Lamentations - Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire

A mostly very good DVD let down slightly by some minor issues, “Lamentations” is still worth picking up for any Opeth fan that somehow might not already own it. The choice of playing an album in full live is always going to be a little hit or miss for some. At my first metal gig ever, I saw Maiden do A Matter of Life and Death in full. It was largely boring and tedious, and followed by a mere 5 classics which while absolutely beyond great, added to the disappointment in a way. Luckily I think “Damnation” is a good, enjoyable album with a couple of fantastic standout songs, so I have no objections to occasionally sitting down and watching a full live recording of it. Opeth also follows it up with a 2nd set of their heavier material, and herein lies one of the minor issues: seeing as they just played a whole album, the 2nd set is shorter despite being comprised entirely of songs over 10 minutes long.

The second problem is that, due to some idiotic copyright issue they were prevented from filming (maybe even playing? Who knows) any songs from before the MFN/Koch albums... So there's nothing from Orchid or Morningrise, which would be otherwise somewhat understandable...but nothing from MA,YH? Nothing from Still Life? While I personally couldn't give a shit about Still Life on the whole bar a couple of songs, the preceding 3 albums (especially MA,YH and Morningrise) are all firm favourites of mine and to not even have the overplayed "Demon of the Fall" is a bit of a disappointment. Furthermore, one can only imagine how well something like the shiver-inducing “Credence” or the equally wonderful “Benighted” would have slotted in the middle of the soft set (they got “Harvest” from BWP in there, after all). Nonetheless, both sets are well performed and recorded, an artefact of this increasingly popular band just before their 2005 breakthrough with “Ghost Reveries”.

Also included is a documentary on the making of the “Damnation” and “Deliverance” albums featuring extensive interviews with the band members and producer Steven Wilson, which I always enjoy seeing and is just as good a reason to pick this up as the live set. However, if you want a more diverse Opeth live show, go for “The Roundhouse Tapes”, which makes a point of including something from all of their albums up to that point, featuring such fanatic’s delights as “When” and the untouchable “The Night and the Silent Water”...or maybe get them both, eh?

While this DVD does offer fans of the band a wealth of material, it still falls short. A lack of material from the band's back catalogue, as well as the lack of overall heaviness, is a huge bummer. Only 5 heavy songs are played, and none of them date from before the Blackwater Park album.

The main feature is a lengthy set list at Shepherd's Bush Empire; first up is the Damnation album played in full. If you thought it sounded rapturous on CD, wait until you hear it live. An incredible sound mix helps things out a lot, but everything here is perfect. There is not one noticeable flaw in Mikael's voice, and his presence and emotion as a frontman is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Peter and Mikael's collaborative guitar playing is spot-on here, even on the parts which seemed to be too dense for their own good on the album. A clear, warm bass sound is used, and helps to add some atmosphere to the performance. Martin's drum work is pronounced, and the nuances in his style that weren't present on the album come out here, all for the better. Overall, the performance of the Damnation album is nothing short of trippy. Subtle lighting effects accent the music, and Per's faint keyboard presence adds an ethereal, celestial sense to the band and the venue. This portion of the show is definitely for stoners; smoke a joint, chill, and let Opeth take you on a hell of a ride. Temporarily, anyway.

As soon as the last note of "Weakness" ends, Mikael announces that the band is changing out their equipment for the next portion of the show; minutes later, the members re-emerge, opening the second half of the show with the monstrous "Master's Apprentices." The band's live sound now takes on a whole new aspect; rather than the lushness of Damnation, Opeth's "metal" side gets the full treatment: blistering double bass, thick and crunchy guitars, and intense vocals. Mikael's growls are in no way weak, though the high screams seem a little faint; his clean vocals are still flawless as before. Even with the individual guitars having a thick, polished distortion, the sound is not muddled, and every note played can be comprehended. All of the solos and technical passages are smooth and without mar, and even the quiet moments shine through with brilliance. Martin's drums now have more punch; the snare has a nice attack, the toms have a classic "thud", and the nuances of the hi-hat and ride cymbals are captured quite well. I did notice that a few parts of the songs, such as the endings of "Master's Apprentices," are improvised for the sake of a live setting, and Martin helps guide the band smoothly through such moments. Especially notable here is the ambitious performance of the closer, "A Fair Judgement." Opeth go through the set list without flaw, and the band's passionate energy on stage is quite surprising.

