Really love the new release which isn't surprising since I have the Opeth O tattooed on my right shoulder and I have been listening to them since the Orchid - Morningrise era along with having been able to see them 12 times live. IMO Blackwater Park is as fine a metal, don't care what subgenres people want to use, release as anything else by any metal band ever. I honestly think it is that good and deserves to be up there with the classics. That doesn't mean though that everything they have done is amazing to me. Of the second flavor of Opeth my favorite release has been Pale Communion as I think the last 3 songs are just some great song writing. The other clean releases didn't quite appeal to me as much though but I could tell with those first few opening seconds on Dignity that , for me, that Opeth magic had returned. Nothing I have heard in subsequent repeat listings has changed that and if anything being able to listen to this album in both English and Swedish is enhancing that experience as there are obvious vocal differences. Can't wait to see what comes next. =)
I may go to nyc instead. Farther, but nicer place and a weekend. I have to say, after a few listens the new record hasn’t grabbed me yet. I trust that with time and more listens it will. I do love that Mikael is following his muse and always trying something different. I do wonder how much further Opeth as an established band and fan base can push this thing. We’ll see. I am not happy with the Sonics of the new record or the last. I always thought of Opeth as a high quality Sonics band. The new records sounds so flat and one dimensional to me. Sections that should recede or lift in dynamics stay flat and boxed in. It hurts the music for me. Instead of immersive it feels distanct and removed. The stereo field is also very narrow to my ears and with all of the competing parts, spreading it out would allow it to breathe a little. I’m going to keep hanging with it and waiting for it to click with me. I like every record they’ve made so I’m sure it will.
Mine has arrived today too (music glue) and is also a bit dinged up. If the records are fine I'll probably keep it though but if I have any warped/off center or non-fill it's going back. The box seems quite cheaply done, lots of imperfections on the print. The blu ray is just tossed loosely inside so that along with the CD digipak is what is rattling around inside. Obviously too cheap to place a holder in the bottom to house those.
Just finished my first listen (Swedish CD). Can tell right away it'll be a grower. I like how it starts off with what I'd call "standard Opeth" sounding tracks but gets much more fresh and experimental as the album progresses. Reminds me of Heritage and how experimental it was back in 2011. The mix could be better but I'll take what we've got (I've heard way worse). It sounds miles better than Sorceress so that's a big plus. It's a bit muddy (snare gets buried a lot) but overall sounds quite balanced. It's quite crankable too, more so than the DR numbers show. There are separate credits for the vinyl mastering and lacquer cut so maybe it's more dynamic (will find out in a few days).
still waiting for my cd release to arrive....any day now....they sent it a week before release date too, so now it's been 2 weeks so far, coming to the US from Germany.... such slow shipping ! i've ordered things from Japan that only take like 5-7 business days to reach me...
Bummer that they aren't coming anywhere close to me, but maybe they will on a later leg. Still digging the new album a lot!
I've always been scared to go to The Palladium and you aren't helping the situation! I'm surprised Opeth aren't doing the Orpheum, which is at least a proper theater. Is there any seating or is this a general admission venue? I assume the latter. I like a lot of metal bands that end up at The Palladium but I don't have the desire to stand for 3 hours and hope I don't have to crawl through rows of people to pee and never get my spot back again. I did that at the Hampton Casino Ballroom a few times and I don't want to do that again.
I missed the local presale yesterday was hoping to get front row balcony .This morning at 10am I secured 2 seats for 3rd row balcony. Was $135 and those were more than the general admission tickets. In the old days I'd get on the floor as close to the stage but these days and band like Opeth I like to sit back. My girlfriend loves the band and has seen them 3 times before. We both prefer that over the floor these days when we're together. Also it has premium leather seating up there it says.
I had ordered the Swedish CD from the Music Glue store but I just received the package and it contained the 2CD English/Swedish version. I wonder if this was a mistake or they just ran out of Swedish-version-only CDs. Has anyone else received something different than they ordered?
This is definitely an album that needs a few listens to really sink in so hang in and keep listening if it’s not clicking with you after a few listens.
Looks like I will have to miss out this tour. The Apollo in NY does not seem to have proper wheelchair accessible seating for both myself and the lady. This is a shame, even for ancient Manhattan buildings that are "grandfathered in" to not having to adhere to ADA regulations due to their age. Hope things there change in the future. Hell, The Beacon Theater wasn't properly accessible for ages, and my wife & I just saw Tedeschi-Trucks Band there last weekend, so, anything is possible.
