I remember getting this album and feeling the same way Mikael did at the time…that he may have reached his limits with extreme metal. HERITAGE ended up being a new era for them after this but years later I realized that I seriously underestimated this album. It was indeed amazing, especially revisiting it later. I love new Opeth but there’s something magical about the prog metal era.
The guitar change at 23:40 was so seamless that you didn't even notice it (although you seemed to notice that the organ was more prominent). The stage crew was really up to the task. I think Mikael sang one wrong word and was the tiniest bit out of time when he came back in with the guitar. It's crazy how perfect the change was.
I started getting into more metal bands early in 2020 and Opeth was basically the first one, and I've kept listening to them on and off since then but the last few weeks I've been addicted again. I listened to a few other songs I've never heard and...damn, that feeling of a new Opeth song is always amazing.
I saw "Opeth" one time at "Download 04" simply the fact because they opened for headliners Linkin Park! Metallica, Korn, Slipknot and Slayer also performed on that same show following day. The night Joey Jordison saved Metallica! simpler fun times ✌
Feels bad that lyrics had a few mistakes. Such a writen masterpiece, at least from a psychological perspective. When I listen to most of Opeth songs the lyrics always sound like the ramblings of a single mind and a battle within.
