you need to revisit Ghost of Perdition. You talked a lot of shit about that song and I firmly that came to you at the wrong time and maybe even in the wrong head space. There is no reality possible where you enjoy this song, but don't like Ghost of Perdition. It's one of their best songs and you need to give it another play, man. You're missing out. Stoked that you enjoyed this, it's one of my favorites as well. I really wish you had delved into the lyrics though - there was some next level writing going on here.
I reckon you're wrong on that. Ryan and George still haven't completely turned around on growls, chances are they never will, and the entire point of the opening of Ghost of Perdition is that it's shocking and scary, even to people who are into growls. I also love Ghost of Perdition, but it's just too much for them I think.
@@teethcoat4274 They were so less prepared for that song back then, the vocal style was still shocking to them at that point and they had not grown a like and respect for Ooeth then like they have now. It's not just about the growls, Blackwater Park is nothing but growls and they definitely didn't have a problem with that.
@@SeditiousJerk But as they've discussed, they were able to enjoy the growls in Blackwater Park because the song builds up to them, by rocking you into them, but Ghost of Perdition is the opposite of that, the song intentionally pushes you into cold water to shock you.
Yes! Requested this song way back when they first reacted to Opeth. Haven't even watched yet, but this is great! How can they not like this track? (clearly not a Patreon member lol)
Ryan the term you're looking for is SONGWRITING. That's what separates Opeth from many other progressive and technical bands. They understand that music is more about the feeling and not just the technique. Also I love this song it's one of my favorite songs of all time but yeah it's not playlist material. I just listen to it on its own
@@unconform81those are really just elements of songwriting, though they are important. Opeth's best feature in the end is structure. So many songs are just these excellently built grimy towers with a clear sense of world building/climax/finale.
Oh this was a pleasant surprise that popped up. Been casually longing for this. I've been listening to this song a lot lately and trying to learn it on guitar by ear atm. Almost finished just a few riffs to go. Not learning it from the beginning but jumping around on it going from easiest to hardest. The way he comes in with the growl with that riff in the background always soooo good. Right after the line "If I'm haunted, then you will see"... And so it comes🤘
If you ever react to Opeth again I hope you do a song from their album Watershed, I don't think you've heard anything from it yet. It's one of their best albums in my opinion and felt like Opeth on top of their game. Heir Apparent, The Lotus Eater, Burden, Porcelain Heart or Hessian Peel would all be great songs to react to. Also you guys gotta check out Cult Of Luna, their transitions are also butta smooth! Nightwalkers, Ghost Trail, I: The Weapon, In Awe Of, Finland, The Fall... any of these songs would be great ones to start with.
Strong disagree. I like Watershed but it is one of Opeth's most challenging and non-inclusive listening experience albums, especially when you hear those songs for the first time. When people recommend songs for George and Ryan, TRY TO PUT YOURSELVES IN THEIR HEADS AND THE KIND OF VIBE OF THE MUSIC THEY LIKE, don't just pick your favorite albums. They like groove, and strong rhythm with a nice melody alongside it, Watershed has some of their most jarring transitions and obtuse arrangements in the band's history, I doubt they would like a single song off of that album.
Best Opeth album imo. Perfectly balanced between the heavy and soft sides of Opeth. Watershed has a few jarring transitions but also a lot of sections that flow into one another smoothly and organically, and there are a number of sweet grooves on the record.
@@travistotle Yeah, if Ghost of Perdition, Bleak, and Harlequin Forest -- highlights off of much groovier and straightforwardly rockin' prog-death records than Watershed, and far more accessible to boot -- are bordering on being too challenging, there's not gonna be much for them on Watershed. Coil might be worth checking out since it's a breezy 3 minutes of relatively unique Opeth material, but even the clean vocal stuff like Burden and Porcelain Heart has a level of stop-start abruptness and somewhat patience-testin' proggin' out that I think would keep them from making their playlists. That said, I do hope they react to The Lotus Eater or something eventually, just because it'd probably be a fun and silly watch.
Here I am drinking scotch whisky on a Friday late night, just enjoying and living your pure reactions to this amazing song. Couldn't agree more with the feedback. Love your channel and your videos for several years now. Keep it up, you're amazing. Greetings from Switzerland.
I love this song so much, that the last breakdown has been my ringtone for years. Seen them play it live perfectly and needless to say, I lost my shit. Opeth are simply masters of their craft, one of the best bands out there.
Fantastic that you guys went back to Opeth. And for my favorite song even! Made my day man. Would have expected a bit more talk on the drums though. Then again, as you both mentioned several times, there IS a lot going on. :) Thank you!
Life can get busy. Great review and song. As a musician outside of everything in my life including family I still try to dedicate and hour a day to listen to music or an album. It’s so healthy at times. Keep rocking guys!
Easily one of my favorite tracks off of Ghost Reveries. Opeth was truly at the top of their game with this album. And yes, this is a great album to listen to while driving at nighttime.
