It may, at first glance, seem redundant to review an album that’s been out for some time but there are two good reasons for us doing it. Firstly we didn’t exist as a music-based website when it came out and secondly this time it’s on vinyl (sorry digital lovers) which makes more of a difference in terms of the overall aesthetic appeal of a record than many are prepared to admit.
Opeth’s ‘The Roundhouse Tapes’ was widely hailed at the time of its release as a great success because it succeeded in capturing this most special band at the peak of their powers with stunning clarity. With a short set list (yet one that filled two CDs and six sides of vinyl) the band simply decimate their audience (anyone who’s seen the DVD will testify to the site of faces hanging slack with amazement at the relentless power and precision of the rendition of ‘Blackwater park’ which here graces one whole side thanks to it’s monstrous length) over the course of nine astonishing songs.
It is arguable that the last couple of Opeth albums have no weak points whatsoever, but when one considers the live environment it is instantly clear that the band have an immense back-catalogue of impeccable quality from which to cherry-pick their set, and here they do just that, roaming through their past with the air of a band who realise that they have scaled heights previously considered unobtainable through a career that saw them shift from underground cult favourites to truly global phenomenon in nine albums that just seemed to get better and better. Whether you choose to opt for the newer tracks from then-new album ‘Ghost reveries’ or hold out for the older tracks such as ‘Under the weeping moon’ from debut album ‘orchid’ or ‘the night and the silent water’ from ‘Morningrise’ you can’t help but be astonished at the power that this band commands.
Which brings us back to this beautiful vinyl edition; limited to just 1000 copies (individually numbered), housed in a box and with a full sized booklet finally showcasing Travis Smith’s amazing artwork in the format it deserves, this is a lavish set that is the perfect souvenir for any Opeth fan with a turntable. Like many of Peaceville’s vinyl issues (Bloodbath, Katatonia etc…) such care has been taken to make the item a truly special and collectable one that you have to admire it purely as a piece of art, and that’s before you get to the pristine vinyl which, let’s face it, just sounds better. This is the ultimate Opeth collectable – track one down now before it’s too late!
