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Opeth - Lamentations: Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire 2003 (DVD)

Discussion in 'Media Reviews' started by Bleakest Harvest, Apr 7, 2004.

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  1. Bleakest Harvest

    Bleakest Harvest \m/Misanthropic Hippy\m/

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    Opeth - Lamentations: Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire 2003 (DVD)
    Music For Nations - DVDMFN22 - 2004
    By Paddy Walsh

    With the advent of DVD, it seems every band worth its salt requires a DVD release of some sort. Even some rather substandard bands have been releasing them of late, so it's about time that the mighty Opeth followed suit. Lamentations contains a 120 minute live set plus an hour long documentary for good measure, and it's nothing short of excellent.

    Recorded in 2003 in London, the live set chiefly promotes their recent Deliverance and Damnation releases, and is split into two sets. The first is a live rendition of Damnation in its entirety plus 'Harvest' from Blackwater Park. The material is flawlessly played and passionately sung by vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt. The sound quality of this recording is breathtaking, with each note and instrument sounding crystal clear. The highlight of the set is surely 'Closure', as it has been reworked and thusly transformed into something of a prog epic. Beautiful stuff. However, it is the second set which most fans will be wanting to see, as it contains their heavier and better known material. The sound is huge for these songs. Heavy, complex and haunting, Opeth have never sounded better, and watching this performance is as close to matching the power of the band live as you could possibly hope for on DVD. My only gripe is the lack of material from anything prior to Blackwater Park. Not to take away from the brilliance of that which is played, but it would have been great to see some material from Still Life and beyond. An unfortunate result of label-hopping throughout their career.

    The documentary is a triumph for those who wish to see the band in their 'warts and all' glory. Containing interviews with each member and plenty of studio footage, it provides a nice insight into the band's recording process, and will prove fascinating to those who worship Opeth.

    Overall, Lamentations delivers all that it promised, and is difficult to fault. It is certainly flawless from a production and performance point of view, and it is only the lack of older material which stops this from being perfect. Nonetheless, an essential purchase both for fanatics and passing fans alike.

    8.5/10

    Opeth Official Site
    Music For Nations Official Site
     
    #1 Bleakest Harvest, Apr 7, 2004
  2. Negus

    Negus New Metal Member

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    Brilliant dvd, fully enjoyed it &worth every penny ! \m/(*I*)\m/
     
    #2 Negus, Apr 21, 2005
  3. TheUnforgiven

    TheUnforgiven New Metal Member

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    Totaly agree a must have for an Opeth fan.
     
    #3 TheUnforgiven, May 30, 2005
  4. Uncle Choad

    Uncle Choad New Metal Member

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    My favorite song off of it is "Closure". Awesome buildup at the end.
     
    #4 Uncle Choad, May 30, 2005
  5. BrandonS

    BrandonS Member

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    This is possibly the best music DVD I've ever seen, though I think it is a toss up between this DVD and Pain of Salvation's BE stage production. They're both superb.
     
    #5 BrandonS, Jun 1, 2005
  6. Plumper

    Plumper New Metal Member

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    I agree, Opeth's new DVD is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    And I highly recomend Dream Theater's new DVD "Live at Budokan" (It has two discs!)
     
    #6 Plumper, Jun 1, 2005
  7. AlexGuinness

    AlexGuinness The Collector

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    It is indeed a fantastic DVD.

    I was fortunate to be there for the gig and they were as great as I have come to expect over the years.
     
    #7 AlexGuinness, Jun 11, 2005
  8. Maggot9

    Maggot9 Amon Amarth Viking

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    I just bought it today, and loved it. I can't wait to see them live July 4!
     
    #8 Maggot9, Jun 11, 2005
  9. Jack Sabbath

    Jack Sabbath Master of reality

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    I bought it the day that it came out and thought that not only was it badly put together but it showed the guys to be every bit the Dungeons and Dragons coated geeks I had so desperately hoped they weren't.. I took it back with immediate action and had very quickly sweep my Opeth phase carefully under the carpet. I still think Blackwater park is an awesome album but can not condone or support such polite and characterless bands.
     
    #9 Jack Sabbath, Jun 15, 2005
    King Chaos likes this.
  10. alex84

    alex84 New Metal Member

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    best band to exist
     
    #10 alex84, Jun 23, 2005
  11. Opeth0507

    Opeth0507 Member

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    I bought this and all of their albums yesterday. :)
     
    #11 Opeth0507, Dec 27, 2005
  12. Lietuvis

    Lietuvis Member

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    Opeth is my favorite band as well, and the DVD is great! \\m//
     
    #12 Lietuvis, Jan 3, 2006
  13. xXShadowsWithinXx

    xXShadowsWithinXx Life is unfair, use it to

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    Great, now I am depressed. Depressed with the knowlege of not owning one myself....yet
     
    #13 xXShadowsWithinXx, Jan 15, 2006
  14. DeviousDVO

    DeviousDVO [user is dead]

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    Jack Sabbath , you clearly do not know genious when you see it . The DVD is AWESOME !!! Opeth RULES and will always RULE :worship: . I just hope they make a DVD for Ghost Reveries...Best album I've ever heard in my life !!! So stop the Opeth bashing , man . It's not cool :mad:
     
    #14 DeviousDVO, Jan 21, 2006
  15. opethrulz2006

    opethrulz2006 New Metal Member

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    Fuk yea absolutely awesome :worship: i cant wait to see them in a few months man :headbang: its gonna be so sweet, anyone who doesnt like this DVD doesnt respect true heavy metal.
    OPETH FOR EVER :worship:
     
    #15 opethrulz2006, Feb 1, 2006
  16. farthman

    farthman SELL MY SOUL

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    :headbang: I think i'm going to take a look at the DVD, as i read the comments here it can't be bad.
    Otherwise, it is though for the band that Martin has left OPETH:headbang:
     
    #16 farthman, May 15, 2006
  17. Deathscythe1911

    Deathscythe1911 Bassist/Guitarist

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    I really like Mikael's stage presence, its like hes just chilling out with everybody else, and you certainly wouldn't expect him to sing death metal after the first set. The DVD encompasses Opeth's musical dichotomy.
     
    #17 Deathscythe1911, May 21, 2006
  18. Zack

    Zack charting my way to top :)

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    Setlist?
     
    #18 Zack, May 24, 2006
  19. agonija

    agonija Ghost of the Sun

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    :cry: :cry:
    What´s wrong with beeing polite anyway?
    As long as they make such great music....and I am glad that they are polite and relaxed guys and not assholes like like some of other metal-musicians.
     
    #19 agonija, May 25, 2006
  20. Amogh

    Amogh The Philosopher

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    Awesome DVD indeed! A musical masterpiece... I've watched it like 40 times already. :p Opeth indeed is one of the greatest bands of our times.
     
    #20 Amogh, Nov 26, 2006
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