Opeth - Ghost of Perdition (pianist reacts to metalhead friend’s suggestion) 

As a prog fan, I don't mind the transitions and divergences, because I'm going to learn the song eventually and they won't be disorienting or confusing anymore. And what you end up with is something that feels more like a story than a few short poems arranged into a predictable pattern, as so many conventional song structures are. Part of the joy for me is figuring out these songs. When it finally "clicks", it's another reward aside from the usual listening experience.

Those turns and changes are there to convey the story actually! A song doesn't have to have a single level of identity! This is what prog is all about!

My ADD brain loves Opeth so much. Listening to them is like scratching an itch in my frontal lobe 😂 You literally never get bored. I noticed that Judson didn’t stop the song not once, just sat and absorbed 🙃 As for a more digestible song, The Drapery Falls never fails. Have fun boys!

This time I don't agree. Let me start by saying that I'm not an Opeth fan. I saw them live last summer but I know them very superficially. Despite this however, I am absolutely convinced that this song is not only the best of their repertoire, but is a true masterpiece in an absolute sense. It's true that it doesn't have a well-defined identity but as I see it this is not a flaw but a strength. It's not simply a mix of different parts, but it's jumping from one genre to another while still keeping the level of the various parts very high. To make myself better understood despite the language barrier, I try to give an example. Some people put a lot of different ingredients in the same pot and the result is a messy dish with a bad taste. In this song there are many very good dishes served on one plate and then a bite is taken of everything by jumping from one to another. For the rest it remains a matter of personal taste. 🤟🏻

I've seen Opeth about 10 times (they play somewhere every 10 minutes in Europe...), and I'll never get bored of them live

I have seen Opeth 7 times, my old guitarist, my brother and I went to see them in 2016 and literally walked past the entire band and security on a sidewalk a few hours before the concert, they were out for a walk!! Mikael's smirk...lol

When a song makes someone like him really think and struggle, but not say he hates it, then it did it's job. Listen a few times and it will start to make sense. I would say this was a very successful reaction!

Absolute masterpiece, no doubt Progmetal at it's best.

@18:00 Listening to Opeth is a true and advanced musicians hobby and sport. The value in Opeth is that you can listen to any album and any song at any point as many times as you like, and will still find something new. True timeless music composition! Loved the reaction guys!! Cheers fam!

I vote for Face of Melinda (studio) for a more digestible song. Or will o the wasp. But not overly complex songs, with nice vocals and good vibe.

One of my favorite Opeth songs. Why? Because it is the epitome of Opeth. This song represents Opeth as a whole. everything that they do wrapped up in one song. If I want someone to hear Opeth for the first time this is the song I play. After this song there is nothing that will surprise you when you listen to Opeth.

The incredible thing for such an intricate and varied song is that the live version is even better... And not by a little.

Wow this is first song of theirs that really grabbed me! Loved it.

it's not "digestible" if you listen to it only once . This is the song that got me into the band in the first place tons of years ago!

Hours of Wealth is very emotional with clean guitars and vocals. The lyrics hurt and the music hurts you more

I have seen Opeth live twice, once while they were touring Watershed and then again on their Heritage tour, where they played a totally clean vox set, and didn't announce that beforehand. People got real salty when they got to the shows and found out there were minimal heavy songs, but honestly it was so fun to hear them mess around with other styles on stage, also Mikhael is hilarious on stage, dude has such good stage banter. For my money I love Mikhael's stream of consciousness style of song writing, but I get why it's not for everyone. My breakdown of further Opeth would go like this: More chaotic quick changes and such go for "Harlequin Forest", for a more digestible heavy song from them "Master's Apprentices" (that song is a tough sit, but it carries consistent tones and themes throughout), for their ballads/lighter sound go for "Windowpane", and for what they're up to now after the genre shift "Eternal Rains Will Come". Really glad I found this channel tonight. I'm just blasting tunes all night now.

Was waiting for this one. Thank you.

Judson needs to hear some Nevermore. Fast, complex thrash metal, classically trained vocalist -- really one of the most underrated bands of the 90's/00's. Try "This Godless Endeavour", "I, Voyager", "My Acid Words", or "The River Dragon Has Come".

Reverie/Harlequin Forest off of this same album is a must! It has a mixture of the harsh & clean vocals as well but I feel it is a more “listenable” song.

