Blackwater Park

Last updated
Blackwater Park
Blackwaterpark.jpg
Studio album by
Opeth
ReleasedMarch 12, 2001 (2001-03-12) [1]
RecordedAugust – October 2000
Studio Studio Fredman (Gothenburg, Sweden) [2] [3]
Genre
Length66:59
Label Music for Nations / Koch
Producer Opeth, Steven Wilson
Opeth chronology
Still Life
(1999)		Blackwater Park
(2001)		 Deliverance
(2002)
Singles from Blackwater Park
  1. "The Drapery Falls"
    Released: 2001
  2. "Still Day Beneath the Sun"
    Released: 2001

Blackwater Park is the fifth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on March 12, 2001, in Europe and a day later in North America through Music for Nations and Koch Records. [1] [2] The album marks the first collaboration between Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson and the band, as Wilson had been brought in to produce the album. This contributed to a shift in Opeth's musical style. The songs "The Drapery Falls" and "Still Day Beneath the Sun" were released as singles.

Contents

Although Blackwater Park did not chart in North America or the United Kingdom, it was a commercial breakthrough for the band. Often considered their magnum opus, [7] [8] [9] the album was highly acclaimed among critics, with Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic stating that the album is "surely the band's coming-of-age album, and therefore, an ideal introduction to its remarkable body of work.” In 2020, Loudwire listed Blackwater Park as the number one progressive metal album of all time. [10] Rolling Stone ranked the album as 55th on their list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.' [11]

Production

Following a few live dates in Europe, Opeth's guitarist and vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt went to an old friend's house in Stockholm, Sweden, to record some demos and develop ideas for the new album. [12] The album is named after the German progressive rock band of the same name and was the first album for which the group had a title before they started recording. [2]

This album featured heavy input from Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson, whose relationship with Opeth had begun in the past when an interviewer, who was a friend of Åkerfeldt's and knew the latter was a fan of Wilson's work, gave Wilson a copy of Opeth's then-latest release Still Life, which Wilson ended up liking so much that he contacted Åkerfeldt about it. [13] A few months after the making of the demos, Åkerfeldt was having dinner with Wilson in which the two discussed the idea of Wilson producing the next Opeth album. [12] After Åkerfeldt sent Wilson the demos he had recorded, Wilson agreed to produce the album. [12]

Opeth entered Studio Fredman to begin work on Blackwater Park on August 10, 2000. [12] The band had no previous lyrics written and had only rehearsed three times before entering the studio. [12] The band's engineer Fredrik Nordström had arranged for the group to stay in a small room in the studio that had four beds. Opeth stayed there for around two weeks and then later rented out Dark Tranquillity member Mikael Stanne's flat. After recording the basic drums, rhythms, bass and acoustic guitars, Wilson arrived to produce the clean vocals and add some guitar leads. Åkerfeldt wrote that Wilson had an "immense impact on the recording" and after working with him the group entered "a new phase". [14]

Åkerfeldt described the recording of the album as "rather smooth". Soilwork was recording in the studio at the same time as Opeth. [14] Åkerfeldt wrote that Opeth felt like "a bunch of amateurs in comparison. They were working all the time. When they came into the kitchen for a break, we're still there, on the same break we took 3 hours ago. We don't want this to become a 'job', or something you do because you have to. We wanna have a good time, and thus we only work when it feels right." [14]

Release

Blackwater Park was originally released on March 12, 2001, in Europe and a day later in North America. [1] This was the first Opeth album to be released in North America at the same time as it was in the rest of the world. [15] It has been released on compact disc and vinyl record formats. [2] [3] A special edition of Blackwater Park was issued in 2002 with a bonus second disc that included "Still Day Beneath the Sun" and "Patterns in the Ivy II". [2] Those two bonus tracks were released together as a vinyl-only 7-inch EP by Robotic Empire Records in February 2003. The limited edition EP sold out in less than 24 hours and continues to be one of Opeth's most sought-after releases to date. Two singles were also released to promote Blackwater Park. A shortened radio edit version of "The Drapery Falls" was released as a promo single. [16] The bonus track "Still Day Beneath the Sun" was later released as a vinyl only single. [16]