I was always against the "cookie monster" growls until I found this band 20 years ago.....Awesome band. If you have never see the Live At Shepards Bush DVD do yourself a favor and watch to see their full potential....
One of my all time favorites! Hearing you all gush on one of my favorite bands is super awesome! I’ve been listening to these guys for almost twenty years and they are still one of the greatest.
The transitions between the technical sections and the groove sections are so subtle it would be easy to miss them, but they are definitely there. Very subtle feel changes.
You guys are getting into those odd time signatures more and more each time you come back to this band! That's how opeth gets you. The more you listen the more you get how talented these guys are. Another thing to keep in mind; those time signatures, and a lot of defining factors in progressive metal all stem from deep roots in jazz. If you're into jazz, and you're into metal, opeth is for you! Opeth has been my favorite band since I was about 13. I'm 34 now. They have been making music almost as long as I've been alive. Long live opeth!
Ghost Reveries is my favorite album of all time. To me, it's a start to finish experience where every song melds perfectly into the next one, telling a complete story. You guys are getting GOOD at articulating your feelings on time signature changes and noticing shifts in the musicality define Opeth and other bands (specifically in one of the bridges where you both noted that the drummer Martin Lopez was playing more muted, but still giving such distinct feel to the softness). Watching you guys discover and dive into music that has been dear to me for decades is one of the best feelings on the planet, and I'm so thankful you guys do this for me to experience.
This is one of my favorite Opeth songs, and I go back to the My Arms, Your Hearse era. You can REALLY hear how their transitions became more smooth over the years. The first two albums are just riff salads; not bad but immature in composition. Still Life and Blackwater Park are probably their peak, but their recent stuff has some gems.
I’m so glad you finally got to this!!! Haha great reaction, it was worth waiting all these years man. I definitely can get down with your opinion of them, hard to not appreciate the expertise, but not enough time to do it consistently. Thank you!
When I started listening to metal, I used to pause this song and move on when the growling started 😂. My ear def started to develop an appreciation for the mood it creates and also the different types of growling/distorted vocals out there
Fact. Even other bands that are great at transitions pale in comparison to Opeth. Check out Callous Spectre / Vehement Opposition by The Chasm. The transition at 3:31 is pretty much Opeth-level.
The only bands I can think of that come close are Death, Tool, Amorphis and Evergrey. Also Isis, Orphaned Land, Be'Lakor, Enslaved, Carcass, Cynic, Agalloch, Alcest
It was Opeth that explained to me how growling could be could. I agree that his particular use of it is very tasteful. But I’ve found others to be very good too. Like Psychosocial by Slipknot, an incredibly sung song, and the growls make it so insanely real. But it’s true at least in my view that a lot of metal bands just use it as normal vocals and that’s maybe just a different type of metal entirely.
It amazes me how you get the escense of the song inmediatly..... It may not be your musical genre, but you get it well..... It shows how people who love music will always get along no matter which genre they listen to.
this is the power of opeth dark music at minute 13:40 the song drag them to a hell of a different mood it is just like a strike to the soul :) watch that priceless reaction
Thank you for doing this after so long. I got into Opeth right around the time you guys first did reactions to them. Such a cool journey of talent and amazing songwriting. I recommend this song live at the Royal Albert hall. It's one of their best live performances IMO. Great video guys. Thank you again.
Ohhhhhh SHHHIIIIIT I’m so happy you did this song!! This is if not my #1 song from them, it’s in the top 3 and I’ve heard it so many times but I’ll still get goosebumps with certain parts. There’s some amazing vocal lines, “you are the laughing stock of the absent minded” always felt like a big hit to the gut. The cleans, mmm mm mmm. I’m a big fan of the dirty growls too, I always felt like his voice was one of my favorites and it’s hard to find new music that fits that same kind of groove I’m looking for. Thanks for this one guys. Phantom Hound is a good lesser known band from Oakland, definitely check them out. They have some bangers
Opeth have more perfect songs on this album alone than most bands have in their whole discography. They had a run from late 90s to late 00s releasing one masterpiece after another, I personally think it's unprecedented in the world of metal. Words can't describe how good they were
Years ago, I had all but given up on "good" heavy metal, then I heard "The Grand Conjuration" in 2005 and was blown away! I thought the world had forgotten how to be that heavy and elegant at the same time. The Grand Conuration re-taught me how powerful metal could be.
Check out their songs Benighted, Hours of Wealth or Isolation years. These songs aren’t heavy at all and have amazing vocals. Definitely playlist worthy
#BUTTASMOOVE ! haha love it. Haven't listened to this song in like 10 years but it was one of my favs on the albums release. Thanks for reacting to this and reminding me how sick this is. Ghost Reverie's vibe is masterful!
Really glad y’all enjoyed this one. This is a 🔝 Opeth track off of my most favorite Opeth album. When I was 16 and heard the part at the very end for the first time, I thought it was some of the most difficult / complex shit lmaoo Sick / catchy “grooves” and transitions are all over this album. Many of them make me want to bust out a Bobby Shmurda dance.