Unfortunately, the heavy material only lasts for 5 songs, and it's all recent material. The band's performance is great, but I would have liked to see some older material from My Arms, Your Hearse; or even the Still Life album.

The production effort behind the concert is done very well also; there are plenty of camera angles on all of the band members to get the full experience, and the video quality is crystal clear.

Lamentations' other feature is the long documentary that lets fans look into the recording processes of "Deliverance" and "Damnation." Interesting glimpses are given as to how Opeth work in the studio, and in-depth interviews are given with each band member about how he got into music, metal, and into Opeth as a whole. Also given are some chronicles of the band's background, history, and the personal lives of each member. I'm not sure exactly how long it is, but I can tell you that it's long enough to keep you interested (and sitting on your ass) for quite a while.

While the lack of old/heavy material is a heavy blow and disappointment, the documentary is pretty cool. Furthermore, given the performance, it's pretty kick-ass. Let's hope Opeth come out with another DVD soon.

Opeth fans, this is truely epic. How does a dual-set including the ENTIRE Damnation album sound? Tempting? Indeed these words are short of what to expect of the collosal Opeth, with each and every one of thier albums producing a new sound, atmosphere and mood within itself.

Lamentations sees Opeth on a usual tour, though for the first time with the newly added member of Per Wilberg on keyboards and backing vocals, who was added to the band after the release of Deliverence and Damnation, and who can be heard throughout Opeth's most recent album Ghost Reveries. Wilberg adds nice harmonies and depth to the songs which are played in the two sets seen on the DVD, adding to the songs which were already seen as perfect for fans.

As for the whole band, incredible musicians as they are, made very few noticeable mistakes throughout the whole concert. Only minor mistakes can be noticed, but not enough to dull the light on how tight, smooth and powerful the band played that night. And i can say this comfortably, as i saw Opeth on their Australian tour, they never cease to continue playing at the level they do, making every second of the night interesting and epic.

The quality of the DVD itself is very good considering some horrible recordings i have seen. The sound has been well mixed, only little patches of dampened sound here and there. As far as use of cameras... Well... Biggest pain in the fucking arse is why almost every single live dvd i have seen of a band, the cameramen never notice when there is a guitar solo or build-up on the drums. Apart from this usual fuck-up with filming, the picture can be a little dark at times, but apart from that no complaints.

To conclude, even non-fans of Opeth should watch this dvd to see just how pure this band is, incredible musicians who concentrate more on the moods and meanings within the songs, incorporating their instruments to aid with this, and not just blasting your face with agressive and boring and fast noise. Not only that, but how they can reproduce the songs live is incredible, making each and every song stand alone as a live masterpiece.

Long hair, black atmosphere. It has to be metal. I have watched this right through countless times.

De-li-ve-rence

Opeth are best-known for their fusion of death metal and 70s-style progressive rock through monstrous epics. While they are amazing at that style, they have a habit of stripping everything down and doing songs that are entirely free of death vocals as well. This DVD release is the culmination of that, and features in its 14 song set 10 tracks without death vocals. They play the entire DAMNATION record, a fantastic album, as well as "Harvest" and the epic closer "A Fair Judgement". But fear not, for there are also songs to soothe the drooling metalhead in us all, "The Leper Affinity", "Master's Apprentices", "The Drapery Falls", and "Deliverance" appear as well to provide some headbangability.

So what makes this DVD so special? Quite a few things, actually. First of all, it captures the essence of a live Opeth performance. The music is perfect and after a hundred viewings, I've only actually noticed one note played differently than on record. They ooze energy in a live setting, and yet they never screw up.

