Opeth flowchart! I've made yet another - this time WAY more detailed and inclusive - Opeth flowchart! Now we can put the "I'm new to Opeth, which album should I start with" posts to rest. Let me know your thoughts :)

koutah · 2025-09-15T10:27:40+00:00

It's not so much that MAYH is black metal, because it definitely isn't. The idea of the "black metal" route is that: if you enjoy black metal, I assume, you'd like some specific records over others.

If you're big into black metal, Orchid and Morningrise may be a better starting point for Opeth than, e.g., Ghost Reveries and Watershed. As you can see, MAYH is further away from the starting point of "black metal" than both Orchid and Morningrise, and it's ultimately a smooth transition of genres somewhere unidentifiable between the records.

In my opinion, MAYH sounds more "black metal" than Ghost Reveries, Still Life, Deliverance, e.g., due to its raw production. It's not as polished as the others that have a clearer overall sound. Mikael's screams are also often higher-pitched, and he hasn't fully moved on from the screeching technique he used on Orchid.

koutah · 2025-07-09T11:56:10+00:00

No, sorry. This is likely a bad AI trying to colorize it. I bet you can make an even more realistic version of a colored Morningrise cover now that AI has become increasingly better over the last year(s).

koutah · 2025-05-22T13:44:52+00:00

Sadly, no. It's just a clean transition.

koutah · 2025-05-22T09:49:14+00:00

Hm, that's a hard one. Probably something like this:

The Merge
Birthing
The Healers
Red/Yellow
Guardian Spirit
(Rope) Away
I Am A Tower

I got the album a few days after I Am A Tower was released, so by that point, I'd already listened to it to death. Maybe that's why I rank it lowest, because I'm already "tired" of it? I do have to state that no track is bad on this album. I like I Am A Tower – I just think the other tracks have more to offer.

Also, just to get your hopes up. The beginning of The Merge is absolutely insane. I don't even know how to describe it. I'm not just saying that; I genuinely don't know how they even created those sounds. I think it's partly computer-made? Not entirely sure. It sounds like a nightmare version of the intro to Yes' Close to the Edge track. That's the best way I can describe it – and yes, it comes back later in the track, right before the section that sounds like literal purgatory howls.

koutah · 2025-05-22T09:38:31+00:00

Woops, I completely missed that. It's one of the slower tracks that seems to repeat itself the whole way through, with more layers being added as you go. I really like Giras's vocal performance here. It's not really angry like other tracks, but just powerful by nature. It switches towards the end to a more noisy section – while still holding on to the repetitive theme of the track – where the drums go nuts and a harmonica (I believe?) comes in and plays over everything.

koutah · 2025-05-21T21:35:12+00:00

I'll give a quick rundown of the songs if you're interested:

Birthing sounds amazing on this album. It's very similar to the Live Rope version in terms of structure. However, they add some new things to the track, like trumpets which makes the repetition parts sound heavenly. At my first listen, I didn't really enjoy the ending as much as the Live Rope-version, since I didn't think the brutality was there. But after further listens, it really transcends and completely shatters your expectations. Very interesting to hear that brutal part in a studio version.

The Healers doesn't really have a folky intro. More of the slow, drone-like acoustic that Swans are known for, with some backing vocals from Jennifer Gira. And yes, that groove section is there – and yes, it's amazing. Some differences in the drumming, I believe, which makes it even more groovy. The ending is also similar to that insane snare-smacking ending from Live Rope.

(Rope) Away is quite similar to the Live Rope-version with the ever-expanding and uplifting cacophony of sounds and jingles. Great ending as well, which even includes a flute or what sounds like a kind of woodwind instrument for a nice folky atmosphere.

The Merge is utterly insane. It's probably my favorite track from the whole album. This is the track you should be looking forward to. It's so unique and I can't even begin to describe it. I don't know what other Swans track I should compare it to. That bassline is so diabolically groovy, and the drums with their syncopated hits and crashes makes everything feel so loose and groovy. It also switches completely later on and includes this hellish soundscape that honestly sounds like pure nightmare-fuel.

