Watershed Review

On Watershed, Opeth’s stately soundtracks for snow-flecked forests feel more spacious and majestic than ever. Setting oboe against pipe organ and blues-rock solos against madrigal harmonies, warming their placid acoustic opener with a wood-nymph’s warble, letting nimble Celtic strumming evolve through ferocious horror-ogre thrash into an extended minimalist swirl, Opeth specialize in an eclecticism so ambitious you’re shocked it doesn’t topple over.
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For whatever reason, Watershed is a new benchmark for Opeth. The tricky part is pointing out that while Watershed is a fantastic record, one that takes chances while remaining totally metal (dude), it feels less like a complete statement than a preview for something even greater.
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Watershed is a major turning point for the band, as they’ve now made a significant shift towards the progressive rock sounds of 35 years ago, their extreme metal, which they used to be so firmly rooted in, now cleverly used more as a starting-off point than merely the groundwork of the music. It’s their most crucial album since 1999’s stunning Still Life, and its title could not be more appropriate.
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