Lol at both your reactions at 21:10 . That moment in the opeth world is like when that last section of Lateralus hits. Opeth’s arrangement and song structure are second to none. They create sonic journeys that are so damn smooth like almost no one else. It’s them, Tool, and the Mars Volta. All sonically different but they make the same kind of music.
I love watching your different reactions when you listen to a song! 😅 You guys are brilliant! You should see Opeth live, that's an experience! Thank you so much for what you do!
That coordinated left turn at 22:43 killed me. Love you guys!
And the first time at 21:11
Opeth to me is like comfort food for Metalheads, lol. I don't know why but i tend to listen to them most in the fall or at the end of the summer when the weather's turning. Driving around to and from work, etc. with a hot coffee. Gives me the warm fuzzies. :)
100% agree. Opeth just hits different in the fall/winter.
That’s such a great connection. They always take me somewhere I feel no other band takes me. The change in seasons gives me the same feelings. Could be the whole cold climate thing.
I listen to Opeth almost exclusively at night (there's a few songs I break out in the daytime, especially when it's rainy or just cloudy).
Yep! me and cemetaries in winter, cold as shit, no one is around, perfect!
@@thayeryates8941 the song Closure by Chevelle is another fall time song for me, it just fits man. Only song by them i listen to tbh but damn the chorus is beautiful
Ya'll would LOVE Windowpane. I hope the growls grow on you though, opens up such a new world of music and really allows the artist to express themselves in such a more visceral, vicious way.
Been waiting for them to get into growls more. I have so many bands I'd love for them to check out
So true, if you can begin to appreciate the growls, you can cast your net so wide!
Anything from Damnation really
@@jasonknotts5001 I agree. I would really love to hear anything from Damnation.
Shout out Glenn Cannon and the Seattle scene still rippin shit up
"They aree the treees..."
I just love that groove as a bassist in that section
"O-muthafuggin-peth, man."
I had heard of Opeth before, but never really checked them out until I saw your reaction to "Ghost of Perdition." Once I gave them another chance, Opeth quickly became one of my favorite bands of all time.
"Harlequin Forest" is the song I listened to immediately after watching your reaction, and it is still my favorite Opeth song to this day.
I'm glad you guys enjoyed it.
Perhaps it's time to check out some of their earlier stuff? The albums "Still Life" and "My Arms, Your Hearse" are filled to the brim with AAA songs. You pretty much can't go wrong, regardless of which ones you pick. If I had to insist, though, "The Moor," "Godhead's Lament," and "April Ethereal" would be at the top of my list.
EDIT: I agree with the other comments, though. Anything before "MA,YH" would probably be too rough (recording-wise) for your tastes.
Another EDIT: Opeth's "Serenity Painted Death" has a 'transition' better than most metal bands could hope to create. Anybody who has heard the song knows precisely which one I'm talking about.
"Holographic Universe" by Scar Symmetry would be another excellent selection for you guys, I think.
I have a feeling they wouldn't enjoy anything before still life, it was still early unpolished opeth
@@mirkecWii maybe a few from my arms your hearse but yeah they would probably hate orchid and morningrise lol
I second the holographic universe request!
One of my favorite bands for years, a good balance of light and dark, complexity and solid groove, raw emotion with subtle nuance, angry brutality and vulnerable horror.
MAYH and Still Life are my favourite albums, but honestly I think that those two albums are kind of too packed with growls for Ryan and George to be able to get into them.
21:17 both of you turning left with "stank face" going "mmh mmh mh!"
perfection 🤣
Opeth and Gojira have a thing in common; they are not ones to shy away from playing the absolute heck out of a riff if it's tasty enough. Some bands seem like they are scared to stick to the same groove too long; but these guys....they know when they have the Gold, and they let it shiiiine.
I agree, many people complain about things being too repetitive, but I see it a different way. Having a great repetitive riff will create an atmosphere and even has the capability of putting you into a trance, it also allows you to add little layers in the background that build up to a climactic moment.
Tool is also a masterclass in how to use repetitive riffs correctly, those guys are on another level lol.
Perfect way of putting it dude. Reminds me of the end of the Art of Dying by Gojira where they stick with that long groovy nasty riff.
@@HawksNHabsPC That's actually the riff I was thinking of from Gojira specifically when I had the thought, hah.
Literally all my favorite bands have a tendency to hang on a riff and I love it because the riff (as a guitar player myself) is the DNA of a song and what I want to hear the most especially if it's nasty. Opeth, Gojira, Tool, Deftones, Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains... My favorite bands in no particular order really and they all do this and I love it.