Another element is that the crowd noise wasn't deleted, and was hardly even reduced. You can hear the fans chanting for "Demon of the Fall" and "Black Rose Immortal", as is commonplace at an Opeth show. Mikael is visibly distressed as he turns them down to play A Fair Judgement. It would seem that Music for Nations/Koch Records only wanted Opeth to play songs from the albums released on their label, so BLACKWATER PARK, DELIVERANCE, and DAMNATION are the only albums represented. The performance isn't any less amazing as a result.

Another exciting thing about this concert is that it foreshadows keyboardist Per Wiberg's entry to the band. His performance is flawless and you can really see what Mikael and Co. saw in him as a player.

The bonus feature on this is surprisingly rewatchable. It's an hour long documentary on the making of DELIVERANCE and DAMNATION, two painstakingly difficult albums. The story of Opeth's development to their present (well, in 2004) state as well as the process of creating the two aforementioned albums, a process which no doubt caused many sleepless nights for all involved. You get to see unused takes in the studio as well as just what a hand Steven Wilson lent to the project. Truly amazing, and as I said, rewatchable.

Overall, I can't think of any reason you shouldn't buy this if you like Opeth. It was only $15 from a Suncoast Motion Picture Company of America for me, I'm sure you can find it in an FYE or something somewhere. So find it, and buy it.

This DVD was a great idea from the band because it combines their two styles. This concert is divided into two sets: the first one consists in the calmed songs. Maybe the crowd wasn’t expecting the whole Damnation album because they just wanted to go nuts, but this is in no way a deception. The second set consists in the heavy part of Opeth. With this second set, all the people go insane and it may be the best part of the concert.

It may have just a few low points. The first part is not suitable for people who just want to go nuts, because it is so relaxed and soft, and it goes on for an hour or so. Then the heavy part lasts like 40 or 50 minutes only. Maybe what they could have done is a mix between the heavy songs and the calmed ones. Maybe one heavy, long-lasting song, and then 2 soft songs for relaxing and chilling out.

The performance here is just awesome. They are very good musicians. Mikael’s voice keeps up during the whole concert: he has very good tone on the first set and growls like hell in the second set. The rest of the band also looses a little bit from the albums; Mendez with his “supersonic” fingers, Lopez doing awesome patterns different from the albums and also interesting fills, and Peter just making the right company for Mikael’s guitar.

There is also the documentary. Its is nothing out of the ordinary. It tells how the band managed to make the Damnation and Deliverance albums. It offers interviews with the four members and then they are showed playing along with their instrument, which, to me, is great, because you can see how each member contributes to the creative process. You can also see their individual skill and creativity, which may be one highlight from the documentary.

This DVD is recommendable for Opeth fans mostly and also for people who want to know more of this band. It shows Opeth the way it is; light and profound in some parts and heavy and insane in some others. Buy it and you will not be deceived in any way.

As a fan of Opeth and their sort of epic, progressive, 10-minute-long-but-good-ness, I thought it necessary for me to own this DVD. It’s got their performance done especially for this DVD, and a documentary on the makings of the Deliverance and Damnation albums. There’s nothing too special here, but not disappointing for your average music DVD.

The set was divided into two, a light set of mostly Damnation material or other such light songs, and a heavy set with the awesomeness setting on high. The performance throughout is flawless, the best moments depending on which of their songs you prefer. Hope Leaves and Deliverance do it for me. Some moments really do get the hairs standing.

I think what’s slightly disappointing is that Shepherd’s Bush isn’t shown in all it’s glory, it’s a large place and I think the camerawork could have accentuated or shown that somehow, but this doesn’t detract from the performance. What does, however, are the constant screams and occasional call of something or other from some random fan in between songs, but this happens at most gigs, and it could be argued that it gives it more of a personal, more intimate feel.

The documentary is insightful and tells you a lot about the song writing process and life in the studio, right down to telling us how they occasionally have squabbles about the air conditioning.

On the whole, little to be complained about, but I’m sure any dedicated Opeth fan will be pleased that they’ve released a DVD in the first place.

