Classical Composer Reacts to Reverie/Harlequin Forest (Opeth) | The Daily Doug (Episode 50) 

1000% a concept album. The first song is called, “Ghost of Perdition”. The story start in a small cottage where a young man is actually witnessing his mother who struggles with her sanity become possessed. The young man is tempted by the devil to surrender his soul, but because he is seeing her become possessed the young man refuses. The possession takes the mother so badly that the son murders her to release her from the grasp of the demon… The second song is called, “ The Baying of The Hounds”. The young man is condemned for murdering his mother by the town’s people and they release the town dogs to track him. Occasionally through this song the devil speaks to the young man attempting to torment him for murdering his own mother. He slips in and out of what appears to be a dream like state feeling that maybe he is dead… The third song is called, “Beneath the Mire”. The devil speaks louder now. He flees into a mire(HE DID WHAT?!) and hides from the hounds. Townspeople die by sinking in the mire while searching for him and he begins to feel more powerful. The young man begins to feel that he might be possessed himself… The fourth song is called, “Atonement”. Here the man is able to clear his head and he repents for what he has done. He feels that he has received forgiveness for what he has done, but he knows that he will never be able to justify it… The fifth song is called, “Reverie/Harlequin Forest”. The townspeople have picked up the young man’s trail again and are now fully chasing him. He flees into a forest(NO WAY!) and while hiding he finds himself in a situation where he has to murder one of the people to keep from being discovered. The young man suddenly feels the power again. He begins to see that he has no way of life other than running and murdering to survive. The young man sets fire to the forest and kills not only all the trees, but all the townspeople as well… The sixth song is called, “Hours of Wealth”. The young man has found a home in a new town, but feels like a stranger and alone at all times. The longer that he’s there, the more that he doesn’t speak to anyone. He retreats into his mind and slowly starts to feel insane. It is revealed that the devil is biding his time with the man… The seventh song is called, The Grand Conjuration”. The young man, feeling completely alone, turns to the devil and surrenders his soul. The man goes on a murdering spree and destroys everyone around him to build the army of satan stronger… The eight and final song is called, “Isolation Years”. A letter is discovered that was written by the mother, who is revealed to be a woman named Rosemary. The letter states that she will die alone and seems to be coherently written. The letter details that Rosemary knew her son was gone, even though his physical body was still there. It is discovered that the letter was written while she was murdered by her son due to stains of blood, which are essentially right where his name is written on the letter. This all reveals that the young man was actually the one struggling with a demon, while his mother was documenting it while also knowing that she would end up losing her life.

The long crazy outro was deliberate. It symbolizes being hopelessly lost in the darkness of the Harlequin Forest.

Really enjoyed this! One of the best analysis of one of my favourite songs. Ne Obliviscaris - And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope. The live version is great too

Opeth is one of the greatest bands nowadays.

I like how you're open minded to different types of music. A lot of people dismiss Metal, but it's become very sophisticated with extremely accomplished musicians.

Are you kidding me?!?! I requested this on a previous video like 2 hours ago when I discovered your channel... Christmas has come way early...

4:28 Doug: It's so powerful behind him and ♪he's just singin like this♪, such a smooth and wonderful color to his voice... Me: yea... just wait for it

Opeth - The Drapery Falls - Blackwater Park please !

Opeth creates and uses the most interesting chord progressions.

I can't get over Opeth. They're overbearingly powerful, masterful use of transitions and non standard song patterns keep it so interesting. Listening to their whole discography from Orchid to Watershed you can hear how Mikael slowly cleaned up their composition, removing anything that isn't interesting and useful to move a song forward. Each album gets leaner and leaner until finally watershed is the pinnacle of their style. Its also why they had to change directions. They mastered themselves- making anything more in that style would be self-parody. So he was brave and bold and now they're more interesting than they ever were before IMO. I grew up and so did they.

How is it possible I've learned to appreciate Opeth musically even more from one reaction than I have after 15 years of them being my favorite band period!?