I listened to it and really didn't get much out of it. I will give it a few more listens. Sorceress never really grabbed me (although I saw them on that tour). My pink vinyl copy of it sounds awful too. Pale Communion is awesome! I loved that album. Heritage is weak. Watershed is awesome. Ghost Reveries, BWP, Deliverance ... are awesome. So there is great inconsistency with how I receive this band. But that's ok. I think it's great that Mikael is doing what he wants. I don't expect to like everything they do, but I am always interested to hear where they are going.
Going to check today and see if my local record store has the deluxe box set available. I'm doubtful as I have seen this pushed back to a late November release in Canada which is bizarre. Still disappointed that they backed off on releasing this in Hi Res, I received no response from the record label or Opeth's fan page on if this would happen.
Sound effects are in the rears, so it’s surround. Only started but it sounds like a very stereo-centric mix, but definitely surround. There’s discrete info in the rears.
I don't care about 5.1 myself but I was kind of bummed all that was on the blu ray was that. I wanted a less compressed 2ch.... so I made my own, this is the blu ray MKV backup > dvd audio extractor 24/48 So much more crankable and less hash and glare. I was happy with the vinyl compared to the cd but this is even better. foobar2000 1.3.1 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2019-10-05 15:33:15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Opeth / In Cauda Venenum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR11 -8.65 dB -23.41 dB 3:29 01-Garden of Earthly Delights DR11 -0.04 dB -13.31 dB 6:36 02-Dignity DR11 -0.88 dB -14.37 dB 8:29 03-Heart in Hand DR12 -0.04 dB -15.10 dB 7:11 04-Next of Kin DR11 -2.02 dB -15.51 dB 6:34 05-Lovelorn Crime DR12 -0.04 dB -14.35 dB 5:30 06-Charlatan DR12 -0.04 dB -16.01 dB 7:22 07-Universal Truth DR13 -0.16 dB -16.75 dB 6:43 08-The Garroter DR11 -0.46 dB -14.26 dB 7:24 09-Continuum DR11 -0.04 dB -14.24 dB 8:27 10-All Things Will Pass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 10 Official DR value: DR11 Samplerate: 48000 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 24 Bitrate: 1579 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================
Why don't they ever make this stuff available as an HD download? I've been slowing on CD purchases mostly because how fatiguing this stuff is.
I dunno why we get stuck with compressed junk that clips amps and dacs... I'll never understand it. Such an amazing album hindered by junk ass compression. The mix really isn't bad, the blu ray is even more evidence of this. Listening to the 2ch BR rip I made, it is for sure different unlike the sorceress debacle.
I got my Nuclear Blast Mail Order version of the box set, which has different colored vinyl than the regular box set, as well as having a limited edition number certificate inside the box. I received 433/2000. Does the non Nuclear Blast mail order version have a limited edition certificate inside?
IS that the one with the sand colored vinyl? I got the box with the yellow and orange transparent without cert. It did come with the 5 headed scorpion poster saying 4000 limited edition but not numbered. I think that other one comes with an extra sheet or 2 of some art.
Got tickets to see them at the Ryman next year. Glad they're doing their own tour and not a co-headline this time.
Yes sand colored vinyl - different colors for English (light brown sand) vs Swedish version (light grey sand/stone). There are also 4 different boards that can go under the slipcover to show different things through the cut out windows of that slipcover. In addition there is a nice poster of the cover. Do those extras come with the regular deluxe version?
NO ! I didn't realize this until later that box came with the physical graffiti window trickery. I am very happy with the vinyl that came with my box but its just a plain box and I want that box ! We just got the 5 headed scorpion 4ooo press poster. yellow transparent for swedish, orange transparent for english. 2cd and blu ray and thats it.
I think the numbered box is a very nicely printed and constructed piece. Cool die cut house windows and inserts to change what’s in the window. Well packed and protected by Nuclear Blast. All in all worth the price. Haven’t checked the vinyl yet. Am I crazy, but does the blu ray have no menus, no song selection and no chapter stops?! Will be listening more in depth, but am happy to have new Opeth in October!