Same goes for Tool
Should definitely give Burden a shot. One of their more mellow songs but absolutely beautiful
This
They'd be surprised to find out who the ocean of sorrow really is
@@xavierdube6520 I’d like to find out as well
@@Deathlyill666 go on mate, i have goosebumps ever since I knew who the ocean of sorrow was and hearing it over and over again still feels the same
Gorgeous song.
fun fact: this ENTIRE song is in the standard 4/4 time signature. But the way in which they arrange the beats is so bizarre and sophisticated that it sounds otherwise
That’s interesting
They always mess up this
Thinking they dont enjoy songs because of odd time but theyre 4/4
Meanwhile theyre enjoying la via strangiato at 7/8
Frank Zappa called 4/4 the most complex time signature because of all you can do with it.
Realizing that the outro is 4/4 blew my mind.
You just blew my mind. It indeed is, but it doesn't feel like it. Well played Opeth for keeping it simple when most would have gone the over-sophisticated way !
We’ve ALL been waiting for this one! 😅🤘
I think this is hands down one of the best songs from Opeth. This track shows every single thing of what Opeth does. You get it all in one song and it's just near perfect.
I think the key to understanding growling vocals is seeing the vocals as another aspect of the rythym section in death metal.
Severely underrated comment.
So true. People are naturally expecting vocals to add a harmonic element but growling has no harmony and should really be considered as another rhythmical layer to the music.
That’s half of it. The other half is the aesthetic/thematic element that growls add, enhancing the impression of chaos and darkness but also of power, energy, and intensity
I've been listening to Opeth for almost two decades, but man for some reason when I see you guys react to this song, it gives me chills like I'm listening to it for the first time ever, again!!! \m/ You guys are awesome, shoutout to the free thinkers!!
How old are you buddy?
@@thinkwhileeatingpasta5217 31
@@ashroute66 Amazing
Yes! I love watching these guys listen to Opeth. They truly enjoy and appreciate it.
You guys should definitely do more Porcupine Tree. "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" will be great track to pick back up on.
With Akerfeldt's amazing guitar 😍
That, and Anesthetize. Both absolutely incredible.
YES this guy said it
I've been listening to this song for 15 years and only just realized a few days ago the underlying rhythm at the the beginning is the same as the pattern in that sick outtro. Listen for it, it'll blow your mind a bit. Opeth always has infinite layers to discover.
Also, yes definitely do Windowpane! Lowkey but one of their top 5 songs ever. Don't wait 3 years to get back to Opeth please!
What do you mean its the same rytham i dont get it, it is different groove
Yea I don't hear it either. Could you be more specific?
That's the sickest 'easter egg' I've ever heard.
If you don't hear it; listen to the snare hits.
Edit: I changed my mind, the patterns are different. At best, the first one is a simplified version of the last rhythm.
@@yorickgerms7977 yeah i am playing guitar and composing metal songs for well over a decade and i couldn't hear any similarities.
So I was mistaken, it's actually weirder than that: It's a variation on the outro rhythm from Deliverance!
Imagine the outro performed live. Everybody is hypnotized by its rhythm. Such a masterful band and songwriter!
*ｂｒｕｈ* that ending riff 🤌
🤘
This and deliverance !
It has that feeling of being lost in the forest, coming back to the same area you've already been to. Knowing you're fucked.
@@mohamadjamous1995 Deliverance has THEE quintessential epic ending. 🤘
i love that comment bro@@balaysked
George, I am the same way when it comes to progressive metal. Long car rides are the best to sit with long progressive albums, especially Opeth and Dream Theater. You just get transported to another world, and you forget about what is going on in life. Glad you guys enjoyed this one, Opeth are just masters of their craft.
I also like to forget about what is going on in life while I'm driving
I love listening to albums like Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Watershed, Lateralus, The Dark Side Of the Moon etc... while driving because usually halfway through those albums it just hits me how freaking genius the music is and how much talent that it takes to create musical journeys like that. Nothing is better than an entire album being flawless rather than just listening to songs on shuffle.
Baying of the Hounds is the next logical song to do for this album. It goes places. And the guitar solo is fire.
This one is my favorite song and it seems like it's so underated.
Top 5 Opeth song
Even more impressive is how they perform these songs live. They are one of the absolute tightest live acts you'll ever see.
The ENTIRE Ghost Reveries is a near perfect album. The performances, the songs, the PRODUCTION, the mix. everything.
Opeth is the perfect long drive band.
Get in your car and let Opeth take you on a trip.
Your Opeth reaction are by far the best of all the reactors.
I prefer Watershed, but Ghost Reveries may be their most accessible album
@@Jared_Letos_Panties Ghost Reveries just captures an atmosphere and the songs lead into each other so well. It gets chill for a bit as well and gives your ears a break for a song before hitting you with The Grand Conjuration. Absolute masterpiece of an album that plays like a horror movie. I say that as a big Watershed fan
Ghost Reveries was my go to album during a rough section of childhood when my parents divorced, still go back to it at least once a week for a full album listen.
I love your Opeth reactions... I feel like this is the correct way to react to this band! Astonished, almost laughing in disbelief, mind blown every few minutes. And you're right... every section of this song could be a banger. But when joined together perfectly... it's a masterpiece!
