«
»
New Shit

BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING ‘DA FUNK: FULL ALBUM STREAM OF OPETH’S HERITAGE

 Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 10:30am by

Few albums this year are as likely to cause internet flame wars as Opeth’s Heritage. People have been freaking out for months about the fact that there’s no screaming on it; I suspect they’ll freak out even more when they hear the actual music. “Opeth bring the funk!” is a phrase I honestly never expected to type — at least, not without a huge dose of sarcasm.

And so, as an educated metalhead who likes to be able to participate in water cooler conversation, it would behoove you to head over to NPR, where Heritage is now streaming in full. Once you’ve given it a listen, you should, of course, head back here, and participate in the aforementioned internet flame war in our comments section. ‘Cause I’m honestly not sure what the metal community’s overall reaction to this record is gonna be — mostly positive, mostly negative, or split right down the middle? — and I’m itchin’ to see.

Bring in ‘da noise, bring in ‘da funk here. Heritage comes out September 20 via Roadrunner.

-AR

Tags: ,
  • Charlie Brown

    This is definitely not what I like to hear out of Opeth.  But, this album is pretty cool to me.  I am a huge fan of 70′s prog music so that probably can’t hurt.  This is even less metal sounding than I expected.  While it certainly does it’s job to take you on a musical journey, I miss the heavy riffing and it doesn’t feel quite like an opeth album.  Seeing them live on halloween so it’ll be interesting to hear it live, I just hope it’s not all they play. 

  • flowers and rainbow kisses

    First

    ..i’d like to address how awesome sounding this is.

    Second

    …If you’re an asshole, you’re gonna hate this.  If you’re not a close-minded, ignorant, tunnel-vision fuck, you’re gonna enjoy the fuck out of this.

    • flowers and rainbow kisses

      Actually, I’ve changed my mind.  In order to avoid becoming a person that I do not respect, I would like to formally apologize for saying that anyone that does not enjoy this album is a close-minded, ignorant, tunnel-vison fuck-asshole.  This is not how I really feel; I respect your opinions and perspectives.  

      Even those of you that are in fact close-minded, ignorant, tunnel-vision fuck-assholes deserve to voice your opinions.  

      Transcend assholism

      • Andrew

        You’re an idiot.

        • Chimp-0-Neg

          Andrew! be nice. 

          • flowers and rainbow kisses

            Let Andrew express how much of a fuckhead he is.  It’s his right to be a fuckhead and express his fuckhead opinions.

        • flowers and rainbow kisses

          Thanks.  That means a lot, coming from……..you..

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Conover/100002902988403 Charles Conover

        >implying that if we don’t share your opinion on the album, we are ignorant.

        neat story, bro. The album wasn’t that great. Mad?

        • flowers and rainbow kisses

          You obviously didn’t read anything I said.

  • http://www.endoftheelkhound.bandcamp.com Keith Brown

    Oh Funk Yeah!

  • M.

    I have no opinion about the pluses or minuses of having screaming or no screaming.  It’s not nearly as heavy as we’re used to from Opeth, and overall it just doesn’t grab me as much as some of their older work, but it isn’t bad, and it’s still Opeth.  Not sure where the “funk” comes in…as an old-school funk fan, I just don’t hear it.  But it isn’t their Cold Lake or Ilud Divinum or anything.  On the Corey Mitchell scale, this rates a “Meh”.

    • Blaxpheme

      Ummm, this is BORING, and boring. I’m really bummed about this. What a letdown

  • http://twitter.com/JOE2369 Joe Moor

    Always thought the prog rock side to Opeths sound was generic and toothless, so a pure prog album hardly fills me with anticipation. That said maybe they have grown into that identity a bit more now.

  • http://twitter.com/JOE2369 Joe Moor

    Yeah, cos there is no possible way anyone could dislike this music other then for the fact its not death metal -_-

  • http://twitter.com/TheMetalOfHonor The Metal Of Honor

    Its a really interesting album, as someone else said kind of 70s prog feeling, almost a Kings X type deal. Very out of character for Opeth, which is obviously what they are going for.
     
    http://www.themetalofhonor.com

    • http://twitter.com/JOE2369 Joe Moor

      “ 70s prog feeling…Very out of character for Opeth”

      Nigga, are you tripping???

      70′s prog worship has been the central tenant of Opeths sound for some time now, they were always more a prog band than a death metal one really.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Conover/100002902988403 Charles Conover

        cool troll. 0/10.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520503461 Josh Kruk

    If you listen to this album in a vacuum with no preconceived notions, it’s awesome. Phenomenal musicianship and songwriting.  If you come into expecting Opeth’s old stuff, you won’t like it.  Take it for what it is and it’s a killer offering.  I know thats probably too much to ask though.  

