Eddie's Lil Helper
Ancient Mariner
Dan Campbell of The Washington Times is reporting that OPETH disappointed a few of the headbangers in the audience at a recent show at the 9:30 Club "by playing mostly mellow, semiacoustic numbers from the band's new 'Damnation' album, which [PORCUPINE TREE's Steven] Wilson produced. However, singer-guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt said the band needs to stretch out and try something new. 'Besides,' he noted, 'we only brought the small amplifiers and single-bass drum kit.'
"Most of the crowd seemed to react well to the change in direction, but Mr. Åkerfeldt repeatedly apologized, with a crooked grin, for the lack of metal in the set and assured the fans that when OPETH next returns to the District, it will be doing a high-octane metal set.
"Too bad, because the 'Damnation' material is striking, with soft, haunting vocals and acoustic guitars riding on a carpet of lush mellotrons and other keyboards. One of the highlights of the band's 90-minute set was an instrumental 'Ending Credits', which Mr. Åkerfeldt said was a 'rip-off' of English prog-rockers CAMEL.
"Most of the crowd seemed to react well to the change in direction, but Mr. Åkerfeldt repeatedly apologized, with a crooked grin, for the lack of metal in the set and assured the fans that when OPETH next returns to the District, it will be doing a high-octane metal set.
"Too bad, because the 'Damnation' material is striking, with soft, haunting vocals and acoustic guitars riding on a carpet of lush mellotrons and other keyboards. One of the highlights of the band's 90-minute set was an instrumental 'Ending Credits', which Mr. Åkerfeldt said was a 'rip-off' of English prog-rockers CAMEL.