The thing I like about opeth’s growl is that you can Still understand what he’s saying. I never got too into the growling bands but they did master it.
I think Mikko Aspa of Deathspell Omega does this even better but man they're both awesome
Also try Amorphis, Soilwork, Amon Amarth
I can't express how happy I am that you guys made it to Harlequin Forest. It's one of my top five Opeth favorites and it was incredible to watch you guys get it. 💪
You almost immediately used the word "sophistication" to describe them which I think is perfect.
Serenity painted death is an opeth underrated gem.
I. Adore. This. Song. Maybe the best on Still Life. Which is a bold statement because everything on that album was perfect.
@@joeenglish762 amen
@@lunaticfriki corner
And moonlapse vertigo
probably best solo of opeth as well
New Opeth tracked just dropped §1 from "The Last Will and Testament" coming in October 2024
I highly recommend A Fair Judgement by Opeth. It showcases their softer side but also how they can be extremely heavy without growls.
One of my favorites from Opeth!!
All I would say to you guys is never say never.
Opeth are a band that wins you over slowly.
I know for me it took me like a year to really fully absorb a full album by theirs.
And once I did, I never really looked back and only got more and more hooked as time went by.
Today they are one my top 3 favorite bands of all time.
And they just remain there now.
Their music is too good.
It's almost unreal that such a band could exist.
Been waiting for years for this one🤘. Long time metalhead and y'all actually exposed me to Opeth when you reacted to ghost of perdition years ago. Nonstop listening to Opeth ever since that reaction came out. Harlequin Forest would be the song I'd introduce Opeths heavier side too(maybe even Derelict Herds as well, it's shorter). So glad y'all finally heard it
You guys are seriously missing out by not listening to Opeths more melodic songs. The whole Damnation album is fire start to finish. But some of my favorites off that album and others are-
Windowpane
In my time of need
To rid the disease
Moon above, sun below
Burden
Face of Melinda
The list could go on and on. Yall gone down the Tool rabbit hole, let's see some more Opeth you ain't gonna regret it!
Really glad you guys have finally done this song. I nodded my head furiously, as I did on the Blackwater Park video, as you've reflected on how misled you've been by Opeth fans who've pushed their favorite songs rather than the songs that would best appeal to your musical backgrounds and tastes. I always figured you'd like this song, glad to see that you in fact do.
Semi-related topic, Mastodon fans have misled you even worse. There are a lot of Mastodon songs that you would really like, I am confident.
Same with Dream Theater. I strongly suggest they give a shot to “lines in the sand” from DT
They'd like most songs from Emperor of Sand or Once More Around The Sun. Or even from The Hunter
@@lukefender94 agree, specifically Jaguar God is a supreme quality song with all of the elements that these guys typically find appealing. Plenty of stuff from H&G as well (More Than I Could Chew, Gobblers of Dregs) would go over a lot better than the stuff they've tried thus far.
Yessss I've been waiting for this one!!
This song is too good to put into words. No description would do it justice.
You've gotta try some of the damnation album. It's got all of that beautiful melodic vibe but still with all of the technicality that we love in Opeth
To Rid The Disease!
I've appreciated y'all's journey and definitely was excited to see this song pop up as a reaction. Opeth is one of those bands that if I'm with someone that doesn't get it or like it, I understand. If they love it, I understand. Lol. There is so much happening in such a short period of time (despite the length of their tracks) that it has to be appreciated rather than casually enjoyed for the most part.
Where you are and what's happening around you I think plays a large part in how their songs overall are received. Ghost Reveries in particular takes me back to living in El Paso every time while listening to this album while cutting through the mountain switch backs with sandstorms around me. Blackwater Park takes me back to those washout rainstorms of the South with the raw power of thunder and lightning almost providing those visuals to the audio that you are hearing.
Thanks for your commitment and continued journey! You definitely made my day with this one. Keep up the great work y'all.
If you want softer Opeth that is also amazing, Windowpane or Hope Leaves are definitely up there in
It's awesome how you guys hear and analyze things, funny enough back in the day I was a part of a prog metal band heavily influenced by Opeth, and our inside joke was that we did grown-up metal because of its sophistication. So this is really true, there is a class and a sophistication to their work. Opeth is pure art.
You need to make a deep dive to their catalog. Dont wait for it guys!
21:11 is too good lol
😂
And they did the exact same thing when replaying it haha
They got a good taste there lmao
The transitioning between several parts of epic songs rather than 4x 3 minute songs is Opeth's Modus Operandi. I also love how they find a groove and play it four bars longer than most other bands would.
I love how excited you guys get for groovy rhythms. I always see you guys just shake your head and start laughing and it makes me giggle. Opeth songs as you probably learned only get better with more listens, it will only sound better and better over time.
Also one more thing. Opeth was the band that got me to appreciate growls, it's definitely hard to appreciate them fully, and a lot of bands misuse them; you are 100% right. Try to think of it as a very primal expression of whatever the music underneath it is saying. Opeth has probably some of the most expressive and meaningful screams.