I think the perfect palatable song by Opeth is A Fair Judgement, it's mellow but with heavy moments (not harsh vocals), not frantic at all, and there's even some piano. And god that ending riff might be the hardest hitting thing ever...

Been really digging these new intros. Props to whoever made them. Both the music and the graphic designs.

I’ve been listening to Death and Black Metal since the late 80s so I’m used to the harsh vocals. What I’ve always loved about Opeth is how they incorporate the classical, folk, and jazz elements to make it Proggy. I do consider myself a Prog Metal guy as I’ve always loved bands like Fates Warning and Dream Theater. Discovering Opeth back in 1997 was one of the best things ever. I got so into them. For more “palatable” Opeth I highly recommend “Face of Melinda” which I believe I did recommend in one of the other Opeth reactions. I would also recommend “Harvest” and “In My Time of Need.” For another good aggressive song with a mixture clean and harsh vocals, I think “The Moor” or “The Drapery Falls” would be good because of the twists and turns and I think Judson would start to dig that and maybe pick up on some patterns and song identities, to use his term. 🤘🏼

I love this entire album! one of the best records ever made!

My favorite band. One of their best songs ever. Maybe "In My Time of Need", yeah, I recommend that song.

One of the reasons i love opeth is just because of that, it never gets boring. Every listen is interesting and you find new things about the song. He should get into the whole lyrical stories they tell though, that will make it more.. Tied together? They do tell stories, through the lyrics but also through the instruments. Please man, show him harlequin forest, that would be so much more digestable for him, i think. Maybe explain the Basic story of the lyrics beforehand? Or have them present to him during the song? I would probably find opeth kinda messy if i was introduced to this song first (well, second for him but Yeah). Harlequin forest! :)

Love the channel guys, always stoked to see a new video posted. If you are looking for some more "edible" Opeth, i would highly recomend "River" off Pale Communion. It has a really cool Allman Brothers vibe at the start and an awesome build up to the end. Keep up the great work lads, its been a pleasure going on this ride with you.

Hello Richard and Judson! I just found your channel a few weeks back and I love watching your videos! Keep up the great work! Judson- I love watching your expression and witness your amazing ability to play what you are hearing on the piano! Your conversations with Richard are fascinating and I really appreciate you both for sharing with us. If and when you decide to do any more covers I am so here for it! Richard- Will you ever do an episode with Judson where he plays you a song you don't know and you trade places? I think that would be amazing. For Opeth I would suggest Windowpane. Also! I think Judson may possibly dig some Apocalyptica?

Opeth it's nice, I love your reactions. greetings from Brazil!

i love your intros and takes on the songs, always interesting even if we don't appreciate them the same way !

Yay, opeth!! Harlequin Forest, studio version give Judson the lyrics. Ghost of perdition, like many of their songs, is dark and haunting lyrically. I think they purposely make the music unsettling. Maybe, Richard; Sorceress for a change of opeth's groove and dynamics. All clean vocals and tottally different. Thanks guys. Have a good one.

Live at Red Rocks was a phenomenal concert of this piece. (Moon above and sun below )is great song by them

Bleak, it's definetely the song that you will really dig it! Guys, what an incredible job by reacting Opeth, really glad to watched this video! Keep going!

I mean...sure it's hard to follow all the transitions at first hearing...but every single part of this song is so awesome,that I heared it so many times now,to absolutley love the whole structure!After 100 times hearing it you still didn't get it all?Well I and many other Opeth fans out there do..!Having said that,still love the video and your channel!I would love to see 'Harlequin Forest' next...!

This is actually a slightly difficult song to get into unless you’re more into Opeth in general. Damnation, Pale Communion, or In Cauda Vanenum would make a great next song, to get into their sound. I would suggest Damnation, Eternal Rains, Heart in Hand

For edible opeth, Face of Melinda is a good one to show earlier opeth. Anything off Damnation is good with Closure being my favorite.

Love this series and both of you guys have a great flow and energy together. Video suggestion: Judson has you react to something in his sphere.