“Lamentations” is an intriguing DVD release from Swedish masters OPETH for several reasons. Certainly, fans are primarily excited to get their dirty metal paws on this DVD because OPETH is one of the most loved and respected bands in the metal world. Secondly, the band’s unique blend of styles and influences are manifested in songs that are wonderfully complex, varied, and epic. It is very exciting to be able to get a front row seat to watch the band execute these masterful opuses in a live setting. Third, “Lamentations” is unusual in that it includes a performance of their newest album, the mellow “Damnation”, in its entirety, as well as a second set of the band’s heavier material. Add in an hour long documentary on the making of “Damnation” and “Deliverance”, which were recorded during the same sessions, and what you’ve got is one hotly anticipated DVD.

The band moves around very little during the show. Their stage setup is very basic. Just the band performing underneath the “O” logo--that majestic O that represents the band so well. Ornate, delicate and beautiful yet ominous and dark. The energy from the show comes from the performance of the music itself. And it is intense, undeniably intense. OPETH is an amazing live band that seems to consistently successfully translate their recordings into their performances. The sound, available Stereo, Dolby 5.1 and DTS, is very good and all the instruments (including keyboards) are mixed well. The camera angles are basic but thorough and competent, although singer/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt gets most of the attention. The drumming of Martin Lopez (which is also covered very well on the documentary) is a highlight of the show and DVD.

Akerfeldt interacts well with the crowd and the band’s performance is impeccable. The performance of the epic"Deliverance" is a highlight of the show. Each set is about an hour long and there have been some complaints that the five songs that make up the heavy set don’t include any songs pre “Blackwater Park”. Koch asked them to include songs from the three Koch releases, "Demon of the Fall" was played but is not included on the DVD. Additionally, one of the liabilities of composing such long songs is that the band can include very few of them into the show. Although it would be great to have included “Demon of the Fall” or “April Ethereal”, fans can hardly complain after being treated to an incredible two hours of OPETH.

Equally well done is the hour long documentary produced by Fredrik Odefjard that shows the band in the studio writing and recording “Damnation” and “Deliverance.” In depth individual interviews with each band member highlight each member’s early development as a musician and their perspective on the recording process. The band entered the studio with the songs sketched out and finished them in the studio, and their professionalism and musicianship during this process are both fascinating and outstanding. I immediately listened to both albums after watching the documentary and seeing how parts were developed and recorded. Akerfeldt’s collaboration and interaction with co-producer Steven Wilson are also quite interesting.

“Lamentations” is an amazing DVD and one that will have more replay value than almost any other I own. It is highly recommended to old and new fans alike.

Having been a big Opeth fan for quite a while, I had been anticipating this release since it was announced. Thankfully, as long as you like both styles of Opeth's music (mellow and heavy) then this DVD should more than satisfy your needs.

Sound quality is ridiculously clear and every instrument and effect in the hall is picked up perfectly. Unfortunately, this also includes some annoying screams and yells from the crowd which very occasionally detract from the effect of the songs. The saving grace in this department is that there are also some humerous crowd calls that had me laughing pretty hard (Mikael asks whether or not the mellow nature of a song stops it from being evil and a fan growls out "no it DOESN'T"). All in all, I was very satisfied with the sound.

In regards to actual musicianship the playing is pretty tight and there are few errors. Some of the more devout Opeth fans may notice that during set two the band occasionally runs too fast, blitzing through some riffs that would have sounded a lot nicer with a bit better pacing (The Drapery Falls is pretty rife with this), but then again, you may prefer the increase in speed. Michael's voice sounds quite good, and they bring in a keyboardist to sing backing vocals and to play during the Damnation set and "A Fair Judgement". A few new musical sections have also been added to a couple songs. The documentary is fairly in-depth, and covers a lot of material besides just Deliverance and Damnation. All four band members (as well as Steven Wilson) comment on some of the ups and downs of recording in general, and talk about the early days of their careers.

