Sign In to rate and review
Critic Reviews
95
As cool as it is to take pieces from every era of musical history and bring them together into one gigantic, metallic, magnum opus, it's actually rare that a band can do so and still keep in mind the importance of good songwriting.
4y
90
It’s their most crucial album since 1999’s stunning "Still Life," and its title could not be more appropriate.
15y
90
Needless to say, Opeth have outdone themselves with the musical dynamics, the musical harmonies and the overall talent they possess. It’s been quite a long time since anyone in heavy metal has been able to hone in on a specific mood and not only enhance it’s best qualities, Opeth seemingly finds a way it their own seemingly without trying.
12y
80
Watershed marks a new chapter for Opeth, one that promises infinitely more than its predecessors.
15y
80
Few other bands could place a song called Burden (basically a gorgeous power ballad with malevolent twists) next to a vast, epic riffathon titled Porcelain Heart and get away with it, but Opeth pull it off flawlessly.
5y
80
Patience, persistence and a good set of headphones will uncover fragile melodies here amid the maelstrom, though the guitar noodling can veer dangerously close to Mark Knopfler territory.
Print Only
3y
75
Watershed has friction, and friction brings heat. Those left cold by metal's po-faced tendencies might well warm up to it.
15y
70
I want an Opeth album in which they simply amaze me with something new and unheard of, but with their newest album Watershed, that dream fades soon after the opening track disappears into the past.
13y
70
What Opeth do best is flat-out shred, and at its finest moments, Watershed howls like the unholy union of Queensryche, Yngwie Malmsteen and Morbid Angel.
5y
60
Growls and blast-beats come decorated with guitar work that explores scale after scale of diabolical pleasures.
Print Only
2y
60
For my money, more than half of Watershed is pretty awesome, but the remaining snooze-a-thons continue to confirm the sad truth that we already knew: the Opeth of yesteryear — the band of ‘no they didnt’ superhero-dom — is on its way OUT.
7y
More hit or miss than blackwater park in retrospect, in the past this was my favourite but now not so much, there are still some pretty cool tracks and groovy and beautiful moments here though!
Watershed is currently Opeth's final album to include death growls, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I've always seen Opeth as a band who excels at combining both melodic aspects and death aspects into their work, and while I feel Damnation worked really well, I don't know how I'll feel about their next few albums stepping away from death metal.
You can definitely see in Watershed that they are evolving their sound. Even if I hadn't known that the next couple of albums wouldn't have the ... read more
For over ten years, 'Watershed' would be the last album from Opeth to centre around death metal, with all subsequent records until their latest one this very year eschewing even the death growls for a more prog-rock sound. But I'm getting ahead of myself, we're talking about 'Watershed', an album that I honestly find to be a little perplexing after the wonderful 'Ghost Reveries'. I mean it's not a bad record at all, but goddamn is this same-y with ... read more
Mikael Åkerfeldt is the most consistent composer in metal. After so many years, he continues to create music with complete creativity, whether he's blending metal with rock or playing something heavier. This album is spectacular. I love that rock/metal sound that's so heavy yet elegant at the same time.
I have listened to every Opeth record multiple times, I just am waiting for getting taking my time writing about them, simply because the band is so special to me. This is such a gorgeous record, feels like a mixture of Still life and damnation. So so gorgeous. Also containing one of the greatest of humanities achievements "burden"
Become a Subscriber
Subscriber badge, no ads + more benefits.
Subscriber badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement
Track List
| 1 | Coil 3:11 | 83 |
| 2 | Heir Apparent 8:50 | 96 |
| 3 | The Lotus Eater 8:51 | 91 |
| 4 | Burden 7:41 | 91 |
| 5 | Porcelain Heart 8:01 | 85 |
| 6 | Hessian Peel 11:26 | 88 |
| 7 | Hex Omega 7:01 | 81 |
Total Length: 55 minutes
Sign in to comment
8mo
Imagine listening to this album as soon as it came out and hearing Martin axenrod’s girlfriend on coil for the first time, I would low key think for a second that they might’ve gotten a second vocalist😭
1y
opeth are such an amazing band that a genuine masterpiece like this isn't even top 3 in their discography