Opeth - Lamentations (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) '2003

Tracks list

Since their formation in 1990 in Sweden, Opeth has risen to the forefront of the
metal world; bringing many aspects of progressive rock/metal to a whole new
audience by combining soft acoustic ambience with complex, melodic and heavy
guitar. Previously only available on DVD, Lamentations is set to be released for
the first time as ReMaster-Edition in High-Resolution Audio. The live album,
originally recorded at Londons Shepherds Bush Empire on September 25, 2003
features Damnation (2003) performed in full along with a selection of tracks
from Blackwater Park (2001) and Deliverance (2002).

„Opeth will most likely be remembered for adding class and elegance to the
typically foreboding and nasty death metal realm. The Swedish group also
surprised many by crossing over from black T-shirt-clad punters to musicianly
prog rockers thanks to simultaneously recorded sister albums Deliverance (2002)
and Damnation (2003), the latter setting aside their trademark forward-thinking,
highly dynamic Scandinavian death metal for graceful, melodic, and contemplative
excursions. With Damnation deemed a one-time experiment for Opeth, it seems
appropriate that Lamentations: Live at Shepherds Bush Empire documents a unique
period in the bands evolution via a two-hour live show recorded in London, as
well as an insightful 65-minute documentary, The Making of Deliverance and
Damnation. The live gig finds the band Jekyll-and-Hyde-ing through a two-hour
set, split into mellow and beastly halves. The first is comprised almost
completely of Damnations relatively delicate Porcupine Tree-inspired mood
pieces, best illustrated by the dynamic crescendos of Closure and Death
Whispered a Lullaby, the Led Zeppelin/No Quarter Mellotron atmospherics of
fragile number Weakness, and instrumental Ending Credits (which
vocalist/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt describes to the crowd as a blatant Camel
rip-off -- a reference perhaps lost on the theater-full of metal worshippers).
While the quieter songs lack the hair-whipping immediacy of Opeths more
aggressive material, Akerfeldt, whose melodic vocal abilities shine on such
material, appropriately explains the bands M.O. while introducing To Rid the
Disease: Just because its slightly mellow doesnt mean its less evil. Viewing the
two-hour show as a whole, however, one realizes Opeth is simply building tension
(or impatience?) for the crowd-pleasing, jagged Swedish ice shards to come: Five
expansive and stunningly masterful extreme-metal epics, including the inventive,
wallop-packing riffery of The Drapery Falls and Deliverance; Akerfeldt telling
the crowd that such songs are what we really sound like -- although the group
disappointingly delves no deeper into its catalog than 2001s Blackwater Park.
While the group isnt exactly the most visually engaging live band, their lack of
gimmickry and intense focus on the music are refreshing, and the live shows
overall production keeps Lamentations from being a needlessly arid, two-hour
sit-a-thon -- mostly thanks to the anamorphic widescreen presentation,
extraordinary 5.1 Dolby digital surround mix, and intimate camera angles
(although the Akerfeldt orifice cam gives a few too many close-ups of the
vocalists oral and nasal cavities). The documentary, as the title implies,
chronicles Opeths 2002 recording sessions; disappointingly, the film only
brushes the surface of the groups stress-filled studio time -- they faced
massive technical difficulties and ended up switching studios mid-way through --
but offers plenty of in-depth, equal-time interviews with all the bandmembers
and producer Steven Wilson, touching on writing, recording, and influences.
Certainly, only the most diehard Opeth-ateers will appreciate the documentary
footage, but as an overall capturing-the-moment-type document, Lamentations as a
whole serves only to increase ones appreciation for the bands diverse and
unparalleled combination of death metal, unwieldy, ambitious prog, and earthy
folk -- and exemplifying exactly why Opeth stands head and shoulders above most
of its Scandinavian peers when it comes to creativity, musicianship, and
intelligence.“ (John Serba, AMG)

Mikael Ã…kerfeldt, vocals, guitar
Peter Lindgren, guitar
Martin Mendez, bass
Martin Lopez, drums
Additional musicians:
Per Wiberg, session keyboard and backing vocals
Steven Wilson, lyrics on Death Whispered a Lullaby

Tracklist:
01. Opeth - Intro (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (1:26)
02. Opeth - Windowpane (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (9:16)
03. Opeth - In My Time of Need (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (6:37)
04. Opeth - Death Whispered a Lullaby (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London)
(7:10)
05. Opeth - Closure (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (9:46)
06. Opeth - Hope Leaves (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (6:12)
07. Opeth - To Rid the Disease (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (7:11)
08. Opeth - Ending Credits (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (4:22)
09. Opeth - Harvest (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (6:16)
10. Opeth - Weakness (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (6:05)
11. Opeth - Masters Apprentices (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (10:34)
12. Opeth - The Drapery Falls (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (10:56)
13. Opeth - Deliverance (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (12:38)
14. Opeth - The Leper Affinity (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (11:03)
15. Opeth - A Fair Judgement (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London) (13:50)

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