    • Come On Amarth

      Not trying to change your opinion man, you like it, great. But don’t make it sound like we’re hating on it because we’re just headbanging apes. Well we are, but we can appreciate good songwriting when we hear it e.g. Damnation. Or Thick As A Brick (hint hint). In comparison, most of Heritage just sounds half-assed.

      • The Minimalist

        So I’m not the only one who thinks they sound like Jethro Tull a bit now. Add some flute, and Ian Anderson might be looking for a fight with Mikael.

        • Frankenblog

          There actually IS flute on one of the tracks. Just saying.

    • Pete

      Agreed 110%.  Why is “Take it for what it is” such a difficult concept. 

    • http://www.angrymetalguy.com Angry Metal Guy

      I actually think the opposite is true. Most people seem to be in love with it because it’s a new Opeth record, not because it’s particularly good musically. ‘Cause, it’s pretty much not. 

      • Facepalm

        Actually it is good musically, but because you’re an internet metal nerd, you aren’t able to see the good musicianship behind this album. Go crawl back into your cave.

      • Facepalm

        Actually it is good musically, but because you’re an internet metal nerd, you aren’t able to see the good musicianship behind this album. Go crawl back into your cave.

        • http://www.angrymetalguy.com Angry Metal Guy

          I actually listen to way more progressive music than anything else now, including tons of stuff from the 70s. I like prog rock and Opeth has long been one of my favorite bands. I *want* to like this album, but I don’t. ‘Cause it’s poorly composed. 

        • http://www.angrymetalguy.com Angry Metal Guy

          I actually listen to way more progressive music than anything else now, including tons of stuff from the 70s. I like prog rock and Opeth has long been one of my favorite bands. I *want* to like this album, but I don’t. ‘Cause it’s poorly composed. 

  • Basslogic

    Album sucks

  • Chimp-0-Neg

    After a few times listening, I like it. I’m not pissed at the lack of death growls, or the 70s prog direction at all. It is intriguing and coherent as an album. I like the sense of space in it, I like the vocals and the arrangements are interesting and pure Opeth in conception, if not in the execution. It sounds very different from earlier albums (including Damnation) but it’s still very much an Opeth album. I’m all for it basically. That said the best tune on it is The Devils Orchard, which is a bit disappointing. 

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/TacticOgre TacticOgre

    I love 70s prog, but I’m not feeling this album at all.

  • CreptorStatus

    I am not an asshole. I am open minded especially with music. But this album just is a little too weird for me. Some of the songs seems so fragmented, they never really get going. Some of them are cool but this is the 2nd time listening through the album and i just cant get into it.. Sad times. I love Opeth.

    • flowers and rainbow kisses

      don’t lie..

  • Wcifer

    well the torrent leak has been out for awhile now ,  i’m split on it , will take a while to grow on me very porcupine tree, the lack of growling doesn’t bother me as that loses it’s effectiveness when it’s use becomes formulaic. however the vocals might have benefited from a more heavily effected production like tool or ministry , because on the more rocking parts they need more balls to them.  so far i don’t think the song writing or guitar tone measures up to Damnation  and it feels like a lateral move from watershed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/MCGT92 Michael Carolin

    Okay I only started listening to Opeth about 4 months ago. For most bands this would be enough time to listen to everything. But for Opeth, if I REALLY want to understand to their music it takes time. Now I haven’t even gotten to watershed, but having listened to a couple songs on here I am really liking the direction they are taking. However, a song or two (devil’s orchard comes to mind) just seems a little fragmented. But I have high hopes for the rest of the album.

  • Andrew

    The album is okay but definitely nothing to spin more than a couple times. I think the contrast in Opeth’s music is what made it so great. Going one way or the other doesn’t really work for them, imo.

  • Anonymous

    Biggest disappointment of 2011.

    The only reason I’d pay to go see the tour with Katatonia, would be if they formed as Bloodbath for the encore. Which isn’t going to happen, so I will not attend….but they should consider it, cause that would be worth admission alone.

    • http://www.facebook.com/blackstar7129 Matt Hurley

       Hey buddy, Waking the Cadavers newest is out you know, I think that might be more up your alley.

      As for Heritage, that shit is off the hook.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Kitchen/100000596141610 John Kitchen

        I like how just because he doesn’t like the album you automatically assume he only listens to metal. Way to be a big boy.

