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Reviews for Opeth - Still Life:

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This is a real masterpiece!! i have never found an album sooo sweeet and complete. melodic yet the insane growling maximize the beauty of the music. BUY this album or you'll cry in your grave coz your life hasn't fulfilled yet!!!

Review by: martinsys

OPETH takes a step forward with this release, and they change their musical expression to another structures.
For me, the acoustic parts in this album are the best OPETH ever have done. A single listen to "Benighted" or "Face of Melinda" are the proof of my sentence. The treatment of the clean voice, too, is awesome. The agressive parts are different from the previous ones, however. I must say that I don´t think they are as convincing as the ones played in their first 3 albums, though they aren´t bad. Feels like in this album they weren´t as inspired as in others. In this case the strongest parts of the tracks aren´t excellent, just correct and good. Apart from this, the whole album is very mature. More melodic, in a certain way, and less raw than "My arms, your hearse". The line-up is solid and established and the road is prepared for a next killer release. Anyway, I must say that I love this album, though it´s not my favourite from OPETH, and I needed several listens to get into it.

Review by: fjordi

it isnt as good as the other realeses....

Review by: iNfernum

It goes without saying that many people regard Opeth's Still Life as not only one of the most anticipated, but also one of the best albums of 1999, even before they had the chance to hear it. Such is the reputation of the mighty Swedish quartet, whose three previous opuses are no less than extraordinary. After listening to Still Life three times a day for the last seven days, I can safely say that Opeth's fans will not be disappointed with their latest accomplishment. Elements from both Morningrise and My Arms, Your Hearse can be heard on this release, though the greater part of the album develops on the MAYH sound.

On "Godhead's Lament" in particular, the songwriting approaches progressive rock, while "Benighted" is an entirely acoustic track. Otherwise, expect in Still Life what you would normally expect from Opeth: intricately arranged compositions with discernible musical progression and development. And as always, Opeth use lengthy acoustic guitar passages to counter the heavier moments of the album. Few singers can rival Mikael Åkerfeldt when it comes to sheer vocal expressiveness. The intercourse between his clean vocal delivery and his fierce, violent roars propels the music forward and brings it to a whole new level of excellence. In Still Life, Mikael writes seven songs that tell the narrative account of an exiled, disillusioned man who returns home to behold his beloved Melinda, only to learn that she has married another. He convinces her to run away with him, but sadly, they are captured at the last minute. The townspeople then execute the wayward traveler for his heretical transgressions, but not before repulsing him one final time. One can describe the tone of the poems as cruel and fatalistic, with a cynical and spiteful outlook on human society. The protagonist can hardly be called a hero, and yet we end up sympathizing with him, or at least with his onerous circumstances. Literary analyses aside, the reader will find Still Life's lyrics to be a fine testament of Mikael's often underrated poetic talent, and an excellent complement to the phenomenal music.

Still Life is no less than a total work of art. It probably won't be as timeless as Morningrise, but Opeth fans will undoubtedly find much to enjoy with this release.

Review by: Gravedaddy666

as always opeth has taken control , still life will be your addiction until the end of your life.

Review by: um jammer nectarus

i think this album overthrows any opeth album. the felling you get listening to mike and his beautiful voice/brutal(serenity painted death)is like no other. the acoustic passages are of the best kind.this truly is a divers album as well,theres even a song fully dedicated to the style of jazz,a style that flows throught opeth's music anyway. all around its in my opinon one of the best albums ever.

Review by: mark

It's a good album, only that fucking stupid song called BENIGHTED is just not what this album needs(5:01 minutes of BULLSHIT!)the rest of the album fucking rules!

Serenity Painted Death is the best track on the album for me. 8.3/10

Review by: Khold666IsGreat

OPETH Takes a much more progressive approach on this release. STILL LIFE is less agressive than its predecessors;
however its able to entrance the listener; just as Opeth always does. Remeber this is a concept album about lost love and pain. Songs like "benighted" and "Face of Melinda" may discourage some listeners, but even more ballad like songs can possess the hurt and emotion we all feel. OPETH delivers us these two songs with just as much intensity and feeling than they do with their heavier songs."The Moor" is an instant classic, even White Cluster is a standout. In fact the whole CD is a journey into our saddest feelings. Who Knows? Maybe when its all said and done? This could be considerd the pinnacle release from OPETH Even over Blackwater Park and Morningrise. 10/10. Forrest.

Review by: Forrest

This is Opeth's best release. All the songs on this album are superb to say the least. I can not begin to explain why this album is the best. It simply has some of the greatest song ever made. It is also Opeth’s first concept album. But it doesn't really matter so much. The lyrics could be about flowers and it would still sound good. I recommend this album as a great starter for listeners of Death metal.

Review by: Illnath

This a real beauty, songs like The Moor, Godhead's Lament, Serenity Painted Death and Moonlaps Vertigo, Face of Melinda and White Cluster are all one of my favorite Opeth songs ever, next to all songs of Blackwater Park i really love them!
My only complain about this album is Benighted, it's not that i do not like laid back, acoustic songs (i love bands like Antimatter who are acoustic almost the entire album), actually this is the only acoustic Opeth song i don't really like.
But this songs is just not so interesting, and i really have to have my day to listen to that song entirely instead of immediately skipping it. (I was a little bit harsh in my first review)(and i have to admit that this song does not "destroy" the beauty of this album)
But it's the choice of Opeth to put the song on this album and i have to accept it because there we be a lot of fans who will definately like it.
At the other hand Opeth proves that they are good songwriters who can both right (interesting, complex) heavy stuff and more ballad-like (acoustic) pieces, that's what makes them really unique! This is not just a band this is one of the Godfathers of the Progressive Death Metal scene.
Next to that this is a beautiful album, and one of my alltime top-10 favorites! And definately my alltime favorite band!!!

9.3/10 (first 8.3 but after some spinning it just keeps better and better!).

If you like this album you should definately try Opeth's Blackwater Park and Deliverance. BP is a bit harder and Deliverance is a good mix between those 2.
Also try the band FARMAKON's debut album A WARM GLIMPSE which definately shows their admiration towards Opeth (and especially the Still Life album).
Now i will shut the hell up and tell you the last thing in this review, LISTEN OPETH'S STILL LIFE!

Review by: khold666isgreat

"Still Life" tells more of a story than the other Opeth albums, which are more theme-based. It is also one of their more moodier and insightful. Some songs such as "Face of Melinda" are softer and slower moving than "White Cluster" or "Serenity Painted Death" which are more "metal- sounding" songs. If you want the whole experience of this album, be sure to obtain a copy of the lyrics and get a background on the album's story. It's well worth your time.

Review by: ghost of perdition

the best concept album i have ever known!the songwriting of opeth is epic!nothing can stop you to vote 10/10 for this album if you ever heard it!

Review by: metal maniac

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