I've reviewed _Blackwater Park_ elsewhere so here I will focus mainly on the limited edition...

The limited edition comes with a second disc, featuring two new songs and a video to run on your PC. The two new songs are both stunning. The first is "Still Day Beneath the Sun", yet another track that shows the band's limitless capacity to write beautiful music. All acoustic, the song is best appreciated for showing how good of a singer Mikael Akerfeldt has become. His infirm voice from the days of _Orchid's_ rare moments of clean singing have evolved into a chilling, bardic vocal with range and beauty.

The other song is "Patterns in the Ivy II", a fitting continuation to the eerie serenity from _Blackwater Park_. This is not an instrumental like part one, and it is mainly acoustic with the occasional electric sparkle. Like on "Still Day...", Akerfeldt experiments here with his voice a little bit - he sings higher, a little bit of melisma, and with interesting vocal harmonies. These songs make me even more excited for the forthcoming "mellow" Opeth album, _Damnation_, which is to be released in March 2003.

There is also a video clip for the song "Harvest". It's not a music video, per se, just some footage of the band in studio with their producer Steven Wilson. You can watch the band eat some snacks, play some PlayStation, and work on some music.

Opeth is simply one of the greatest, most innovative metal bands ever, and they certainly trump the swarms of "re-progressive" metal bands out there. Their juxtaposition of stunning beauty and devastating metal makes them just about the most powerful force in music. If you've never checked them out before, I can think of no better time to do so. If you are a hardcore fan, you won't want to let any of the new songs here slip away (remember...limited edition!). A must-have for everyone!

Opeth is probably the most talented band today in the whole death metal/progressive scene. I am not exaggerating when I say this. Mikael ?kerfeldt, who is the lead singer, guitarist and group leader, is a genius. His vocals can go from the best death metal growl I have ever heard, to these amazing clean vocals in the same song. These clean, "prog" vocals sound similar, maybe better, then Maynard James Keenan of Tool. And his guitar playing, you ask? He is one of the best guitarists in metal today, probably even in music currently. Rhythm guitarist Peter Lindgren is the James Hetfield of the 2000's (in music terms). He plays great behind ?kerfeldt. Martin Mendez on bass is up there as the best in death metal, and Martin Lopez is one of the best drummers in death metal. His double pedal is as fast and crazy as anyone can go. The rhythm section in Opeth is extremely underrated, and if I needed a dream death metal band, I want these two guys in the rhythm section. All 5 of these guys (and a just added keyboardist) make on of the most talented group of musicians I have ever heard.

But, what makes Opeth so creative and unique is the combination of death metal and prog into 10 minute songs. And unlike some other bands with many talented members that can't come through (Audioslave), Opeth makes the best music out there. They even mix some classical elements. These ten minute songs aren't the basic verse-chorus-verse structure, but more like movements. In these ten minute songs, they can showcase their talent without flaw. That's exactly what these guys do in every album they have released. The thing is they seemed to have done it a little better in 2001's "Blackwater Park". Everything just seems so much better. Not only better than Opeth's back catalogue (which is hard to better), but this is better than anything else you will listen to. If you decide to purchase this album, then everything you have ever listened to will just sound lesser, and you will be exposed to these music geniuses, or as I like to call them, artists.

This masterpiece starts out with "The Leper Affinity". Probably one of the best Opeth songs, this starts out with a brutal riff and the death metal vocals, and 5 minutes into the song, it shifts to this progressive, clean singing. After the song, at least for me, my mouth was dropped to the floor. What a song. But then "Bleak" comes in. Another Opeth masterpiece, and one of my personal favorite's on this album. "Harvest" is next, and this shifts to the soft, prog part of the album. Only 6 minute's long, (which is short for Opeth), this prog masterpiece is, which I thought I would never say, beautiful. "The Drapery Falls" is another combination of death-metal and prog, and a fan favorite. "Dirge For November" and "The Funeral Portrait" follow. I like Dirge, but it really isn't the best on the album, but, hey, it is great nonetheless. "The Funeral Portrait" is more death-metal than prog, and my favorite on the album. "Patterns In The Ivy" is a short piano composition, which just goes perfectly into this album. The 12 minute title track follows, and caps off the best album released in these 00's.

So, what are you waiting for. Everybody who has reviewed this album, except the few morons who don't know good music when they hear it, says that it is a masterpiece. It can't be explained as normal people music, because it is just too good. It remains upon popular belief as Opeth's best and their breakout album. It is also considered the best album of the 00's. I cannot agree more. Anybody who is into death metal or prog already owns it, but even if you enjoy classical music, classic rock or any music at all, you should check out this band. This album is the perfect spot to start. Then, get Opeth's back catalogue, because it is just as good. These guys are already legends, and if they continue making albums like they are, they could be considered the greatest band ever. Not yet, but they have the opportunity. So, get this album...now!