As far as the set lists go, I'm a bit dissapointed by the fact that Music For Nations wouldn't buy the rights to any of the older songs (even one or two kick ass oldies would have been awesome), but the second set is still marvelous, and IMO, contains only top notch Opeth songs.

Basically, if you're a fan of both styles of Opeth, this DVD is perfect for you. Those only interested in one of the two sides of Opeth will have to decide whether or not there is enough of what you like to warrant the purchase. For those new to Opeth, this DVD should serve as a fantastic introduction to the band (keep in mind, however, that as Michael says, the first set is not typical Opeth, and the majority of their discography is a mixture of light and heavy music, such as those songs in set 2).

Opeth's first official live recording has finally been released. This DVD was recorded in London during the Damnation tour. Opeth has made a big name for themselves in the metal world, whether you like 'em or not. Personally I dig them so I snatched up this DVD as soon as I could.

The audio is mixed by Andy Sneap, who is the guy behind Live Kreation's awesome mix. Every instrument is very clear and audible. The video quality is very good as well, with lots of quick camera cuts and many, many angles. Some of them seem a tad odd...sometimes when Mikael is singing it's zoomed in way too close. If I can see his nose hair then you've zoomed in too close, Mister Cameraman. For you guitar players out there, there are a lot of shots where you can clearly see the fretwork, so if you're learning how to play Opeth's songs then this DVD will prove helpful. Martin Lopez deserves special mention because his drumming is awe-inspiring. He definitely is an amazing drummer. Mike's vocals are pretty good, especially when he's screaming and growling.

It seems like this DVD was created with the intention of providing as clear a reproduction of an Opeth concert as possible, from the breathers between songs to the audience screaming out song names to Mikael's occasionally self-depreciating stage chatter. Perhaps I should amend that and say a *recent* Opeth concert. They play every single track from Damnation (including a spooky new part in Closure) and sneak Harvest in before going to a heavy set. The heavy set is Master's Apprentices, The Drapery Falls, Deliverance, The Leper Affinity, and then they end with A Fair Judgement. Notice anything strange about that setlist? They're all from only three albums! They don't play any songs from before Blackwater Park. I've heard this was because of record label issues or something. Since Music for Nations is putting this DVD out I guess they didn't want to include songs that they'd have to pay Opeth's previous labels for. Whatever the case, it's a disappointment. Before A Fair Judgement you can hear a lot of people screaming "Demon of the Fall!" and you can clearly see that Mike would probably want to play it. This is the key flaw of this DVD - the lack of older songs keeps it from being a definitive Opeth live DVD and makes it instead more of a snapshot of this stage in their career. It doesn't ruin the DVD but you can't help thinking that it could've been a lot better.

Setlist aside, it's a good concert. I was lucky enough to catch them in Seattle on the Damnation tour and this DVD provides a very good impression of what Opeth is like in concert. They're a very mature band at this point and they have enough experience and money to put on a show worth seeing.

The only feature on the DVD besides the concert is a documentary, "The making of Damnation and Deliverance". At first I thought this would be somewhat of an afterthought, someone just dragging a camcorder into the studio while they were recording. Fortunately, that's not the case. All four band members are interviewed extensively about the history of the band, their attitudes on creating music, their relationships with the other band members, and what their experiences were during the recording of Damnation. It's full of interesting tidbits, like how Mike's first song was titled "I hate hip hop" and Steven Wilson's impromptu guitar solo while Mike is recording the vocals for the mellow part of Master's Apprentices. It's actually much longer than I thought it would be. I wasn't timing it but it felt like it was a good 30 or 45 minutes. Mike also talks about the next album a bit, echoing his earlier comments where he said it would be "extreme", bordering on black metal, possibly with an occult theme. While this is the only extra, it is pretty cool and fans will love it.

So should you shell out your hard-earned cash for this? If you're a big Opeth fan, then definitely. If you kinda dig them but aren't a hardcore fan, then you might want to hold off unless you really love their mellower stuff. And if you don't like Opeth at all, then I doubt this DVD will change your mind.