        • http://www.facebook.com/blackstar7129 Matt Hurley

           I wasn’t trying to make fun of him, I was just suggesting something that seems to be more up his musical alley. Besides you’re fat and listen to Impending Doom, so who cares about your opinion.

        • http://www.facebook.com/blackstar7129 Matt Hurley

           I wasn’t trying to make fun of him, I was just suggesting something that seems to be more up his musical alley. Besides you’re fat and listen to Impending Doom, so who cares about your opinion.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Kitchen/100000596141610 John Kitchen

        I like how just because he doesn’t like the album you automatically assume he only listens to metal. Way to be a big boy.

  • http://twitter.com/orbsonb Ben Robson

    I keep listening to this album because I want to love it, but I don’t. it feels very undercooked to me.

    • Dave

      Agreed. I’ve had it for about a week and I hear tinges of their style mixed with a new direction that isn’t clicking for me. I love the first three tracks but it seems to fade from there. Maybe I’ll give it another week…

    • Anonymous

      +1

      Almost contrived. IMHO, definitely not the right personnel to achieve fusion Opeth style. I miss Lopez & Lindgren.

    • Anonymous

      +1

      Almost contrived. IMHO, definitely not the right personnel to achieve fusion Opeth style. I miss Lopez & Lindgren.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1460316186 Tiziano Gennari

    ‘fraid, i dont dig it, its opeth, for sure, but as metalInjection said “it feels like there are so many good moments for a traditional, äkkerfeldt grwol”.

  • DarkDragon

    This is worse than The Haunted and Morbid Angel albums. I thought it was gonna be regular Opeth just without the growling but they are dropping the metal style.

    • http://www.facebook.com/Nekrophish Wade Wiseman

      You are wrong in so many ways that it’s retarded. 

  • Sir Peras

    Yep, Opeth minus the growling plus deeper textures in their melodies, and that is a lot to say because Opeth makes sure their music is always full of content.

  • Trence75

    I’m totally digging this album. the first four or five times will leave you going “where are the hooks?” Then you catch on. This was a bold move. I dig it

  • Aaron

    I would say starting with the lines in my hand the album gets absolutely great. I love slither too, the rest of the album is ok. I’m a little disappointed but I don’t think it’s total crap or anything.

  • Chris Berseth

    Just listened to it and there should be no question how much better this album is than the rest of their albums. I know the purists are totally going to attack me for it, but I’m fully prepared for any hateful comments that are about to come my way and I stand by my opinion.

    • Anonymous

      Best Opeth album ever?

      You should probably vanflip and die.

      • Chris Berseth

        Sorry, though I’ve enjoyed past albums to some extent, I’ve never been able to fully get into the growly vocals. I listen to plenty of death metal and other subgenres of metal that have growly vocals, but for some reason with Opeth it never worked for me. I really prefer the more melodic, progressive side of Opeth…

        • Pieholeio

          He said, “growly.”

        • http://twitter.com/DerelictAdvent Christian Lemus

          What are you doing here, really?!

    • Dustin French

      we hate youu now.

  • Captain Wookie

    I really enjoy the album however my first reaction to hearing it was “When did Akerfeldt sing for King Crimson?”  Different direction, it terms of overall style for Opeth as it does feel rather different enough from Damnation to warrant saying that. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/jacob.lyon1 Jacob Lyon

    Heard a decent amount of this and although it’s not bad, it’s also not overwhelmingly good. It’s got cool riffs and decent ideas but none of the ideas seem like they were drawn out to their full potential. His voice is good, and I’ve never minded the albums that featured less death growls but they still feel like they are lacking something. Damnation featured a fuller and richer vocal performance from Akerfeldt in which he chose vocal patterns carefully. I just don’t get that vibe from this. I’m not comparing this album to Damnation musically, only vocally.  Maybe I have to listen to it again but, for now, I will have to say that I am fairly unimpressed, unfortunately

  • Gaia

    ‘behoove’ is such a good word phonetically.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vince-Decker/100002225040320 Vince Decker

    man i really dig this

  • Dingas McCloud

    Ironically, they are “moving forward” by moving backward.  In other words, they embrace their 70′s prog roots and put their stamp on it.  Strong vocal performance, I am liking the album.  I do miss those growls and agree it sounds a bit fragmented at times but I like it. 

  • Anonymous

    Mikason…

    I am disapoint.

  • http://twitter.com/Meemperor Matt P

    I dig it. Will be much better live I think though, as is the case with most of Opeth’s music. 

