Music Review: Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes
Published November 28, 2007
Over my relatively few years of review writing, I have found it near impossible to listen to (or watch) all that I would like to, much less write about all of it.
To that end, I have more or less resigned myself to being one of those guys that tries to listen to a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, this choice does not allow me to become an expert on any one particular genre, style, band, etc. So rather than try, I have chosen just to bring my own point of view, which hopefully offers a fresh perspective.
This brings me to the case of Opeth's latest release, the live two CD set of The Roundhouse Tapes. By now I am sure you are probably a little worried about the direction this is headed. I am too. It's okay to be worried, and maybe even a little afraid. It is even okay if you decide that my lack of specific genre experience is an excuse to discount my opinion. No problem. My opinion can take it.
Opeth is one of those bands that I have seen mentioned time and time again on forum postings of favorite bands and the like. It took me a long time to actually get around to sampling them, and I have to say that, initially, I was not terribly impressed. The first Opeth album I heard was Blackwater Park — an album I've long since come to think of as great. It also stands as the only Opeth album that I own and have listened to, which goes back to my lack of both time and desire to listen to a variety of bands.
However, I took my ears and embarked on an excursion into Opeth's live The Roundhouse Tapes, and survived. The performance captured here covers nine songs in about one hour and forty minutes, and is an eye opening experience for the uninitiated. It makes me only imagine what actually seeing them live would be like.
Hearing the songs performed live here was like hearing them for the first time, which in many cases here it actually was. There is something transcendent and hypnotic about their music. I found myself being lulled off into a special place where I could just let the music in, and allow the notes to wash over me.
Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects. 
- Music Review: Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes
- Published: November 28, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Metal, Music: Live Concerts, Review
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
- Chris Beaumont's BC Writer page
- Chris Beaumont's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
If he was, it is a secret... There is no mention of him in the liner notes, nor in any other writing I saw about the release.
Blackwater Park, Deliverance, and Damnation are the only discs that Wilson worked with the band on, Glen. He seems to have put a stake in the ground to guide them, however, as Ghost Reveries, which followed those three, bears his mark all over it without him being present.
Truly awesome live album. Really blown away by this thing. Sound quality is amazing as is the performance. It's got a real "you are there" feeling going on, which is something I've been missing in live albums lately. My only complaint, and it's pretty minor after hearing it, is that Martin Lopez had to leave the band before this was recorded. What an incredible drummer - no disrespect to Martin Axenrot meant, of course.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/71429)
So Chris, was Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson involved with this in any way? I've heard that he has something of a relationship with these guys...just curious because he isn't mentioned here...
-Glen