What I like about Opeth is how complex, thoughtful and layered their music is without being overly pretentious. It's all very listenable because it comes so naturally.

This is favorite opeth song. Every time I listen to this song I can feel I'm travelling across some strange land.

This is the Opeth song I’ve been finding myself listening to a LOT lately. Very very nice. And count this as another vote for Ne Obliviscaris .. as a composer, worth noting that And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope has been studied by a conservatory in Sydney as an example of modern composition.

Yes love it, Opeth is my favourite band ❤ would love to hear your take on "next of kin" or "lovelorn crime" by them

You've hit the nail on the head with their restraint from virtuosity. I think that's why I love Opeth but find Symphony X or Nightwish lacking. They shred when they need to but the open space in their songs is so vast. It makes the heavy heavier and the gentler moments sweeter.

You summed up Opeth perfectly when you said "They've kind of got me confused me a bit". Their songs often lead you down a particular path and you think you know where it's going and then all of sudden you arrive at a place you weren't expecting.

I'd love you to listen to "Be'lakor - 'Smoke of many fires' or 'An Embers Arc'" beautiful melo death metal.

"I can listening to him sing all day long" hahahaha what a coincidence, me too xD

Everytime I hear older Opeth music I always imagine an orchestra playing it. It just sounds so grandiose and has a cathedral and middle age vibe. Nothing sounds like Opeth. They used to sound like classical music played through humbuckers and rectifiers.

As a new subscriber can I humbly suggest Dream Theater’s Dance of Eternity. It will test your counting chops.

Opeth is awesome and one of my all time favorite bands!! Seen them 3 times. I grew up on classical music. Both my parents are classically trained singers and musicians...my father went to Westminster 😁 Great reaction!!

"Interesting chord progression, I want to see how much they do with that...." Welcome to Opeth. However much you think can be done with it, they will do, and then they will do more.

Hey man, I think you would enjoy the construction of Meshuggah's sound. They have good drum videos. Also, this was a good watch.

Damn dude you earned a sub with your knowledge and interpretation. I expect more Opeth reactions and maybe some Dream Theater reactions.

A very succinct review of this song. This band does breathe rarefied air. Now you could experience either River or Moon Above, Sun Below - both by Opeth. You've now turned the key and opened the door. There's many a tasty tune by this band.

great reaction/dissection of the song! love it, you should react to "Ghost of perdition" from the same band live at red rocks, its an amazing performance

I appreciate you identifying the intervals, chord progressions and modulations, few people doing this sort of thing go into much depth.

You should react to anesthetize live by porcupine tree.

One of my favourite by Opeth is “Face of Melinda” . Is really focused in sound and ambiance! Believe me

Opeths strength is the ability to establish such an infectious groove whilst playing odd time signatures and establishing such a strong foundation of atmosphere. It’s really a testament to akerfeldts skill. The guy should be scoring movies. He’d be killer at it.

This has got to be one of my favorite songs of theirs - that outro never fails to give me some goosebumps. It was so cool to see you making the 'metal scowl' during it; such a raw reaction to the power and groove.

Hessian peel. God tier.

Wehn the classics guy gets into a bit of headbaning and does the "uh dad shit is heavy face": the song is GOOD. Awesome analysis. Verry accurate with the cords and shit. He sings the cleas in this range to cut through the guitars. Also his voice color helps big time. Check out deliverance next! Also mega awesome and has the best outro ever!

Opeth, the fine wine of scandinavian metal, wonderful band. A recommendation as a companion band to opeth is katatonia, especially the 'fall of hearts' album. The vocals have that distinct soft scandinavian flavour and deliberate use of the flat notes to put it in the back metal category.

While all of Opeth's stuff is really good and interesting, the era from Still Life to Ghost Reveries is just magic. The Moor, Face of Melinda, Bleak, Drapery Falls, Deliverance, Windowpane, Ghost of Perdition... the list just goes on and on.

Native Construct - Mute. They're all Berklee grads. Like nothing you've heard before. You would absolutely love it. Best album in the past ten years.