Drapery Falls, Hessian Peel and Harlequin Forest might be good choises for the next Opeth songs :)

Yes!!! Ghost Reveries is probably my favourite Opeth album was super stoked to see you guys have a reaction video out for GOP. I love every single song off this masterpiece \m/. If you guys are looking for some more edible Opeth to react too the perfect album would be Damnation. It's all clean singing from Mikael and the album was also produced by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. I believe it was the song Hope Leaves off that album that got me into Opeth. Some beautiful stuff!

My favorite song of all time. Period.

You guys are the best reaction channel🤣 I used to be a huge prog fun but now I seem to be into more simple stuff

Great Measures! If you're doing another Opeth, it has to be "Closure" from their album "Damnation". This is the first "full clean voice" album they do, it's was the turn of an era. And this song is one of the most interesting ones

The intro on the piano is beautiful.

Yes! Live version at Red Rocks. PLEASE!!!!

Thats prog for ya! Sometimes it takes a few listens to appreciate everything that happens in these epic tracks. Heir Apparent, The Funeral Portrait, or Devils Orchard next please!

Yessss Opeth! Had the pleasure of seeing them four times.

I would try “Heart In Hand” or “Spring mcmlxxiv”. Don’t give up on the heavy and winding beauty of Opeth. This is the beauty of Opeth, you can listen to them for a decade and still find new favorite sections, riffs, or appreciate the composition in a new light. Keep up the awesome work, thank you.

There are so many opeth songs that have a great direction and more fluid transitions. It’s mostly this song in particular that likes to play with the quick changes in mood. Personally I think it’s one of the best songs they’ve ever written but they have so much more to show even if you didn’t quite understand what they we’re going for with this track.

More Opeth, please. I'd love for you to react to Moon Above, Sun Below. My favorite song from one of their most underated albums. It has complexity, it has identity, it's more cohesive and it's a more experimental side of Opeth which I love and I think Judson will too.

I'd like to see his take on Silhouette. As a pianist it would be good to hear his opinion on the piano work.

You guys need to do some 70's Priest, specifically the album Stained Class. Those songs are straight up rock 'n' roll. Groovy rhythms, head-bangin' riffs, epic solos, and of course, Rob Halford's soaring vocals. Exciter, White Heat Red Hot, Saints in Hell, Victim of Changes, Sinner, Dissident Agressor are a great place to start. Or their cover of Joan Baez's Diamonds and Rust.

I didn't like this song at first either, but I still knew there was something worthwhile there so I kept relistening. It's my favourite song of all time now!

I’m not a musician or trained in such in any way, but I am a huge music fan in a variety of genres. I love Opeth, I love the change ups and their progressive metal style, that’s what makes them great.

Before anything, I love you guys for everything!

Just catching up with Yall...Only 2:50 into this, but had to smile immediately, cuz my Twin Sister, Nancy, and I ride to work 5d/wk with Mainly Opeth's Ghost Reveries being what we listen to (along with albums in her cd changer I don't know names of by Dissection, Nevermore, and Mastodon) We both thought "The Baying of the Hounds/Beneath the Mire" would be fun for Yall to do. We don't see those as separate songs, so they should be listened to in tandem. Gonna keep watching now... Thanks for Being Yall! Great Stuff!

My favorite Opeth song.

Speaking as someone who’s played in an orchestra and really loves prog metal, I find it helps to think of most songs as condensed symphonies. This would’ve been a symphony with multiple movements, with lots of returning to and modifying of themes -not unlike a conversation, which iirc for this song is more or less what is going on. Some bands, like Ne Obliviscaris, do much better with separation of their ‘symphonies’ - NeO has quite a few songs in different parts (I.e. Devour Me, Colossus pt 1 and pt 2) that more closely align with classical music movements.

I ordered this at my local record shop and couldn't wait to get home and listen. Id been blown away by Still Life a few years before. I was initially disappointed, I didnt know what to make of it. It felt too...'angular'. I like it now, though. I'm a big fan of growls, but understand that it's not for everyone. I cannot STAND: harmonica, accordian, oboe and muted trumpet. But good for you if you do!

windowpane is the first song that comes to mind for digestive listening

It really takes time to get used to the growls, and this song is more of a story consisting of several contrasting poems than a straight up rock song. Songs like Bleak or The Drapery Falls could be more digestable.

