Customer Reviews

Ghost Reveries

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When I first listened to Opeth's Ghost Reveries, I was blown away by the level of maturity and musicianship the band had reached. I have also been equally impressed with Blackwater Park, Deliverance, Damnation, and every other Opeth album I have ever devoted my time to.

I was slightly hesitant to buy this special edition disc because I thought it may be a ploy by Roadrunner to cash in on their new prospect--especially after reading the negative reviews of the bonus track "Soldier of Fortune."

First of all, I am very impressed with the documentary. Clocking in at more than forty minutes, the documentary provides a peek into Mikael Akerfeldt's thoughts for the future and reminisces of the past. There is very little mention of Martin Axenrot, but more of Martin Lopez's mental issues are exposed in this documentary. Perhaps I was reading into his body language too much, but Martin seemed to achieve the lost look and unfocused swagger that only a truly depressed person can manage during his in-session footage. This documentary picks up very well to where the documentary on "Lamentations" ended.

The 5.1 mix of the CD is also well done. If you have stereo equipment capable of playing this format, this is another great aspect of this special edition CD.

The cover of Deep Purple's "Soldier of Fortune" makes a little more sense (at least to me) after watching the documentary where Mikael proclaims his newly-discovered love for the keyboards and his "clean" voice. I personally like the song even though it does not necessarily fit into the traditional sense of what an Opeth song should sound like. Just listen to it with an open mind...

If you do not own "Ghost Reveries," I would definitely start with this special edition. If you already own the regular version and are a fan of Opeth, pick this disc up for the documentary alone... The video to "The Grand Conjuration" is slightly interpretative, but it didn't add a lot of value for me.

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Enough has been said about Ghost Reveries, so I won't add anything other than to say I think it's their finest effort yet or at least as excellent as Blackwater Park. This particular issue includes a DVD of the entire album in 5.1 DTS format which takes their music to the next level. Any fan of Opeth who has a home theater system should consider this a necessary purchase. Great care was taken to mix this music to its fullest potential and it delivers in every way. If that's not enough, the inclusion of a bonus track, Soldier of Fortune (a Deep Purple cover), and a fascinating documentary, Beyond Ghost Reveries, should take care of any reservations. All in all, a superb document of a very talented band.

The prog/death masters are back. This record is amazing, by this time you'll know that and this special edition is a perfect celebration for the best metal record of 2005. Excellent 5.1 mix and the documental is great, more than forty minutes inside the creation of the record an interesting interviews.

The cover of Deep Purple is fantastic, excellent choice for a band that's open minded and with no limitations, great feeling.

Ghost Reveries is one of the best experiences you can find in music out there.

This is one of my favorite OPETH albums. I am a huge fan of this band's unique style and have almost every major album they have made. Ghost Reveries is my definately one of thier best efforts.

Bought this to rip the CD in lossless and to listen to this great album in 5.1. Definitely worth it. Opeth's complexity is truly realized when listening to their albums in 5.1. If you have a 5.1 system, buy this now. You will not regret it.

^ I own every album that Opeth has made available in 5.1. This review will be the same for the rest

If you're considering buying some (or some more) Opeth, there's nothing that I can write in this review that someone else has not already written. So I will focus on this album as compared to the rest of their catalog.

Ghost Reveries has some of the heaviest music Opeth has produced to date, with Ghost of Perdition and the Baying of the Hounds uncompromisingly, blisteringly heavy. Really, this album doesn't let up until the beautifully relaxing Atonement.

That doesn't mean that any of these songs lack the complexity of tracks from Still Life or Deliverance. You'll find surprising moments, moving moments, harmonically dense moments in every single track. Some of their creepiest and most unsettling riffs and lines can also be found here - notably in, but most definitely not restricted to, the Grand Conjuration.

Harlequin Forest is easily one of my favorite Opeth tracks, ranking right up their with Bleak as an absolutely perfect song. It could not be improved in any way. Though it has a not-insubstantial quantity of death growls, more than half of the song is comprised of clean vocals, and some fantastically groovy beats throughout.

Lyrically, this is one of Opeth's darkest entries, and one that fits most comfortably within the death metal paradigm. Of course, their music alone does not; if Rush decided to play death metal instead of prog rock, I think Opeth would be a pretty natural result. Anyway, the lyrics are not for those who are easily offended by the occult.

If you are looking for a damn solid album by Opeth, there are other options that I think work just as well, but you will NOT go wrong with Ghost Reveries.

This is a great CD/DVD combo. One advice - dont try to remove the booklet from this packaging, it cant be done, you will ruin the booklet, it is very tightly glued.

I've only been listening to Opeth for a little over a year, but they have a few albums that already make my deserted island list. Morningrise, Still Life, and this brilliant treasure-chest of an album, Ghost Reveries, are recordings I can't go long without listening to, as they are masterpieces of creative genius. I don't really care if that sounds like fanboy praise, because as I said before, I haven't been into this band long compared to some of my favorites, like Black Sabbath, Slayer, Napalm Death, Soulfly/Sepultura/Cavalera Conspiracy, and many, many other veteran metal bands. But I can't deny the incredible songwriting ability of Mikael Akerfeldt, who manages to constantly amaze me with his epic arrangements. This is the most diverse metal can get while maintaining an overall crushing, death metal foundation.

Ghost Reveries offers songs that are rich, multilayered, classic, dynamic powerhouses. Mikael's death metal roar matches anyone else in the business; his clean vocals are mesmerizing, such a refreshingly individual sound compared to today's crappy death metalcore drudge. I can't stand hearing some of these new bands that mesh obviously forced "angry" and heavy vocals and lyrics with middle-school-simple, sappy choruses. Opeth's music is a genre unto itself, beautifully mixing influences from death metal, progressive rock, folk music, medieval melodies...and they find ways of intertwining these styles seamlessly, into ten-minute-plus movements that never, ever bore the listener or fall into pointless self-indulgence.

Perfect examples come from this album's Ghost of Perdition, The Baying of the Hounds, Beneath the Mire, Harlequin Forest, and The Grand Conjuration. It boggles my mind to think that someone could write this amount of amazing material for one album, but Ghost Reveries also includes the soothing, bass-heavy, mellow non-ballad, Atonement, and two eloquent proper ballads, Hours of Wealth and Isolation Years. As if this wasn't enough, the special edition includes the bonus Deep Purple cover, Soldier of Fortune, where Mikael offers a worthy tribute to one of his most important rock influences, and a 40-minute making-of documentary (an enlightening, entertaining, mostly serious look into the album's conception; awesome)...and a 5.1 mix of the album...and the freakish video for The Grand Conjuration.

If you can't tell, I'm pretty impressed by Opeth.

this album by opeth has everything from ripping guitars to melodic vocals. a must have for any opeth fan!!

This was the 1st album I got from Opeth, I got it for free. And I was like F*** it. It's free why not give it a listen and check out the DVD. I must say I was blown away after I listen to this album. I almost feel retarded not getting into them sooner.

This album is amazing. I would seriously recommend it to anyone who likes Metal. The songs are well put together and I just love Mikeals voice when he growls as well as sings. Not many people can do both as well as he can I think. I would say which songs are my fav but really...I like them all...but if i had to pick a few that i listen to the most I would say..Ghost of Perdition, The Baying of The Hounds, Atonement and The Grand Conjuration.