Decided to give Opeth a try... and...

[MrEcted1]

I went to go buy a Tool CD today (Lateralus) and they were sold out... bummer... I decided to browse the CDs for a little bit longer and one jumped out at me. It was Opeth Blackwater Park. I've seen a few references to Opeth on these forums (including Team Opeth) so I decided what the hell.

My initial impression was "Ahh crap... not another Canibal Corpse like group"...didn't like em. Well, I never judge a book by its cover so I kept listening. It really hit me on song number 4... Drapery Falls. I was completely immersed into this opera-like heavy metal pumping in my car. I soon got past all of the growling and it became a part of the music, more like he was speaking a feeling rather then words. This was much more then super fast double bass drum pounding and growling... it was opera in it's heaviest form. I am now on my 3rd listen and completely addicted!

Just thought I would share that

 

[steelben]

I started listening to Opeth in early 90's when they released their debut "Orchid" (on Candlelight Records). It was, and still is, a great album.
Never followed the band since their release of "My arms.." CD. Recently just listened to their newer "Ghost reveries" and "Danmantion" and they put me into sleep

zzzzz...
If you want to find out more about music of Opeth, check out their 1st 2 albums "Orchid' and "Moringrise".

 

[Davey]

Just curious, do most fans actually enjoy the cookie monster stuff or just put up with it because they like the music? Would you rather they sung clean all the time?

 

[MrEcted1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Just curious, do most fans actually enjoy the cookie monster stuff or just put up with it because they like the music? Would you rather they sung clean all the time?

I think his clean voice is incredible, yes I wish it was all clean, but I just try to let the "cookie monster stuff" pass through... after awhile it just becomes another instrument.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrEcted1 I think his clean voice is incredible, yes I wish it was all clean, but I just try to let the "cookie monster stuff" pass through... after awhile it just becomes another instrument.

The thing that makes dark metal unique is the artistic distortions apllied to vocals, this will sound very foreign and extreme to someone coming from a pop/rock background with simple clean vocals.

But it is no different that distorted opera vocals of classical music, a dramatic effect used to convey atmosphere and emotion of the song, often alternates in style as subject matter and mood in song changes. Takes a while to catch on to this but once you do then clean vocals only seems very limited in comparison.

 

[Nacher]

I definetly agree to what DarkAngel said. Just like opera vocals, the extreme vocals of dark metal need a bit of time to get into. However, they really are there for a reason make it possible to convey huge dramatic contrasts not only in music (mellow versus extreme guitar wall) but in vocals as well. Even when the extreme vocals are not used in conjunction with clean vocals, they are just as important. In example, how could you create the same extremely evil, menacing and dark sound of Blackwater Park title track with clean vocals? I consider the vocals one of the main reasons why the track is so powerful. For a even more extreme example, how could one replicate Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace with clean vocals without diminishing the haunting and dark atmosphere?

People, who hear Opera for the first time, often wish the vocals would be more like pop/rock. Easier to get into, easier to understand the words and less demanding for the listener. However, how many experienced Opera listeners would like to change the style of vocals to something easier to listen to? Possibly none. Same goes for dark metal.

 

[MrEcted1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nacher I definetly agree to what DarkAngel said. Just like opera vocals, the extreme vocals of dark metal need a bit of time to get into. However, they really are there for a reason make it possible to convey huge dramatic contrasts not only in music (mellow versus extreme guitar wall) but in vocals as well. Even when the extreme vocals are not used in conjunction with clean vocals, they are just as important. In example, how could you create the same extremely evil, menacing and dark sound of Blackwater Park title track with clean vocals? I consider the vocals one of the main reasons why the track is so powerful. For a even more extreme example, how could one replicate Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace with clean vocals without diminishing the haunting and dark atmosphere? People, who hear Opera for the first time, often wish the vocals would be more like pop/rock. Easier to get into, easier to understand the words and less demanding for the listener. However, how many experienced Opera listeners would like to change the style of vocals to something easier to listen to? Possibly none. Same goes for dark metal.