I think the way Opeth paints their audible canvas is by taking you on a journey. The story they tell lyrically will many times be represented musically. For instance, the high pitch vocal melody over the acoustic riff is suppose to sound ghostly which is a main theme of the song. They also like to tie the different musical textures together utilizing the same melodies but may stretch or modulate it changing the feel of the song at the moment. I've been an Opeth fan for 20+ years. Their songs will take you on a journey, their albums will take you on a journey, and their discography will takes you on a journey. And every listen, I feel like I discover something new I didn't hear before.

"In my Time of Need" would be a great follow-up in my opinion, really showcase the other side of Opeth

I'm gonna come in hot with a reaction request that is atypical for the band doing it, but I for one find it completely beautiful. the track is "Voice Of The Soul" by the band Death, from their album "The Sound Of Perseverance"

Your reactions are very real and I like them. More digestable song request is All Things Will Pass. It's one of newest songs by them.

You guys are very entertaining… great reactions! Gotta give DOG FASHION DISCO a spin. ✌️🖤🤘

Opeth and Katatonia are pure magic. I was crying the first time I saw Opeth live. I would suggest Sorceress, Harvest or In My Time Of Need as more digestive songs. Maybe also some Katatonia like Old Heart Falls, My Twin etc. Thank you

"I've listened to it a hundred times and I still don't know where it's going", "the song doesn't have much of an identity" omg.... I've noticed that this ISN'T my channel lmao, you guys are on a different wavelength, but at least I appreciate y'alls honesty as opposed to those reaction channels that just fake liking everything. Nonetheless, you couldn't be more wrong about the song not having an identity. If anything this is one of their defining songs. The song's progression fully encompasses Opeth's identity and it flows extremely well, albeit not following the de facto 'rules' of music (hence the progressive element). This channel is the perfect example of how listening to and/or performing classical music doesn't immediately make you a based music connoisseur, contrary to popular belief. Or maybe I'm just wrong and I don't know what I'm talking about ;)

For absolute beginner: A Fair Judgement, Windowpane, Harlequin Forest, Atonement, Hessian Peel, Lovelorn Crime, Porceline Heart.

Best Opeth song. Masterpiece.

Ghost Reveries is my favourite Opeth album, every song, every moment, is sublime. My favourite track is The Grand Conjuration. It's just as long and involved, BUT, it hits on a musical theme and pounds it for all its worth (although of course it NEVER gets boring). Maybe give that a spin.

🔥🔥❤️Opeth❤️🔥🔥 ~~~~ That is all ~~~~

I am still impressed that you can listen to a song (even one as complex as that one) just once and play it on the piano ^^' What I love about bands like Opeth is that you never know where they are going to go, their unpredicatability is their forte and the core of their identity imo. Maybe Harlequin Forest or Bleak would be a good choice as second song.

I want to see Judson's face when he listens to Hessian Peel, there is one really strange (indeed: wrong in a strict sense) note in the key melody. I like it though :-)

incredible song

Bro, the tshirt you're wearing, what band is it, I wanna give it a listen. And your way of reacting and the magic between you two is amazing! Subscribed just because Opeth.

You should play something from In Cauda Veneum, the swedish version though as it's superior (the vocals are just better and more emotional as the songs were primarily written to be sung swedish). I'd recommend "Svekets Prins", "Hjärtat vet vad handen gör", "Minnets yta" or my personal favorite "Allting tar slut".

If you're looking for some newish era Opeth, why don't you listen to Sorceress? Clean vocals, awesome bizarre yet funky intro, plus it has a distinguishable song structure that's less linear.

I love that song for those reasons

I think he'd appreciate Silhouette, it's a fantastic piano piece.

I recommend even newer achievements! "Sorceress", "In cauda venenum". btw. Live at The Red Rock quality - it is identical to the studio version (not because they played with playback but because they are so great). Thx again boys, for the Opeth band. 👍👍👍 I recommend "Garden of Earthly Delights" + "Dignity" from , listened to in order, but one after the other. (Only 10 minuts both) The atmosphere of John Carpenter's films or The Exorcist (Vangelis) in the first one + Dignity's masterpiece. Musically, not so sharp, but beware, psychedelic atmosphere.