It’s crazy how he sings, play guitar and compose all the songs by himself ! My favorite band! They also have song called Mellotron Heart

Please, react Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (live Wacken 2013)

That was actually Harlequin Forest. Reverie was a "gap track" between the song before this, Atonement and into Harlequin Forest. With how the album got transferred to digital media, it shows up at the end of Atonement but is not actually part of the song, it's the intro to this. That's why it "cuts to the chase." A shame really, as it's a lovely intro that most people think isn't even part of this song.

I’ve watched your Tool reaction and now this. Amazing analysis. I would love to see your reaction to The Last Baron or The Czar by Mastodon. Both very melodic. Subscribed!

I've been watching your rock based reactions and one band screams out to me as something you would probably like and find interesting; Nightwish...listen to them with Floor as the lead singer, I would go for Ghost Love Score from Wacken in 2013 as an intro to them.

Opeth is one of my favorite bands, and this song is great. Other songs I really recommend with opeth is The Moor and Bleak if you want heavier stuff. If you want a softer side of Opeth i recommend Windowpane and Benighted. Opeth has many great tracks. The title says you are into classical music, maybe you should try see if you could appriciate symhonic metal. Here are a few recommendations. Nightwish - Ghost love score, Epicas cover of Hall of the mountain king or cry for the moon if you want an original, Within temptation feat Tarja - Paradise. I am very into metal, however I also love classical music and opera.

Wow.... looks like I have to expand on my ‘ to follow ‘ list. Spot on with the analysis. Few days ago well done on Tool and now on Opeth. Guess the math is done based on views, likes and comments on what reaction video’s need to be done. Looking forward to new material like Blackwater Park, or Deliverance.. ( live versions) Cheers, from the Netherlands!

This is interesting and fun. I don't read music, just because I can't🙂 I find it interesting though how you pointing out what happens. You make the music from my favourite band even more living. When things are normal again I will see Opeth in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Been looking forward to that since five months, when I bought the tickets.

Great analysis! Check out between the buried and me- “extremophile elite”

Yes, It's very hypnotic. Doug, I would love to see a reaction for The Drapery falls. This is the song that got me into Opeth 20 years ago. :) In standard Opeth fashion the song has the rip your face off feel, make you cry, then rip your face off again. repeat. It's great (especially the ending for me). To be honest I'm not much of a growling / screamy kinda fellow but their music is too damn good for me to not listen. It's like beer, you just get used to it and learn to like it. lol :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YeTNkPXRrVY.html

Just subscribed. Can you react to Muse? They have some great classical music influenced songs. Space dementia, Butterflies and Hurricanes, Exogenesis symphony. Thanks

Nice reaction! Opeth are, simply put, one of the greatest bands ever. BTW, the song title is actually "Harlequin Forest" only. "Reverie" is the ending part of "Atonement/Reverie", in which you can definitely hear two completely different sections.

Doug at the next Opeth gig will be like: Ah yes A3, B sharp, E minor, back to C major, ...

Loving these reactions. There's so much raw musicality in Opeth. And their use of dynamics is incredible. I love how they tend to stay on riffs long enough to really let you feel the groove, and how they really tell a story with each song.

Any composer or engineer needs to listen to The Moor.

Great reaction! Please do more Opeth. Another great band you probably haven't heard is Leprous. I'd like to request "The Sky is Red".

I 💓 Opeth, especially clean vocal Mikael. 💖

Really enjoyed your take on this, you have a really interesting perspective on Opeth. I'm not sure if you've done Steven Wilson's "Home Invasion/Regret #9" but I can't recommend it enough.

What an awesome analysis! I gotta figure out how to pick out chords in a progression like you, that’s nuts!

this song gives me the chills everytime. Also, the best desciption for Opeth i ever heared "Swiss Army Knive of Metal" - true...

For me this is one of the greatest albums of all time. Just one of those absolute masterpieces you can't imagine being any better.

I absolutely love when experienced musicians check out bands like this. Amazing channel.

