Blackwater Park is the fifth album by progressive metal band Opeth, released in March 2001. It was named after an obscure 70s prog rock band from Germany, who only released one album. Despite failing to chart, it is considered the band’s breakthrough due to it marking the point where Opeth started to tour internationally, though frontman Mikael Akerfeldt otherwise disputes the breakthrough claim.
This is also the first collaboration between Opeth and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.
Considered by many to be the band's greatest work, Opeth played this album in full on their 20th-anniversary tour. A performance of the entire album on that tour appears on the live album and DVD In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall, released in 2010 on Roadrunner Records.
Tracklist:
- "The Leper Affinity" (10:23)
- "Bleak" (9:15)
- "Harvest" (5:58)
- "The Drapery Falls" (10:52)
- "Dirge for November" (7:51)
- "The Funeral Portrait" (8:42)
- "Patterns in the Ivy" (1:50)
- "Blackwater Park" (12:08)
2002 Reissue Bonus Tracks
- "Still Day Beneath the Sun" (4:34)
- "Patterns in the Ivy II" (4:12)
Legacy Edition Bonus Track
- "The Leper Affinity" (live) (9:26)
Musicians
Opeth:
- Mikael Akerfeldt: Lead vocals, guitar
- Peter Lindgren: Guitar
- Martin Mendez: Bass
- Martin Lopez: Drums
Additional Musicians:
- Steven Wilson: Additional vocals, additional guitar, piano
- Markus Lindberg: Egg shakers
Help me trope you:
- Album Closure: The title track is the longest and one of the heaviest songs on the album, has a lengthy climax section, ends its lyrics on the Album Title Drop, and bursts into an acoustic guitar loop that fades out.
- Breather Episode:
- Straightforward semi-acoustic song "Harvest" is sandwiched between the musically complex "Bleak" and the dark and spooky "The Drapery Falls".
- "Patterns In The Ivy" is a short acoustic instrumental sandwiched between the heavy "The Funeral Portrait" and the climactic title track.
- Epic Instrumental Opener: "The Drapery Falls" takes over two minutes for the vocals to come in.
- Epic Rocking: All tracks except "Patterns in the Ivy" and the acoustic bonus songs on the 2002 reissue.
- Finale Title Drop: "The sun sets forever over Blackwater Park".
- I Love the Dead: "The Leper Affinity"."Your body is mine to avail. Such a tragic sight you are."
- Limited Lyrics Song: The majority of the lyrics in "Dirge For November" are concentrated in the heavy midsection.
- Lyrical Cold Open: The only other lyrics in "Dirge For November" are at the beginning of the acoustic intro.
- Mesodiplosis: "Bleak": "Still", to "Are" but 3/4 having "From the":"Beating, Heart still beating for the cause
Feeding, soul still feeding from the loss
Aching, limbs are aching from the rush
Fading, you are fading from my sight" - Miniscule Rocking: "Patterns in the Ivy" (1:50) stands out as it appears on an album that otherwise consists almost entirely of Epic Rocking songs.
- Record Producer: Steven Wilson co-produced the album with the band.
- With Lyrics: "Patterns in the Ivy II"
- The tropes set forever over Blackwater Park.