  • http://twitter.com/thejamminjabber thejamminjabber

    I don’t really like Opeth, but I like this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ryanchristmastimeschwartz Ryan Schwartz

    Everyone likes these not-so-much-metal bands like Fair to Midland and Porcupine Tree and The Mars Volta and Dead Letter Circus, and they have little to no growling.  They aren’t particularly heavy.  They slay.

    This album is fantastic in terms of instrumentation and Mikael’s vocals and just the whole arrangement.

    I want to say I’m a huge fan of it, but I just find it to be good, but that’s about it.

    It’s like they took Ghost Reveries and stripped all the distortion and screaming off, then just kinda put it back out.  This isn’t a bad thing by any means, but it sounds a bit like ELP had a baby with Dream Theater circa Scene From A Memory.

    All in all…I dig it, but I don’t love it, nor will I be purchasing this.

    • http://twitter.com/DerelictAdvent Christian Lemus

      The vocals? The vocals are terrible on this album. It’s Mikael trying to hard. They just sound over worked and not honest enough. Just like the rest of the album. This is a band trying too hard to be 70′s prog. 

  • Duck Billz

    Musically I am totally on board with Heritage, but I am surprised nobody has mentioned how goofy the lyrics are on this record.  Also, Avi Kulawy of Magrudergrind on the sidebar totally lookin’ like Scott Thompson.

    • J_nadalin

      So much like Scott Thompson.

  • jason

    if Mikael would’ve have written the same progressive death metal without the death vocals I’d be 100% for it. But this switch to just plain ole progressive rock doesn’t do it for me. Leaves me feeling like something is missing. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop where I get hit with a sudden section of brutality but to no avail.

  • Pete

    I’m midway through my first listen now, and I’m into it a lot.  I agree that its a major departure from Opeth’s usual sound, but I think it works, much the same way Damnation did 8 years ago.  Opeth’s greatest strength as a band was never that they were more crushingly heavy than the next band, but that they wrote better songs, Akerfeldt growled them out (or in this case, sang) them better, and had killer instrumentation, a remarkable live show and had depth like the fucking Marianas Trench.  I like heavy Opeth, but the fact that this isn’t heavy doesn’t make the album any less great. 

    That being said, I hope that their next album is heavier, and that this remains a departure from their usual style and not a transition to a new sound, cause like most of the rest of y’all, I like heavy Opeth, ya know?  I just disagree with the whole “Its not heavy enough brah” argument. 

    • Anonymous

      For me, the lack of “heaviness” isn’t the issue – it’s that the current personnel sounds a bit more sloppy when they try to pull off a fusion style. The phrasing doesn’t have that same cohesive punctuation that I came to love with their older mellow material. I mean, even on Watershed when they went into the more 70s style progressive rock sections, it sounded a bit hokey.IMHO, Martin Lopez had a much more fluid fusion style of drumming & Peter Lindgren was just as good as Akerfeldt on the axe. I really don’t think that people truly understand just how good Damnation was in terms of pure psychedelic prog rock. It was beautiful whereas Heritage sounds contrived though it isn’t a horrible album by any means. Like most fans, I want to like it….

  • Come On Amarth

    I don’t care if they do polka mixed with house. The only condition is that they should not suck. 
    Heritage sucks.

  • Enemyofgod72

    I’m only about 15 minutes into the album but I can already declare that I love it. Mikeal Akerfeldt without a doubt in my mind has the best voice in metal and maybe the best no matter the genre. I’ve never heard anyone else with his range both vocally and musically. I’ll definitely be adding this album to my Opeth collection. Just Awesome!

  • Viking_xxx

    And suddenly Opeth has become hipster metal.

  • WowWee!!

    It’s ok, it might grow on me with a few listens but it doesn’t feed me for what I’m craving for. Now I think I’m going to go listen to Ghost Reveries and get some of that real Opeth feel.

  • Badguylarry

    Boo

  • http://www.facebook.com/FlannelBastard Dylan Jones

    I like it, but its very underwhelming and feels like it was way to hyped for something thats not that extraordinary.  While there’s good musicianship, there’s the feeling they could have done much better.  Overall I’d give it a 7/10. 

  • Anonymous

    i liked the album a lot. the guitar tones are very interesting, and mikaels singing is better than ever. but i think the element that really adds the most to the album is the drums. Especially on “the lines in my hand”. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/dylan.jeffers Dylan Jeffers

    I’m not liking this on my first listen. Hopefully it will grow on me.