"Oh, you know about Opeth?" You are so right. When you walk around at a show or what not and see someone in an Opeth tee, you're like, "Yes, you get it."
I also think that if you want to introduce anyone to Opeth, this is the song to do it with.
I said that immediately their first time when they did Ghost of Perdition.
Opeth and Metallica are my two biggest musical influences. Opeth has had a profound impact and influence on me and my song writing! This song is one of their best and one of my all time favorites 🤘
This song reminds me of MoP in the sense that it’s just brilliant riff after riff yet they are diverse.
Metallica got me into metal over 25 years ago, and Opeth is my current favorite band. I got into Opeth hard about 3-4 years ago.
Same here bro🤘
PLEASE do "Benighted". It's one of their most mellowed-out songs, yet was smack-dab in the middle of their super-hard era. It might actually be my favourite Opeth song, and I feel like the smooth bluesy-ness of it would be right up your alley.
What came and distorted your sight...
Best Opeth song for playing fingerstyle guitar to
Check out "Never Let Go" by Camel, the intro was a big influence for Benighted
@@anttisaarilampi it really sounds like Camel, but it's funny that Mikael said in an interview that he stole this from Abba. And if you listen closely, it has the structure of that camel song, but the main melody sounds like the winner takes it all from Abba.
@@TalitaCGO oh damn, you're right, it does!
Martin Lopez was the best drummer Opeth ever had. Such nuance to his playing. The way he melded Middle Eastern and Latin rhythms was amazing.
He's still going strong with Soen.
Axenrot was a technical beast, listen to anything in pale communion or watershed. That being said, I agree Lopez although not as technical, had a certain rhythm and style that was unique and fit Opeth’s music perfectly. For metal, Lopez style imo was superior. Axenrot is better with progressive hard rock and jazz (although Lopez can jazz it up too).
been saying that for years
@@soakedbearrd He had something that everyone since has lacked.
@@soakedbearrd have you not heard axe with bloodbath?
I'm telling you guys, George - this is specifically for your ass if you read these comments - you need to revisit Ghost of Perdition. You talked a lot of shit about that song and I firmly that came to you at the wrong time and maybe even in the wrong head space. There is no reality possible where you enjoy this song, but don't like Ghost of Perdition. It's one of their best songs and you need to give it another play, man. You're missing out.
Stoked that you enjoyed this, it's one of my favorites as well. I really wish you had delved into the lyrics though - there was some next level writing going on here.
I reckon you're wrong on that. Ryan and George still haven't completely turned around on growls, chances are they never will, and the entire point of the opening of Ghost of Perdition is that it's shocking and scary, even to people who are into growls. I also love Ghost of Perdition, but it's just too much for them I think.
@@teethcoat4274 They were so less prepared for that song back then, the vocal style was still shocking to them at that point and they had not grown a like and respect for Ooeth then like they have now. It's not just about the growls, Blackwater Park is nothing but growls and they definitely didn't have a problem with that.
@@SeditiousJerk But as they've discussed, they were able to enjoy the growls in Blackwater Park because the song builds up to them, by rocking you into them, but Ghost of Perdition is the opposite of that, the song intentionally pushes you into cold water to shock you.
I love Opeth. I know this is an older video from a few months ago, but i’m happy to see you guys returning to them.
Yes! Requested this song way back when they first reacted to Opeth. Haven't even watched yet, but this is great! How can they not like this track? (clearly not a Patreon member lol)
"To Bid You Farewell" and "Burden" should be next for more Opeth reactions!!!
Ryan the term you're looking for is SONGWRITING. That's what separates Opeth from many other progressive and technical bands. They understand that music is more about the feeling and not just the technique.
Also I love this song it's one of my favorite songs of all time but yeah it's not playlist material. I just listen to it on its own
"Composition" and "Arrangement" are probably more appropriate terms
@@unconform81those are really just elements of songwriting, though they are important. Opeth's best feature in the end is structure. So many songs are just these excellently built grimy towers with a clear sense of world building/climax/finale.
Oh this was a pleasant surprise that popped up. Been casually longing for this. I've been listening to this song a lot lately and trying to learn it on guitar by ear atm. Almost finished just a few riffs to go. Not learning it from the beginning but jumping around on it going from easiest to hardest. The way he comes in with the growl with that riff in the background always soooo good. Right after the line "If I'm haunted, then you will see"... And so it comes🤘
If you ever react to Opeth again I hope you do a song from their album Watershed, I don't think you've heard anything from it yet. It's one of their best albums in my opinion and felt like Opeth on top of their game. Heir Apparent, The Lotus Eater, Burden, Porcelain Heart or Hessian Peel would all be great songs to react to.
Also you guys gotta check out Cult Of Luna, their transitions are also butta smooth! Nightwalkers, Ghost Trail, I: The Weapon, In Awe Of, Finland, The Fall... any of these songs would be great ones to start with.