Blackwater Park did not chart in the United States or United Kingdom. [2] [17] As of May 2008, Blackwater Park has sold over 93,000 copies in the United States. [18]

On March 29, 2010, Opeth re-released a Legacy Edition of Blackwater Park which included a live version of "The Leper Affinity" and then a second DVD which is the entire album in 5.0 Surround Sound and a making of documentary. [19] This version was released in North America in April 2012 by The End Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Metal Crypt4.75/5 [21]
5+/5 [22]
Pitchfork 9.0/10 [23]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Rock Hard 9.5/10 [25]
Sea of TranquilityStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [26]
Ultimate Guitar 9.8/10 [27]

Blackwater Park received critical acclaim upon release. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic wrote that the album was "a work of breathtaking creative breadth" and noted the album's critical praise stating that "not since the release of Tiamat's groundbreaking masterpiece Wildhoney in 1994 had the extreme metal scene witnessed such an overwhelming show of fan enthusiasm and uniform critical praise as that bestowed upon Blackwater Park.” He also said that the album is "surely the band's coming-of-age album, and therefore, an ideal introduction to its remarkable body of work.” [2] Pitchfork praised the album, writing that "Blackwater Park has the reputation it does in large part because none of the songs follow the same songwriting formula, instead looking toward variations within general themes that all build to a dramatic conclusion in the title track." Opeth was compared to critically acclaimed groups from previous eras. The Village Voice wrote in their review of the album, that "Opeth paint on an epic canvas, sounding at times like... metal's answer to '70s King Crimson". [28] CMJ also wrote a very positive review calling the album "Godlike ... a metal fusion of Pink Floyd and the Beatles". [29] The Canadian music magazine Exclaim! wrote that the album "might be the best metal record this year, and it is worth every bit of energy the band has put into the creating of it.” [15]

Decibel wrote that "Blackwater Park’s brilliance is the production. Co-produced by Opeth and Wilson and engineered by Fredrik Nordström, it’s one of the first death metal albums to feel, well, different. Crystal clear, yet resolutely heavy, Blackwater Park is also full of nuance." [30] Similarly, Pitchfork noted that Wilson's "production help and encouragement teased out the band's explorations of acoustic-led arrangements as much as electric ones while further showcasing Åkerfeldt's sweet, clear singing as much as the roars on songs like "The Leper Affinity" and the title track." [23] British magazine Record Collector called Blackwater Park Opeth's finest hour and added that much of the credit "can be attributed to the advanced vision of Steven Wilson." [31]

Loudwire ranked Blackwater Park as the 15th best metal album of all time, claiming the album reflected the group's "70s art-rock influences, supported by consistently intricate, wildly imaginative nine-to-ten-minute epics, each one more awe-inspiring than the last." [32]

Sputnikmusic placed Blackwater Park at No. 39 on its list of the Top 100 Albums of the Decade. [33]

Accolades

In 2020, Loudwire listed Blackwater Park as the number one progressive metal album of all time. It was Metal Storm's number 1 album of 2001 [34] and number 4 on the Top 200 albums of all time. [35] LA Weekly named it the 5th best metal album in history. [36] Rolling Stone ranked Blackwater Park as 55th on their list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

In 2009, MetalSucks compiled a list of the "21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far" based on the opinions of various musicians, managers, publicists, label representatives and writers, where Blackwater Park ranked at No. 3 on the list. [37] Decibel magazine similarly named Blackwater Park the 3rd best metal album of the decade. [38] The album was listed at No. 5 on Terrorizer's best albums of the 2000s. [39]

In June 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Blackwater Park at 28th place for their list of "Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time". [40] TeamRock placed the album at #36 on their "Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time" list. [41]

In 2012, Loudwire listed the title track as the second best metal song of the 21st century. [42] Q magazine included Bleak in its 2004 list of "1010 Songs You Must Own!" [43]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Mikael Åkerfeldt