  • sceewoop

    I’ve listened to the album three times now. After the first spin I was disappointed, not b/c the album wasn’t good but b/c I’ve come to expect certain things from Opeth that just didn’t get hit on (except in The Devil’s Orchard, which I think might be the only potential Opeth “classic” on the album; don’t tell me the whole crowd isn’t gonna be singing “God is dead” loud as shit). But now I’m diggin the album and all its departures (the funk/Primus-y stuff and did anyone else hear the fucking Chris Isaak influence on the guitars and atmosphere on that one track??). I agree with most, it sucks that there’s not even a few juxtapository growls just to create contrast but if this were some other band’s album, I think it’d be very well received as long as you’re not a death metal purist. Already played it for a bunch of non-metalheads who weren’t just saying they liked it to be nice; they loved it. Very intrigued to see how this plays live…

  • Facepalm

    Time to start flaming. You’re all idiots, Opeth is good no matter what style they play.

  • Anonymous

    Honestly I think the angry metal guy summed up everything I have to say about this album in a much more articulate fashion. Link below for the curious, 2/5 so you know what to expect.

    http://www.angrymetalguy.com/opeth-heritage-review/

    • http://www.angrymetalguy.com Angry Metal Guy

      Thanks! Yeah, I’m not real keen on this record. 

  • Anonymous

    Sounds interesting, definite cool moments. Can’t wait to listen more and break through the wall of unfamiliarity with the songs, which usually leads to a more deeply enjoyable album granted that happens. Don’t know why everyone’s butthurt about no death vox or heavily distorted guitars… Opeth aren’t that extreme or super heavy to begin with, just always great emotive songwriting with melody and knowing how to drag things out or break momentum. Always considered them an obvious proggy swedish-black-metal band. His clean vocals are definitely way stronger than ever, and between all the Opeth and Bloodbath albums Mike was on, there hasn’t been much of any diversity in his growling vocals. Besides the phasers and echoes he used heavily on his voice on Watershed, which were definitely a welcome addition to spice things up. *gasps for air* SHE’S NOT LOIS EINHORN! She’s Ray Finkle… She’s a man.

  • rupert

    Best album of the new decade. I cant listen to it unless i have 57 minutes and 4 seconds to bask in its glory. Im going to the show on halloween at Mr. Smalls can not wait to finally see them live in a smaller venue (600ish ppl)

  • Poopenshaft

    Love this album. Opeth can do no wrong. I’m getting douchechills reading some of these comments.

  • Tardshtick

    Love that guitar tone! Fuck man. Wasn’t actually much of a fan of Opeth until this record.

  • Mharchik

    Internet metal nerds far as the eye can see… my self included

  • Satans Onion
  • http://www.facebook.com/Nekrophish Wade Wiseman

    I don’t really get why everyone think’s it’s so boring really? I just thought that it was way more subtle. A lot of it reminded me of Nick Drake which I totally dig. I thought it sounded fresh and cool. Not all of it is “metal” but a good song is a good song. These are good songs. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/tylerdrainville Tyler Drainville

    I absolutely love this album.

  • The Minimalist

    Currently listening to it now. The album sounds just as I though it would. It’s not as awesome as Watershed, but from the direction of the last few albums, it’s sound is not surprising in the least. Opeth have been chomping at the bit for a while now to sound like this.

    It might not be as somber and depressingly gloomy as Damnation, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t enjoyable. Akerfeldt’s vocals are in very, very good form here.

    I’m glad they did something like this. It’s about fucking time.

  • Captain Blacklung

    I knew doing Bonnaroo was a mark of a change in the winds. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Kitchen/100000596141610 John Kitchen

    “Dude, this album blows!”

    Response: You just only like metal, you’re an idiot. This album rules.
    “Dude, this album rules!”Response: You’re just saying that cuz you’re riding Mikael’s dick, this album sucks!

    You can’t win.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Kitchen/100000596141610 John Kitchen

    “Dude, this album blows!”

    Response: You just only like metal, you’re an idiot. This album rules.
    “Dude, this album rules!”Response: You’re just saying that cuz you’re riding Mikael’s dick, this album sucks!

    You can’t win.

  • Anonymous

    Honestly, I wasn’t that thrilled with Watershed,but, I am happy that they made it through their hard times and are getting the recognition they deserve. I guess, I’ll always be a Blackwater Park & Damnation Opeth fan.

  • Yo

    i feel like they’re are some sections that are way to vocal centric, but im in love with the production

  • Yo

    i feel like they’re are some sections that are way to vocal centric, but im in love with the production

  • Revenge of the Goblin

    I´ve been listening to this band from the beginning and applaude this release as I experience it to be a very honest one. The sound has a warm analouge feel to it which fit the songs and craftmanship just great, and the songs has a flow that opeth never has been abel to match before. I think it´s a step further in an interesting direction.