I second this. Watershed is my favourite Opeth album
I'm 100% with you, including the Cult of Luna, and I'd add to that Greater Call or Chevron with Julie Christmas.
Strong disagree. I like Watershed but it is one of Opeth's most challenging and non-inclusive listening experience albums, especially when you hear those songs for the first time. When people recommend songs for George and Ryan, TRY TO PUT YOURSELVES IN THEIR HEADS AND THE KIND OF VIBE OF THE MUSIC THEY LIKE, don't just pick your favorite albums. They like groove, and strong rhythm with a nice melody alongside it, Watershed has some of their most jarring transitions and obtuse arrangements in the band's history, I doubt they would like a single song off of that album.
Best Opeth album imo. Perfectly balanced between the heavy and soft sides of Opeth. Watershed has a few jarring transitions but also a lot of sections that flow into one another smoothly and organically, and there are a number of sweet grooves on the record.
@@travistotle Yeah, if Ghost of Perdition, Bleak, and Harlequin Forest -- highlights off of much groovier and straightforwardly rockin' prog-death records than Watershed, and far more accessible to boot -- are bordering on being too challenging, there's not gonna be much for them on Watershed. Coil might be worth checking out since it's a breezy 3 minutes of relatively unique Opeth material, but even the clean vocal stuff like Burden and Porcelain Heart has a level of stop-start abruptness and somewhat patience-testin' proggin' out that I think would keep them from making their playlists.
That said, I do hope they react to The Lotus Eater or something eventually, just because it'd probably be a fun and silly watch.
Here I am drinking scotch whisky on a Friday late night, just enjoying and living your pure reactions to this amazing song. Couldn't agree more with the feedback. Love your channel and your videos for several years now. Keep it up, you're amazing. Greetings from Switzerland.
I love this song so much, that the last breakdown has been my ringtone for years. Seen them play it live perfectly and needless to say, I lost my shit. Opeth are simply masters of their craft, one of the best bands out there.
The live version at prince Albert hall was 🔥🔥🔥
So glad my favorite new metalheads loved my favorite song by my favorite band. I knew this song would check most of your boxes.
Favorite Opeth song. Especially love the “no quarter” piano tone used on this track, that being my favorite zep song.
Fantastic that you guys went back to Opeth. And for my favorite song even! Made my day man.
Would have expected a bit more talk on the drums though. Then again, as you both mentioned several times, there IS a lot going on. :)
Thank you!
Life can get busy. Great review and song. As a musician outside of everything in my life including family I still try to dedicate and hour a day to listen to music or an album. It’s so healthy at times. Keep rocking guys!
Around the 21 minute mark, your visual acknowledgement of the nastiness of that break was glorious!
Man... Love you guys! I was with you during the entire ride loving every transition and groove like I have never heard Opeth before. FREE THINKERS! 🤘
Easily one of my favorite tracks off of Ghost Reveries. Opeth was truly at the top of their game with this album. And yes, this is a great album to listen to while driving at nighttime.
I was always against the "cookie monster" growls until I found this band 20 years ago.....Awesome band. If you have never see the Live At Shepards Bush DVD do yourself a favor and watch to see their full potential....
Thank you for getting around to this! Been after this one for a while!
Been waiting over a year for another Opeth reaction. Got so excited when I saw this pop up on my notifications.
One of my all time favorites! Hearing you all gush on one of my favorite bands is super awesome! I’ve been listening to these guys for almost twenty years and they are still one of the greatest.
The Drapery Falls or The Moor are the best choise for the next , if you are wise people
Proof that you don't have to really like something to love and respect it.
The transitions between the technical sections and the groove sections are so subtle it would be easy to miss them, but they are definitely there. Very subtle feel changes.
You guys are getting into those odd time signatures more and more each time you come back to this band! That's how opeth gets you. The more you listen the more you get how talented these guys are. Another thing to keep in mind; those time signatures, and a lot of defining factors in progressive metal all stem from deep roots in jazz. If you're into jazz, and you're into metal, opeth is for you! Opeth has been my favorite band since I was about 13. I'm 34 now. They have been making music almost as long as I've been alive. Long live opeth!
The level of musicianship and creativity is other worldly. NOBODY does it like Opeth.
Ghost Reveries is my favorite album of all time. To me, it's a start to finish experience where every song melds perfectly into the next one, telling a complete story. You guys are getting GOOD at articulating your feelings on time signature changes and noticing shifts in the musicality define Opeth and other bands (specifically in one of the bridges where you both noted that the drummer Martin Lopez was playing more muted, but still giving such distinct feel to the softness). Watching you guys discover and dive into music that has been dear to me for decades is one of the best feelings on the planet, and I'm so thankful you guys do this for me to experience.
This is one of my favorite Opeth songs, and I go back to the My Arms, Your Hearse era. You can REALLY hear how their transitions became more smooth over the years. The first two albums are just riff salads; not bad but immature in composition. Still Life and Blackwater Park are probably their peak, but their recent stuff has some gems.