No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Leper Affinity"Åkerfeldt10:23
2."Bleak"Åkerfeldt9:15
3."Harvest"Åkerfeldt5:58
4."The Drapery Falls"Åkerfeldt10:52
5."Dirge for November"Åkerfeldt, Peter Lindgren 7:51
6."The Funeral Portrait"Åkerfeldt8:42
7."Patterns in the Ivy" (instrumental)Åkerfeldt1:50
8."Blackwater Park"Åkerfeldt, Lindgren12:08
Total length:66:59
Reissue bonus disc [2]
No.TitleLength
1."Still Day Beneath the Sun"4:34
2."Patterns in the Ivy II"4:12
3."Harvest" (multimedia track)6:01
Total length:14:47

Personnel

Opeth

Additional musicians

Production

Additional personnel

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opeth</span> Swedish progressive metal band

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. The band incorporates folk, blues, classical, and jazz elements into its usually lengthy compositions, as well as strong influences from death metal, especially in their early works. Songs may include acoustic guitar passages, Mellotrons, death growls, and strong dynamic shifts.

Progressive metal is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or quasi-classical compositions of the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikael Åkerfeldt</span> Swedish musician (born 1974)

Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive metal band Opeth. A former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath, he was also guitarist for the "one-off" band Steel, and part of the collaboration Storm Corrosion with Steven Wilson.

<i>Still Life</i> (Opeth album) 1999 studio album by Opeth

Still Life is the fourth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was produced and engineered by Opeth alongside Fredrik Nordström, and released on 18 October 1999 through Peaceville Records. It was the only Opeth album to be released through Peaceville, following the band's departure from Candlelight and Century Black after the release of My Arms, Your Hearse, and the first album to feature Martin Mendez.

<i>My Arms, Your Hearse</i> 1998 studio album by Opeth

My Arms, Your Hearse is the third studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, released in August 1998. It was the band's first album to be released simultaneously in Europe, through Candlelight Records, and in the United States, through Century Black.

<i>Morningrise</i> 1996 studio album by Opeth

Morningrise is the second studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on 24 June 1996 in Europe by Candlelight Records and on 24 June 1997 in the United States by Century Black. The recording sessions took place at Unisound studio, in Finspång, during March and April 1996. Morningrise was the last Opeth release with drummer Anders Nordin and bassist Johan De Farfalla, as well as the last Opeth album to be produced by Dan Swanö.

<i>Deliverance</i> (Opeth album) 2002 studio album by Opeth

Deliverance is the sixth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on 12 November 2002. It was recorded between 22 July and 4 September 2002, at the same time as Damnation, which was released five months after this album. The two albums contrast starkly with one another, purposely dividing the band's two most prevalent styles, as Deliverance is considered to be one of the band's heaviest albums, taking on a heavier and more brutal death metal-inspired sound, whereas Damnation experiments with a much mellower progressive rock-influenced sound.

<i>Damnation</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Opeth

Damnation is the seventh studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on 22 April 2003, five months after Deliverance, which was recorded at the same time. Damnation is the last Opeth album to date to be produced by Steven Wilson although he did mix two future albums, Heritage and Pale Communion. Mikael Åkerfeldt dedicated both Damnation and Deliverance to his grandmother, who died in a car accident during the time the albums were being recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Lindgren (musician)</span> Swedish musician and songwriter (born 1973)

Peter Lindgren is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former guitarist of Swedish progressive metal band Opeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martín Méndez</span> Uruguayan bassist

Martín Méndez is a Uruguayan Swedish musician. He is the bassist of the progressive metal band Opeth and the second-longest-serving member of the band, behind frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt.

<i>In Absentia</i> 2002 studio album by Porcupine Tree

In Absentia is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on 24 September 2002. The album marked several changes for the band, with it being the first with new drummer Gavin Harrison and the first to move into a more progressive metal direction, contrary to past albums' psychedelic and alternative rock sounds. Additionally, it was their first release on a major record label, Lava Records. It was very well received critically and commercially, with it often being considered the band's crowning achievement, and selling three times as many copies as any of the band's earlier albums.

