Product Description

Swedish death metal outfit Opeth are as well known for their forays into symphonic and progressive territory as for their grinding riffs and skull-crushing power. STILL LIFE continues to refine Opeth's unique fusion: balancing atmospheric interludes (the lush acoustic guitar passage on "Benighted" is a good example) with slash and burn black metal (as on "Godhead's Lament").
Lead vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt's satanic growl sends mortal chills up the spine, but his singing can also be surprisingly melodic, as it is on "Face of Melinda". Opeth exhibit plenty of technical mastery, but it's their multi-part compositions and their ease in switching between styles that make the material on STILL LIFE so compelling

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Moor
2. Godhead\x{2019}S Lament
3. Benighted
4. Moonlapse Vertigo
5. Face Of Melinda
6. Serenity Painted Death
7. White Cluster

Disc 2:

1. The Moor
2. Godhead\x{2019}S Lament
3. Benighted
4. Moonlapse Vertigo
5. Face Of Melinda
6. Serenity Painted Death
7. White Cluster

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27500 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-31
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Special Edition
• Dimensions: .32 pounds

Customer Reviews

Best available version of one of the many jewels in the Opeth crown.
Many Opeth fans argue that Still Life is Opeth's best album. For me, it's their first proper album, with unarguably great production and a little more diversity on offer than before. It is also the first to feature the classic lineup of Akerfeldt and Lingdren on guitar, and Martins Lopez and Mendez on drums and bass. Still Life treads the line of heavy and mellow perfectly, from ridiculously deathy passages on Serenity Painted Death to the guitar heaven of Face Of Melinda. As Mike Akerfeldt himself has said, it's a very dense album; every song is chock full of music, intense instrumentation, ideas and life (no pun intended). It is without doubt a masterpiece, and paved the way for its spiritual sequel Blackwater Park a few years later.

Still Life reviews are readily available, but I thought I'd provide a little more insight into the specifics of this latest release (the third, I believe). First of, the packaging is gorgeous. The album comes in a sort of hardback book, with the CD trays on the inside covers and the booklet as the pages. The artwork has been reworked (mercifully by the original artist and with the band's permission) and the new style is just as pretty as the old. The booklet features extensive liner notes from Akerfeldt on everything from he and Lindgren's in-studio hallucinations to why the Martins could not be trusted with shopping for groceries. Amusing and light hearted, and as enjoyable as he always is. The main attraction for most will be the new mix of the album. While I didn't notice the main album being much different, the 5.1 mix makes all the difference, and if you're into that sort of thing, this is the version to buy. Also included is an excellent rendition of "Face Of Melinda" live from what I presume is to be an upcoming DVD, with new drummer Axe (another Martin!). The performance is well shot and laid back, and immaculately played with fervour as always with this band.

This latest version of the album seems to be the cheapest as well, so, considering the band's fresh input, you don't need to worry about Peaceville pocketing all the money unfairly. This is an update worth your cash.

Opeth's magnus opus
I'm not going to drone on about the brilliance of this work of art, my review title sums it up short and sweet. This reissue comes with 2 discs, a standard stereo mix of the album, and a surround sound mix. Firstly, I have to point out that I've read a couple of user reviews on the net that the 'remastered stereo mix' is an improvement over the original... Erm, I don't know what they're talking about, because the stereo mix is EXACTLY the same as the original, due to the fact that it's NOT remastered or remixed. I say this with confidence because I've listened to this superb album a squillion times and know it inside out, and there's no noticeable difference whatsoever between the original release and this reissue (yep, hate to say it but the occasional sound drop-outs are all still there). Not only that, it doesn't mention ANYWHERE in the case/disc/booklet that the STEREO MIX is remixed or remastered anyway. The main selling point is of course the 5.1 surround sound mix on the second disc, which I must admit I haven't had the chance to listen to yet cos I lack the gear (which means I've not yet checked out the live video of 'Face Of Melinda' either since I've not touched it)!! So, onto the case and booklet then...

The packaging is worth the price of admission alone! The case is a stylish book style hardcover with the booklet in the middle, and this is what it contains: the lyrics (obviously), a few pages of amusing commentary from Akerdfeldt about the experience of making the album; new, expanded artwork - really beautiful images, which just by looking at them enhances the listening experience; and several new photos of the band in and out of the studio at the time.

If, like myself, Still Life is your favourite Opeth release, then this is definitely worth a purchase. My already high appreciation of the album suddenly shot up to 11 and, as mentioned before, I'm just going on the packaging alone, I haven't even heard the 5.1 mix yet! But when I do (and no doubt it'll be mindblowing) I'll probably write another piece on it.

another triumphant masterpiece
recently purchased this deluxe edition with new packaging and more important the 5.1 mix (dvd) wich compliments opeth's music just perfect.stunning as opeth are they continue to amaze,this is one of my personal favourites along with "blackwater park" from there catalogue of quality releases.with a mixture of heaviness "godheads lament" to the beauty of "benighted" & "face of melinda".the balance of heavy/lighter moods is evident in all opeth releases and this is another triumphant masterpiece.