Would love to see your take on Nightwish - Ghost Love Score live at Wacken 2013, or The Poet and The Pendulum Wembley Arena 2015!

Great reaction Doug! It's so interesting to hear what a classical composer like you have to say about a metal song. I think you would really like another song from them called Moon Above, Sun Below. Here's a link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a3sYPX17cFk.html

Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (live @ Wacken 2013)

Thank you for doing a great reaction on one my favourite songs ever! Saw Opeth a year ago in Helsinki, last gig before Corona stopped the big concerts. They did play this, impeccably. Everyone is asking you to do a reaction to their favourites, and I will add Karnivool and their song Deadman to this long list of requests. Karnivool is an Aussie proge band, I'm confident that you would love their music. 🎶

Yes, that was a Melllotron. I've seen them six times. Their keyboardist had a pair. The growls are speaking volume; it's the trick to not blowing out one's voice.

please please please please please please... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE react to THE MOOR!!

"I could listen to him all day" Yes, so could we, and we do. What a voice.

Hello Sir, can you please react to some Nightwish. I am just curios what do you think about Toumas art. P.S. And the singers.......i recomend Wachen2013

Arguably my favourite band of all time ❤️ and I’m not particularly a metalhead. Really enjoyed your reaction to this; subbed!

Do something by Ghost

I'm a simple man. I hear Opeth, I leave a like :) But also, lovely to hear You explaining it all. THANK YOU

Opeth always felt like a band that people who really knows music likes. This confirms my suspicion. Such an amazing band.

Love Opeth. Found them a few years ago, maybe the best band I've found in like 20 years (top three in any case), and the band that finally got me to accept and even enjoy growls.

This was a great analysis, I loved it. Good job Doug!

Also at 11:44 they switch to a Dorian mode and it takes on a Gregorian chant sort of feel.

I would really love to see a video of you analyzing some Mastodon material. Especially their masterpiece, "Crack the Skye" !

Would love to hear your take on Wintersun Time (live at sonic pump studios). Loneliness is another fantastic composition. I think you'd really be able to appreciate how long the tracks take to arrange.

My dude, I love the listen/review/reaction! It’s not often classically trained, music professionals share their thoughts on bands like these. I’m a huge fan of Opeth and Tool, please do more. BUT if you want to really jump into symphonic metal then there is a must listen waiting for you: Nightwish. Most channels first listen to the band as a recommendation about the vocalist, Floor Jansen. Arguably the top vocalist that no one has heard of in North America. BUT the music is what really pulls everyone in by the end. If metal music is a wide spanning gourmet menu of musical fine dining; the Nightwish is the chef’s feature for symphonic metal. Almost every note and lyric is composed by the keyboardist, who has been dubbed the metal Mozart. He composes all of the symphonic elements and gets Pip Williams to arrange and record with the London Philharmonic. They do not tour with full orchestration, so some is played as a synth patch and the rest is midi tracked. Highly recommend Ghost Love Score (Live at Wacken 2013) as a jumping off point. 10 minutes of symphonic metal, scored in a cinematic progression style. Wiiiiide open epic soundscapes combined with the metal punch and warm, free vocals juxtaposed on top. Most definitely music that is best experienced live; which is not an issue since of these full show DVD/Blue-ray production recordings have some the best live engineering and post mixing I’ve listened: Wacken 2013, Wembley 2015, Tampere 2015, or Buenos Aires 2018. Their newest album (Human. :||: Nature.) hasn’t been played on tour yet. It’s a double “disc” album: Human, 9 tracks of symphonic metal; Nature, 30 minutes of pure orchestral music with very few vocal melodies. I have a strong suspicion that you will immensely enjoy the 2nd disc (and all of Nightwish’s discography to be honest).

Listen to some Symphony X, The Odyssey or The Divine Wings of Tragedy

Great reaction! I am enjoying your perspective. Would love to see you react to some Dream Theater, Glass Prison would be fun.