<i>Ghost Reveries</i> 2005 studio album by Opeth

Ghost Reveries is the eighth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on 29 August 2005. It was their first album after signing with Roadrunner Records, and first album since Still Life (1999) to not be produced by Steven Wilson.

<i>Lamentations (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire 2003)</i> 2003 video by Opeth

Lamentations is the first live album and video by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, released under the Music For Nations label in 2003. It was recorded at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 25 September 2003.

<i>A Predators Portrait</i> 2001 studio album by Soilwork

A Predator's Portrait is the third studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. It was released on 19 February 2001, and was reissued on 15 October 2013 in the U.S. and 18 October 2013 in Europe. This is the last album to feature Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg on keyboards. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album sold 6.326 copies in the US as of 2002.

Blackwater Park was a progressive rock band from Berlin, Germany, with an English vocalist. They released only one album, Dirt Box, which included a cover of The Beatles' "For No One". The album was originally released in 1972 and re-released in 1990. The name of the band comes from the name of the gothic mansion setting of Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White.

<i>In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall</i> 2010 live video album by Opeth

In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall is the third live album and video by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. The DVD was recorded on 5 April 2010. It was released on 20 September 2010 in Europe and on 21 September 2010 in the rest of the world. The concert was part of the band's Evolution XX: An Opeth Anthology tour, made in celebration of their 20th anniversary, and was the fourth show of the tour, filmed at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, UK.

Storm Corrosion was a musical collaboration between Swedish musician Mikael Åkerfeldt of progressive metal band Opeth and English musician Steven Wilson of the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. Åkerfeldt and Wilson began a longstanding musical partnership in 2001 when Wilson produced Opeth's fifth studio album Blackwater Park. The two began writing together for a new project in 2010, releasing their self-titled only studio album in 2012 through Roadrunner Records.

<i>Heritage</i> (Opeth album) 2011 studio album by Opeth

Heritage is the tenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth. It was released on 13 September 2011 through Roadrunner Records. The album was recorded in early 2011 at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm and produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt, engineered by Janne Hansson, and mixed by Steven Wilson. It takes on more of a progressive rock sound, something the band had wanted to do for some time, resulting in a stark contrast to the progressive death metal sounds of their past albums.

<i>Storm Corrosion</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Storm Corrosion

Storm Corrosion is the self-titled only album from Storm Corrosion, the musical collaboration between Mikael Åkerfeldt, frontman of Opeth, and Steven Wilson, frontman of Porcupine Tree. The album was released on May 7, 2012 by Roadrunner Records.