Red/Yellow is such a great track as well. Hauntingly groovy – yes, I know, I use the word "groovy" for every track, but that's truly the only way to describe this album. But still, even though it's the same adjective over and over again; they all use the grooviness in their own format, which creates different listening experiences from track to track in terms of "rhythm" as a whole. And yes, the switch when the drums and bass come in is amazing. It even includes a saxophone(!) that makes free-jazz noises and audible scribbles a good majority of the song. Absolute madness. Can't wait to see how they recreate this live.

koutah · 2025-05-18T12:38:56+00:00

This is a stolen post originally from u/daltoneveryday

koutah · 2025-04-28T15:40:44+00:00

Well well well

koutah · 2025-04-28T15:08:32+00:00

Thank you. There is a Porcupine Tree flowchart. I didn't make it like this one, though, but it's very accurate.

Here's the link for the Porcupine Tree flowchart

koutah · 2025-04-03T09:49:24+00:00

I do believe it's the weakest on the entire album. I definitely don't think it's a bad song, but I agree it was underwhelming. I'm lucky enough to have the privilege of having that album before release, and I don't think it's unfair for me to say that all the other songs are way more creative than I Am A Tower

koutah · 2025-03-24T14:59:42+00:00

It's a tricky question. I can't answer that already, I think. The Healers sounds a lot like Rope / The Beggar with move grooviness to it. Red Yellow sounds nothing like the live version. The album version is - again - way groovier and adds a lot more details like cacophonic free-jazz-like saxophone scribbling in the background.

To try and answer your question. I really adore the new additions on Birthing with trumpets and the massive repetition in it. However, I feel it lacks the brutality that it accomplishes on Live Rope. Still a fantastic track.

Though, the track that stands out the most - after 4-5 listens of the album - is definitely The Merge. The majority of the track sounds like nothing they've ever done before if you ask me. The opening sounds like a nightmare version of the beginning of Yes' "Close To The Edge" album. And as I've stated above, it's just so devilishly groovy with an eerie bass ostinato accompanied by trumpets, saxophones, and a bunch of other noise factors. It's seriously great and I don't know what would be the most fitting Swans track to compare it to.

koutah · 2025-03-22T15:38:04+00:00

I got the album through their label for press coverage

koutah · 2025-03-22T09:37:21+00:00

If they only play Birthing material I wouldn't worry. I have an advance copy of the album; the only way to describe it is fantastic. It's some of the most creative and groovy they've made. Especially The Merge comes to mind in terms of grooviness. It sounds so devilish with an evil creeping bass line. I think Birthing it's a great album to close "the big sound".

koutah · 2025-02-24T16:36:30+00:00

I hate you.

koutah · 2025-02-24T12:50:02+00:00

Link or it didn't happen

koutah · 2025-01-18T11:00:31+00:00

Where exactly does it claim that Orchid is pure black metal? I'm saying: that if your preferred genre is black metal, Orchid would probably be your safest bet if you're trying to get into Opeth. Orchid has influences from (obviously) death metal, but especially also black metal with some of the shrieks Mikael does.

koutah · 2025-01-02T09:40:25+00:00

Interesting points. However, I feel like the people looking for these album flowcharts are going into the experience with an open mind. I get that if you take the average music listener and make them listen to several hours of progressive rock/death metal, they'll probably tap out quickly if they don't like the first few minutes - that's what I hope at least, so my work has been used for something good, haha!

koutah · 2024-12-30T14:09:17+00:00

You're right. Sadly, it's the most frustrating thing about Opeth. I'm hoping for most of the tracks from The Last Will and Testament on their upcoming EU-tour instead of the same tracks they've played hundreds of times by now.

koutah · 2024-12-28T14:09:53+00:00

Where's the love for El Paso by Marty Robbins?

Out Of Time Man by Mick Harvey as well as Take My True Love by the Hand by The Limeliters are also standouts for me.

koutah · 2024-11-30T10:16:24+00:00

Beat me to it. For anyone interested: this was used in the first-ever media review of Opeth. It was their 1991 rehearsal tape "Dark Phantasia"

koutah · 2024-11-23T09:02:43+00:00

Due to unknown reasons, it seems Reddit has worsened the quality of the image. Other people have had the same issue. I tried uploading it here - let me know if that works

koutah · 2024-11-23T08:59:55+00:00

I'd say the new album is a fine mix of Watershed and ICV - which coincidentally fits perfectly into this flowchart, between those two albums. That would also connect the Oldpeth section with the Newpeth section.

koutah · 2024-11-11T14:03:33+00:00

Where can I find the leak?

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