Every Opeth song is composed of songs within a song. You never know where it's going to go. When you think they are going right, they go left.
I’m so glad you finally got to this!!! Haha great reaction, it was worth waiting all these years man. I definitely can get down with your opinion of them, hard to not appreciate the expertise, but not enough time to do it consistently. Thank you!
When I started listening to metal, I used to pause this song and move on when the growling started 😂. My ear def started to develop an appreciation for the mood it creates and also the different types of growling/distorted vocals out there
You have to do serenity painted death next! It is super heavy riffs and groove so hard
Or the lotus eater!
Opeth are the KINGS of transitions. Dont waste your time looking for a band with better transitions.
Fact. Even other bands that are great at transitions pale in comparison to Opeth. Check out Callous Spectre / Vehement Opposition by The Chasm. The transition at 3:31 is pretty much Opeth-level.
The only bands I can think of that come close are Death, Tool, Amorphis and Evergrey. Also Isis, Orphaned Land, Be'Lakor, Enslaved, Carcass, Cynic, Agalloch, Alcest
It was Opeth that explained to me how growling could be could.
I agree that his particular use of it is very tasteful.
But I’ve found others to be very good too. Like Psychosocial by Slipknot, an incredibly sung song, and the growls make it so insanely real.
But it’s true at least in my view that a lot of metal bands just use it as normal vocals and that’s maybe just a different type of metal entirely.
It amazes me how you get the escense of the song inmediatly..... It may not be your musical genre, but you get it well..... It shows how people who love music will always get along no matter which genre they listen to.
this is the power of opeth dark music at minute 13:40 the song drag them to a hell of a different mood it is just like a strike to the soul :) watch that priceless reaction
I got into Opeth maybe two years ago…they’re a top 10 all time favorite for me already.
I would love to hear lepar affinity. Very first Opeth tune I ever heard and had me hooked. Such a great opener for such an iconic masterpiece.
Thank you for doing this after so long. I got into Opeth right around the time you guys first did reactions to them. Such a cool journey of talent and amazing songwriting. I recommend this song live at the Royal Albert hall. It's one of their best live performances IMO. Great video guys. Thank you again.
Ohhhhhh SHHHIIIIIT I’m so happy you did this song!! This is if not my #1 song from them, it’s in the top 3 and I’ve heard it so many times but I’ll still get goosebumps with certain parts. There’s some amazing vocal lines, “you are the laughing stock of the absent minded” always felt like a big hit to the gut. The cleans, mmm mm mmm. I’m a big fan of the dirty growls too, I always felt like his voice was one of my favorites and it’s hard to find new music that fits that same kind of groove I’m looking for. Thanks for this one guys. Phantom Hound is a good lesser known band from Oakland, definitely check them out. They have some bangers
Opeth have more perfect songs on this album alone than most bands have in their whole discography. They had a run from late 90s to late 00s releasing one masterpiece after another, I personally think it's unprecedented in the world of metal. Words can't describe how good they were
Years ago, I had all but given up on "good" heavy metal, then I heard "The Grand Conjuration" in 2005 and was blown away! I thought the world had forgotten how to be that heavy and elegant at the same time. The Grand Conuration re-taught me how powerful metal could be.
Check out their songs Benighted, Hours of Wealth or Isolation years. These songs aren’t heavy at all and have amazing vocals. Definitely playlist worthy
Amazing Songs
#BUTTASMOOVE ! haha love it. Haven't listened to this song in like 10 years but it was one of my favs on the albums release. Thanks for reacting to this and reminding me how sick this is. Ghost Reverie's vibe is masterful!
They love to tell a story with their music. That's why you have all the different sounding parts. It's like reading a novel.
Exactly
Opeth is the Pink Floyd of Metal
Check out Hessian Peel by Opeth, the jam-out part with the arabian melody is insane. It's my favorite track.
Such a fantastic album - every song is an amazing journey - Deliverance also has an amazing ending groove!
Really glad y’all enjoyed this one. This is a 🔝 Opeth track off of my most favorite Opeth album. When I was 16 and heard the part at the very end for the first time, I thought it was some of the most difficult / complex shit lmaoo
Sick / catchy “grooves” and transitions are all over this album. Many of them make me want to bust out a Bobby Shmurda dance.
Lol at both your reactions at 21:10 . That moment in the opeth world is like when that last section of Lateralus hits. Opeth’s arrangement and song structure are second to none. They create sonic journeys that are so damn smooth like almost no one else. It’s them, Tool, and the Mars Volta. All sonically different but they make the same kind of music.
I love watching your different reactions when you listen to a song! 😅 You guys are brilliant! You should see Opeth live, that's an experience! Thank you so much for what you do!
Opeth is the Greatest ever! This song is one of my favorites so many transitions and changes in melody, voice, etc.. Blended up nicely!
Moonlapse Vertigo is my all time favorite Opeth song.
My Fav Opeth song for sure.
I can comfortably say that this is without a doubt my favourite song