This version is an enhanced, limited edition one. When I saw this, I immediately had to put my grubby fingers on it. These two b-sides were only available on either vinyl's or rare, hard to come by singles. This version is out there, and it is certainly worth the extra money. The first song is the 4 minute "Still Day Beneath the Sun". This is all acoustic, exploring the side of Opeth that was common on their 2003 album "Damnation". It is a great song and I'm surprised it didn't make the original Blackwater Park lineup. The second b-side "Patterns In The Ivy II", is a continuation of the first one. It too, is also acoustic and also clocking out at 4 minutes long. Another great song. Then there is a multimedia track for "Harvest", which is Opeth's first music video. The video is very cool, and a must see for any Opeth fan or music video freak. All in all, these extra two tacks and the music video are both worth the extra money, because it is essential, just like every other Opeth album. Buy it!!! And be amazed.

You don't listen to Opeth. You get lost in them. The albums they produce are like rich worlds of energy and inspiration. Sure, the vocal style is jarring at first, but keep listening. These aren't your average death growls. In fact, this isn't death metal at all. I don't know what you'd call it. Picture someone as dark and husky as Tom Waits, but who can croon as incredibly well as Maynard James Keenan. The music is huge and ambitious, having more in common with jazz or classical in it's variety and technical fireworks than metal. These aren't songs, they're compositions. Blackwater Park is a journey. It's heavy and monstrous at times, and at other times it seduces you into sweet oblivion. In the middle of the album, at its heart if you will, is one of my favourite songs, entitled "The Drapery Falls". The song is so haunting and catchy it gives me chills every time I hear it. It's the kind of song that makes you play an album over again when it's finished, even if it's over an hour long, just to repeat that feeling: "Pull me down again and guide me into pain..."

There aren't many albums I own two copies of, but when I saw that there was a Limited Edition of this one I couldn't resist.

Opeth's fifth album, released in 2001, is considered by many fans to be their best. And "Blackwater Park" is also a bit different from other Opeth albums, because, even though it incorporates Opeth's famous progressive rock alongside some heavier songs, it doesn't quite have the death metal influence of some of Opeth's other albums, like "My Arms, Your Hearse," or 2002's "Deliverance." Other than that, however, every ingredient is here for a great Opeth album (death metal growls, lots of breakdowns, acoustic guitar strums, long songs, etc.) The album opener, "The Leper Affinity," is around ten minutes long, and features a propulsive main riff, mean, death metal vocals, and two breakdowns (the first of which is an acoustic breakdown; the second one has some cool piano playing). Next, "Bleak," a Mediterranean-esque song with guest vocals by Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson, is mostly heavy (with heavy riffs and bellows); but part of this song is occupied by light, eloquent guitar strings and singing. Elsewhere, "Harvest" is a pretty, acoustic driven semi-ballad, and "The Drapery Falls" puts more light, acoustic strums alongside dreary, harmonic vocals, but also some staccato, electric guitar riffs. "The Dirge For November" is cut into two pieces: the second half is heavy, but the first half is so light and restrained, you can actually hear Mikael breathe in. Next, "Funeral Portrait" rockets into pounding riffs, and "Patterns In The Ivy" is an instrumental, acoustic and piano ballad which is as beautiful as it is docile. Finally, with fast, propulsive riffs, the album ending title track (a personal favorite of mine) returns Opeth to their heavier, death metal roots. Finally, the limited edition version of this C.D. features a bonus track, "Still Day Beneath the Sun," which is also required listening for all Opeth diehards. So, even though this may not be as heavy as some of this band's other works, "Blackwater Park" is still a wonderful album, and definitely Opeth's first or second best. I very strongly recommend it to all music fans.

I do not really like much death metal, but for some reason, Opeth's masterpiece, "Blackwater Park" just seems to click with me. At first, I did not like this album except for Patterns in the Ivy, which was AMAZING. Now that I have had time to let it sink in, this is one of my favorite albums ever. There is not a single bad track on this album. Opeth blends progressive rock, death metal, evil guitar riffs, and beautiful acoustic guitar work for a dream album beyond imagination. Now that there is a deluxe edition with two bonus tracks and a video for Harvest, you are probably wondering if this small amount of material is worth another purchase. It is. "Patterns in the Ivy II" is one of my favorite Opeth songs ever. "Still Day Beneath the Sun" is another great track. These are sung clean, but are beautiful and inspiring songs. My favorite track on this album has to be the ever-so powerful "Bleak". Bleak features a guest appearance by Steven Wilson, and his voice is so powerful. Singing over loud, destructive guitars, he lends his gentle soul to this already amazing song.

If you are not a fan of death metal, but you do like progressive rock/metal, I suggest you at least try Blackwater Park. It is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard, especially the opening of "Dirge for November". If you want to get into Opeth but have no idea where to start, Blackwater Park is the perfect place. Get the deluxe edition too, if you have not already. Recommended.