Very cool reaction, stellar track! So many interesting Opeth songs to dissect. How familiar are you guys with Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree? He/They don't get near enough reaction love despite his/their massive stature in the prog world, especially his solo stuff which is ever-evolving. I would suggest any of the song videos animated by Jess Cope (Routine, Drive Home, Beautiful Scarecrow,...)

fuck yeah

I never thought about Opeth as not having any direction really and I'm a musician but I am also a huge metal fan so maybe thats it? idk. I just feel like it's a good experience, especially paired with the album.

@Great Measures. My suggestion for a more "palatable/edible" Opeth song would be "Sorceress." After an "interesting" interlude it leads into a a very catchy, mainstream-like song. Great riff and great vocals. From my experience, Opeth has such a diverse catalogue of songs/albums. Some are extremely unpalatble if you aren't familiar with/into Opeth. And some songs still aren't palatable to me. The album "Damnation" is a very different sounding Opeth and very easy to listen to. Opeth are SUPER talented, but it depends on the mood and circumstances. Sometimes it's an exhausting journey, and other times it's an amazing and inspiring journey to have Opeth playing in the background while crunching out some work. P.S. The "Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre" version is GREAT. The mix is so good for a live performance.

One of the best songs ever made.. Please react to the whole Edge of Sanity - Crimson song 31 minutes iirc.. If you dare :p

We've gotta see his reaction to "bleak", man. That feels like a no-brainer. Would absolutely love to hear his take on it.

After listening to this song they look like they just came home from 10 hours of going around the whole town and drinking

I know Black Water Park is considered by many to be their best, but Ghost Reveries, imo, is their best and most complete album. One of my all time favorite albums. It's up there with Scenes From a Memory. They were at their peek with this one, imo. Beautiful is the only word I can use to describe this masterpiece.

Ha, my RU-vid bar didn't indicate it watched this one all the way thru, Yall have a "playlist" so I'm watching, again apparently, this time Judson's Phish intro reminded me of hearing Buckethead's Liquid Mantis, and thinking about Yall... I've watched the Steve Vai, think that would be fun listen for Yall. Thanks for the Smiles! Blessings to Yall!

Opeth - Harlequin Forest ;) Mega supa cool song (more eatable than Ghost of Perdition and very pleasable. But you should play LIVE version - it's more pleasable that way) P.S. You just should listen Ghost of Perdition more than 2 times to make it "eatable".

Hey guys, please do Baying of the Hounds, off the same record, first track I've seen Opeth 9 times in Australia

Great playing there my friend .... 'fish' means something else in Scotland :-) look him up - particularly when he was in Marillion.

Is that an Entheos shirt? They are awesome!

Now for contrast play benighted for him... literally my favorite song to play on acoustic ever.

I like the intro graphics, but my tip is to make them shorter a bit

Request: portrait of a headless man - septic flesh

I mean true, it has not one single riff or motif like compare to a ghost song that makes it easy to listen to, but to say this song is chaotic is stretching it a little bit. thing is, what does a song want? be a easily digestible, hooky song (nothing wrong with that) or tell a story? opeth do the latter. even in classical music, there are light scherzos or what y could call the "pop song" of those times with easily identifiable themes, not very long, but there are also entire symphony pieces with allegro, andante or largo, scherzo rondo and all that jazz that together form a cohesive whole, but these parts are obviously different from each other. I like to picture Opeth music (but not only theirs, also plenty of other bands around with long compositions that take many twists and turns) doing something similar in their genre. and even with this form, there are multiple motifs in this song that are to me very catchy, one comes back at the end to nicely conclude it, a short reprise. but yeah, might be a bit much on first listen.

You never can tell who's going to like this song, I swear! My husband is an acoustic guitarist, he mostly listens to The Beatles, but he loves this song to death. I was sure he would hate it when I played it for the first time though. If this is too much for you, check out "Burden", all clean and very slow and retro.

You should have given him the lyrics. Besides the storytelling being incredible in this song, the different moments in the story told match perfectly the intensity's variation in the music. 😁

I love how there's repetition but it's the perfect amount of it. At first it seemed kinda boring but After like 4 or 5 listens it really grows on you. It's friggin genius. No other band does it like them

Just get into it and let you flow through their music. It is an experience... you do not have to pinpoint everything.... It's The new 70's without shrooms or stuff like that. Just unbelievable release and join the flow.... (I think their the best prog metal band ever at this point)