I can definitely see where you guys are coming from. It was a little hard for me to get into at first, but the music is stuck in my head so I must keep listening! I'm not exactly "put off" by the dark vocals as much as I was upon first listen, it's beginning to grow on me. I can see your point... it would be very hard (if not impossible) to convey the same feeling without the deep extreme vocals.

 

[Beach123456]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Just curious, do most fans actually enjoy the cookie monster stuff or just put up with it because they like the music? Would you rather they sung clean all the time?

I like it. It gives the music more feeling that wouldnt be there if they sung clean all the time. At first listen it just sounds like screaming, but when you get used to it, it just becomes normal.

 

[SigNuM]

I do think that Opeth should use clean vocals more often. Like in Ayreon - Day Twelve: Trauma, Ackerfeldt is just perfect.

 

[acs236]

"Cookie Monster voice" - Ha ha ha. I like it. I never heard it described that way, but it certainly adds an ironic twist. Seems like they may not being communicating what they want to if it pulls of images of Cookie Monster.

I think the use of that voice is a bit of a shortcut, and arguably somewhat unimaginative. They're just do damn talented that I look past it.

It doesn't bother me much anymore, but it certainly doesn't add anything for me.

That being said, my favorite Opeth ablums are MAYH, Damnation, and their lastest, Ghost Reveries -- I'm really enjoying Ghost right now. Seems to be a polarizing album, though.

 

[steelben]

Quote:

Originally Posted by acs236 "Cookie Monster voice" - Ha ha ha. I like it. I never heard it described that way, but it certainly adds an ironic twist. Seems like they may not being communicating what they want to if it pulls of images of Cookie Monster.

I bet you probably have not heard "Donald Duck" of some Black Metal bands. Some people even described certain black metal vocals sound like some kittens got choked in the throat with fur ball...

 

[Masonjar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelben I bet you probably have not heard "Donald Duck" of some Black Metal bands. Some people even described certain black metal vocals sound like some kittens got choked in the throat with fur ball...

I'm trying to think of a character or animal to compare Udo from Accept to.. Udo and the guy from the first couple Metal Church albums and the guy from Overkill.. all 3 have a pretty similar singing style, sounds like they're being strangled.. though the guy from Metal Church and sing melodically as well..

-jar

 

[steel102]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Just curious, do most fans actually enjoy the cookie monster stuff or just put up with it because they like the music? Would you rather they sung clean all the time?

I was listening to death-metal bands like Deicide, Nile, Dying Fetus, and Morbid Angel before I got into Opeth, so I am quite used to growling now, and do enjoy it

I wanted to "broaden my horizons" a bit, so to speak, and I heard all these great things about Opeth. The first songs I heard were Credence and Harvest, so I was a bit like uhhhh...

since I had heard Opeth was an amazing metal band. Then I heard the rest of the songs/albums and liked them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelben If you want to find out more about music of Opeth, check out their 1st 2 albums "Orchid' and "Moringrise".

I agree with this as well. The sound is, of course, very different, but IMO very beautiful. I have not really heard of any other bands with this style either. I know In Flames/Dark Tranquillity, etc. had the "dueling guitars" thing going, but they do not really capture the sad/evil emotions that Opeth conveys in these two albums. The acoustic sections are very nice as well. Most people dismiss these two albums, but Orchid is probably my second favorite album after Still Life.

 

[roadtonowhere08]

When I first got into Opeth, I also wished they were all clean vocals. However, as I really got into them, I "got" the vocals. They matched the music perfectly. Try singing the song "Blackwater Park" cleanly and you lose all the fire and passion of the song. You may not like the vocals now, but you will forget all about that once you get the entire catalogue and spend hours on end endulging on some of the best music ever, IMO.

 

[itay]

i'm at the same position as you are ,
i also decided to give them a chance ( Their Music is recommended everywhere ).
i was very dissapointed when the growling began and lost intrest after the 3rd song ..... but then i read this thread and i said to myself
Wth , what do i have to lose ?
After The 4rd song i was hooked

.
the growling still bothers me and i try very hard not to skip the singing parts .

i guess i should thank you ( i plan on giving their new album a chance soon)