What's with all the fucking Opeth threads lately? They aren't that good. In Flames is fucking better than Opeth. Christ.
I LOVE Opeth!!!!!!!! MAYH is also a favourite of mine. But the one that I hold close to my heart would be Still Life. I had many love-making sessions to that one. In Flames are good, but I prefer Opeth to In Flames. I would LOVE to go to an Opeth concert. I never knew any girls even liked Opeth. I thank my ex for getting me into them. You got mad respect from me now, girl.
They're damn good. Metal guys rearely have a melodic sense like that. Damnation is hands down my favorite album by them. Just rolls.
Yeah, and in an interview they said it was all pitch-play, that is, they know zero theory but play by ear, WITHOUT pitch training. That's a feat. The only problem being, because they don't know theory they're fairly limited, in all actuality. I have metalhead friends who will exaggerate their talent, but honestly the phrasing is limited and the technical prowess is lacking. Symphony X is my preferance The harmonization and counterpoint between the keys and Romeo's guitar lines are fucking great. Besides that, Russell has a full-octave range to his voice. That's not to say Opeth is bad, like I said, they do some impressive things. Children of Bodom (as I see a fan here) are actually a much more impressive band, in my opinion, than Opeth. Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree are two of my favorite progressive/ symphonic metal bands, though.
I really can't stand Dream Theater. Their music isn't organic enough, seems too forced and too technical. Yes, a good understanding of theory will always help get ideas together, but that's doesn't mean shit if you can't apply that theory. No one really cares if you're playing an Fb Phygrian. They really only care if it sounds good. If I'm reading this right...Symphony X (?) have frequent key changes in their songs, and that is actually damn impressive. I don't know of very many bands (outside of jazz and fusion) let alone metal bands that use that technique. The most impressive thing about Opeth to me is their acoustic playing. That's where the whole melodic thing comes out. Not many metal bands have that, or can stay heavy on the flat top.
Well, music being good will always be a subjectivity. I think Petrucci plays very well. His playing in "Another Day" is very Jazzy, and doesn't seem forced at all to me. What do you mean by organic?
The music doesn't seem "real" to me. Organic music is all music that isn't made with forced technicallity. In my opinion, artists like Vai, Satch, and Malmsteen most show inorganic music. The technique seems too forced. Usually comes out of people studying at Berkeley or other schools. There's no doubt of Petrucci's talent. It's the whole approach that throws me off, man.
Yeah, I guess one could see it that way. Generally a musician who is well versed in theory does not let that be their ball and chain, that is, they don't use it as their platform before creatively working with a melody, they rather use theory as their guide when they get lost in writing. That's a sign of a great musician. I think why you might see the music as sounding forced is just because that's the actual sound of most of that style. Yngwie will sound especially forced at times because when playing neoclassical music you don't want to use say a dorian mode or a lydian mode, so the style will certainly not sound like that of a more bluesy style like classic rock. Steve vai, though, changes his style in nearly every song. His phrasing is so different in most songs, in fact, that if it were not for that Vai tone you'd think it was several different artists on some sort of compilation disc. Symphony X may also sound less forced to your ears than Dream Theater because they're less progressive metal and more symphonic metal, which actually allows the band more options in modulation without sounding incredibly dissonant as you would in a style like Neoclassical music. How much Symphony X have you heard? A minimal amount, most or all of it?
I tend to think theory is much less a guidepoint then just you're ears. Theory is most helpful in learning obscure areas like atonallity and jazz substitution. I prefer the Robben Ford approach of simply knowing what tones don't work at all, and instead relying heavy on chromaticism. I mean obviously theory can open things up quicker, but like pointed out the real trick is in application. I don't think classic styles or scales really have to be forced. Most prog and psychedelic groups used classical modes. I think I usually prefer progressive metal. It's not really a problem with dissonance. Any fan of the Dead's Dark Star couldn't. I'll definately check out Symphony X though. Haven't hard a single bit.
the user guitar god and i are pretty big fans of opeth. my fav would be damnation, just because the guitar style they use is the style i've always played in. deliverance is pretty sweet, but the power of black water park is over whelming....not saying my arms your hearse isnt a great album too....yay opeth...any dimmu fans?
opeth, my dying bride, anathema, candlemass, lacrimosa....really bands among my favourites in the darkest periods of my life....or when i need pure art or reflecting moments...... i saw opeth last year here in italy.....they really impressed me so much..... love.....& music...
Ah, Candlemass and Lacrimosa are great too. I prefer all bands in that list above Opeth. @Dangermoose: I like the old Dimmu Borgir albums, like For all tid and Stormblast. But Enthrone darkness triumphant is great as well.
Lol...I'm a huge Opeth fan myself. Guitar_god and I had a whole post going a while back about Opeth, that took up like 3 pages...haha. I can go on and on about Opeth...and Dream Theater...don't get me started. I fucking love DT...
That's bullshit. DT's music is so not forced, and yes, it's technical, which I think is an amazing characteristic. DT are true musicians. They don't just play songs to be like "wow, look what I'm playing..." The members of DT have a real passion for their music. You can have your opinion, but I don't understand how you can say some things you do.
*Sniff...sniff*Opeth thread??? Yeah, I thinkn that the whole Opeth knowing no theory is good and bad, because when you know a lot of theory, sometimes it feels like its constricting, unless you're willing to go out and try new things. Opeth has a lot of diminished scale use in their songs, ie: Leper affinity (the really awesome palm muted riff), but it's also good, because knowing no theory, and creating solos and riffs like that is just kick-ass. Btw, I looooove Dimmu Borgir. They are soo good, but, IMO: Opeth>.....>.....>.....>.....>everything else.
are you internet stalking me? lol, c'mon...be honest. you've quoted more of my posts than anybody on these forums...except maybe guitar god in the zombie thread. at any rate, yes, dream theatre also kicks mucho ass. have you seen opeth live? they're awesome...and the new drummer (i think he's new)...is SOOOOO sexy. unbelievably hawt. now the real test of metal hardcoreness: do you like ma sugar (sp?)
MY problem with them is basically my problem with all shredders. They put technique over the music. It just seems like Dream Theater comes out wanting to make things as complex as possible, like where can I put this time signature change, this key change, and then just rip off notes as fast as we can. I'm not going to doubt their talent at all, but they just get too technical. But we're still just arguing opinions. Which you really can't do, so the best we can do is just widen eachother's perspectives on shit. As long as no one runs off getting their feelings hurt...it's alright.