<i>In Cauda Venenum</i> 2019 studio album by Opeth

In Cauda Venenum is the thirteenth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth, released on 27 September 2019 through Moderbolaget and Nuclear Blast. It was released in two versions: a Swedish-language version and an English-language version. The band toured in support of the album throughout 2019 and into 2020. At 67 minutes and 57 seconds, it is the band's longest studio album. It is also the band's last album to feature drummer Martin Axenrot before his departure in 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Opeth official site". 10 April 2001. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Opeth Blackwater Park". AllMusic . Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Opeth > Blackwater Park". Opeth.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  4. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo (3 January 2018). "The Best Metal Album From 40 Subgenres". Loudwire . Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Top 25 Progressive Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire . Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Ezell, Brice (15 February 2012). "The 10 Best Progressive Rock Albums of the 2000s". PopMatters . Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Best Opeth Albums". Heavy Music Headquarters. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Opeth Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum . 4 October 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Opeth Albums Ranked". Loudwire . 31 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Top 25 Progressive Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire .
  11. ↑ "Rolling Stone Share Their Choices for 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time'". 21 June 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Åkerfeldt, Mikael. "Opeth Chapter 5". Opeth.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  13. ↑ Kent, Jeff (March 2001). "Metal-Rules.com Interview with Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt". Metal Rules . Archived from the original on 2001-05-01.
  14. 1 2 3 Åkerfeldt, Mikael. "Blackwater Park Session Diary". Opeth.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  15. 1 2 Palmerston, Sean (February 2001). "Aggressive Tendencies > Metal & Hardcore reviews > Opeth - Blackwater Park". Exclaim! . Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  16. 1 2 "Opeth Singles". Opeth.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  17. ↑ Warwick, 2004. p.809
  18. ↑ Titus, Christa (31 May 2008). "It has taken until now for Opeth's 2002[sic] album "Blackwater Park" to sell almost as many copies (93,000) as "Reveries."". Billboard . p. 35.
  19. ↑ "Opeth To Release 'Legacy Edition' Of "Blackwater Park" Overseas This Month". ThePRP. 17 March 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Opeth - Blackwater Park (Legacy Edition)". www.loudersound.com. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  21. ↑ Renaud, Michel (21 April 2001). "The Metal Crypt - Review of Opeth - Blackwater Park". Metal Crypt. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  22. ↑ Renner, Christian (21 April 2001). "The Metal Crypt - Review of Opeth - Blackwater Park". Metal Crypt. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  23. 1 2 Raggett, Ned (April 20, 2012). "Opeth: Blackwater Park (Legacy Edition) / Deliverance (Reissue) / Damnation (Reissue) / Lamentations (Reissue) / Album Reviews / Pitchfork". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  24. ↑ McIver, Joel (11 April 2010). "Blackwater Park: Legacy Edition, Opeth".
  25. ↑ "Rock Hard review". issue 166.
  26. ↑ Pardo, Pete (17 August 2005). "Review: "Opeth: Blackwater Park"". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "Blackwater Park Review". Ultimate Guitar.
  28. ↑ "Avoiding the cornier trappings of goth metal and the Satanic hordes, Opeth paint on an epic canvas, sounding at times like ... metal's answer to '70s King Crimson. Restless with moods and melodic lines, their impressively long songs flow and unfold over shifting blocks of rhythmic ice". Village Voice : 79. 22 May 2001.
  29. ↑ "... Godlike ... A metal fusion of Pink Floyd and the Beatles, Opeth uses dynamics and atmosphere in ways many other bands can't...". CMJ : 29. 12 February 2001.
  30. ↑ Dick, Chris (31 December 2013). "Opeth - Blackwater Park".
  31. ↑ "Blackwater Park: Legacy Edition". 11 April 2010.
  32. ↑ "The 50 Best Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire .
  33. ↑ "Sputnikmusic - Top 100 Albums of the Decade (50 – 31) « Staff Blog".
  34. ↑ Top 20 albums of 2001 - Metal Storm
  35. ↑ Top 200 albums - Metal Storm
  36. ↑ "THE 20 GREATEST METAL ALBUMS IN HISTORY: THE COMPLETE LIST". LA Weekly. 31 January 2013.
  37. ↑ Rosenbloom, Satan (July 7, 2009). "#3: OPETH – BLACKWATER PARK". MetalSucks . Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "Decibel – The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums Of The Decade". New Music Excess. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  39. ↑ "Terrorizer Albums of the Decade 2000-2009". 27 January 2010.
  40. ↑ Hermes, Jon Dolan,Brandon Geist,Jon Weiderhorn,Ryan Reed,Kory Grow,Reed Fischer,Richard Gehr,Dan Epstein,Will (17 June 2015). "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 March 2019.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ↑ Fox, Regan (6 August 2014). "The 100 Greatest Prog Albums Of All Time: 40-21". TeamRock . Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  42. ↑ Hartmann, Graham. "No. 2: Opeth, ‘Blackwater Park’ – Top 21st Century Metal Songs", Loudwire . Retrieved on 05 September 2012.
  43. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Q 1010 Songs You Must Own".
  44. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  45. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Opeth – Blackwater Park" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Opeth – Blackwater Park" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Listy przebojów - Muzyka w INTERIA.PL - teledyski, koncerty, nowości płytowe, dobra muzyka, listy przebojów". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.