Okay sincere suggestion: Please do a video for Opeth’s The Lotus Eater! You’ll love it

Michael talks about using a Major chord for an “evil” sound along side the Minor chords. It’s on one of the “Making of...” videos on RU-vid, I think. I’ll look it up and post a link.

as a few people mentioned, you should absolutely check out ne obliviscaris - and plague flowers the kaleidoscope. incredible song with such great composition that it was studied in the sydney music conservatorium. and its got some great classical elements to it. next level above opeth. another really interesting band to check out is haggard. theyre basically a small orchestra, with full time classical musicians and multiple singers. they fuse melodic death metal with classical. as a classical composer and fan of metal, i think youd find them very interesting, you should definitely check them out. start with the song of a might divine, which come from their cd eppur si muove, a concept cd about galileo.

dang I think I've find a new metal band to listen to. Thank U very much Doug!

Love your reactions cause of the music theory knowledge you give out and how well versed you are in that knowledge. Earned a sub! 👍🏽

I love your breakdowns of Opeth songs. They're one of my favorite bands. Already subbed, but just watching you talk about this stuff is awesome.

What I find very interesting about Opeth while not sure of Michael's influences, is their chord structures and harmonies are things you often hear in early 20th century classical music. I hear things like Weber and Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Bartok. Whether he is even aware of this, I don't know. He is an amazingly bright and talented composer/guitarist. The band uses dissonance very effectively which isn't easy when using heavily distorted guitars. But he is clever on how he voices his chords with his other lead guitarist.

I think this song has *the* best intro I have ever heard in my all years of listening to music. Progressive rock really is a blessing to this life.

That Mellotron could well be a guitar effect but I just looked it up, they use actual Mellotrons, they even have a song called 'Mellotron Heart' which seems to be an alternative version of another song of theirs.

As a classical composer, I'd love to watch a video from You, analising Therion, Epica or Haggard, but specialy Therion, they invented symphonic metal in mid 80s. I recomend Adulruna Rediviva from Álbum Gothic Kabalah. A big hug from Medellin Colombia ❤️

such a great song. This album and Blackwater Park are fantastic albums (the title rack of the latter is one i would highly recomend!). The drummer on this track went onto form a band called SOEN who for me are amazing. Would love for you to react to one of their songs - the words/Martyrs/Antagonist or Lucidity. Great video Doug

That No Quarter homage with the Mellotron is just pure genius.

in my opinion, the totally acoustic "Windowpane", the first track on their (acoustic) Damnation album, features the most captivating guitar solo ever recorded. Opeth solos are never about virtuosity, it's always melodic or especially harmonic depth or beauty that drives the intrigue. so when I say it's a captivating solo, it's eminently playable - but amazing to write.

When a track starts immediately with no intro, and ends the same way, that'll be a concept album :)

most competent reaction channel.

Not too similar but you need to listen to TesseracT. Please

2:17 the song before this, Atonement I think, lead directly into this track. You should also listen to Ghost of Perdition or Windowpane if you haven’t already.

Awesome reaction. You missed part of the song though! The name is "Reverie/Harlequin Forest", it looks like the video you clicked on was just the "Harlequin Forest" part! Reverie is actually a short intro track that sets the mood for this piece. Unfortunately a lot of the RU-vid uploads cut this piece out. If you can, check out the full cut, for example there's an upload called "Opeth - Reverie Harlequin Forest.flv" if you search for it you can hear the whole song as it was meant to be played on the original album. Also there's a little more to that progression, for example that second chord in the progression is an Emaj add11, you can hear the 4th scale tone adds a lot of flavor/color to the song. And they keep tapping on that note as an accent/hook throughout. Despite being very distorted some of Opeth's chords are very "Jazzy" and they play on it in great ways to tie together the overall composition. And in the "Reverie" part of the song, the last chord in the progression is based on the very same note, when played in context it builds tension for the rest of the song.

Please react to black rose immortal

You should defently listen and analyse something by Dream Theater, "The dance of eternity" is a great choise, but "Octavarium, Glass Prison, Count of Tuscany etc are all great music

Opeth are the Richard Strauss of the metal universe.