Watershed (Opeth album)
Encyclopedia
Watershed is the ninth full-length studio album
by the Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth
. Published by Roadrunner Records
, the album's special edition was released first (rather than the standard edition) as a music download
on the Italian iTunes Store
s on May 19, 2008.
Watershed is the first studio album by Opeth to feature drummer Martin Axenrot
and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson
, as well as the first not to feature longtime guitarist Peter Lindgren
. The artwork for the album was made by Travis Smith
(who has created the artwork for eight previous Opeth releases) in collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt.
It was released in standard, 180 gram vinyl
, and special edition versions. The special edition version includes three bonus tracks, a bonus DVD with a 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album (not including bonus tracks), video content featuring rehearsals, and studio footage, as well as expanded artwork. The vinyl release comes in gatefold packaging, and contains the album on two LPs, as well as a CD copy of the album (both including the bonus track "Derelict Herds") and a poster.
. Later many of the tracks were leaked onto YouTube several weeks prior to the album's launch.
and mini-Moog synthesizers. The cover for the CD is the standard album artwork with the figure and writing desk replaced by a mellotron. The track is also available as a free digital download exclusively for those who pre-ordered the album from The End Records
and to people who insert the CD into their computer via Opendisc
.
Critic's Choice Top 50, Watershed was named as the second-best album of 2008 (behind only Metallica's
Death Magnetic
).
In the January/February 2009 issue of Metal Edge
, Watershed was voted the #1 album of 2008.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
. Published by Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, the album's special edition was released first (rather than the standard edition) as a music download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on the Italian iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
s on May 19, 2008.
Watershed is the first studio album by Opeth to feature drummer Martin Axenrot
Martin Axenrot
Erik Martin "Axe" Axenrot is the drummer for the bands Opeth, Bloodbath and Witchery. Axenrot played with Opeth on their last five tours, filling in for then drummer Martin Lopez. On May 12, 2006, he officially joined the band as Lopez left permanently...
and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson
Fredrik Åkesson
Karl Fredrik Henry Åkesson is a Swedish heavy metal guitarist. He is a current member of Opeth. He is also active in Krux, Monsters of Metal and Talisman.-Biography:...
, as well as the first not to feature longtime guitarist Peter Lindgren
Peter Lindgren (musician)
Peter Lindgren is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former guitarist of Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth...
. The artwork for the album was made by Travis Smith
Travis Smith (artist)
Travis Smith is an American graphic artist best known for designing heavy metal album art. He has been called "renowned" by Alternative Press and "unquestionably one of the most talented graphic artists in metal today" by Chronicles of Chaos...
(who has created the artwork for eight previous Opeth releases) in collaboration with Mikael Åkerfeldt.
It was released in standard, 180 gram vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, and special edition versions. The special edition version includes three bonus tracks, a bonus DVD with a 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album (not including bonus tracks), video content featuring rehearsals, and studio footage, as well as expanded artwork. The vinyl release comes in gatefold packaging, and contains the album on two LPs, as well as a CD copy of the album (both including the bonus track "Derelict Herds") and a poster.
History
The first song to be heard by the public was "Heir Apparent", which was performed in concert and recorded on video by fans who uploaded the low-quality videos onto YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Later many of the tracks were leaked onto YouTube several weeks prior to the album's launch.
Track listing
Mellotron Heart
A track entitled "Mellotron Heart" (5:14) was included on a separate promotional CD with a limited number of copies of the album. "Mellotron Heart" is an alternate recording of the song "Porcelain Heart" performed on mellotronMellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
and mini-Moog synthesizers. The cover for the CD is the standard album artwork with the figure and writing desk replaced by a mellotron. The track is also available as a free digital download exclusively for those who pre-ordered the album from The End Records
The End Records
The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
and to people who insert the CD into their computer via Opendisc
Opendisc
Opendisc is an Enhanced Music CD application for enabling multimedia content when a compact disc is played on a personal computer. Opendisc asserts that its technology conforms to the Blue Book specification and does not contain copy-protection functions...
.
Reception
On Metal Hammer'sMetal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
Critic's Choice Top 50, Watershed was named as the second-best album of 2008 (behind only Metallica's
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
Death Magnetic
Death Magnetic
Death Magnetic is the ninth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on September 12, 2008 through Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo and the first to be produced by Rick Rubin, making this Metallica's first album...
).
In the January/February 2009 issue of Metal Edge
Metal Edge
Metal Edge was a magazine covering heavy metal music published by Zenbu Media. It was founded in the summer of 1985, during the height of Glam metal's success.Both Metal Edge and its sister publication, Metal Maniacs, ceased operations in 2009....
, Watershed was voted the #1 album of 2008.
Chart positions
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Albums Chart | 7 |
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart | 7 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 53 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 17 |
| Danish Albums Chart | 84 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 14 |
| French Albums Chart | 47 |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 1 |
| German Albums Chart | 23 |
| Japanese Oricon Albums Chart | 15 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 26 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 7 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 24 |
| UK Albums Chart | 34 |
| US Billboard 200 | 23 |
Opeth
- Mikael ÅkerfeldtMikael ÅkerfeldtLars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician who achieved fame as the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth as well as the lead vocalist of death metal band Bloodbath. He was the vocalist and guitarist for the band Sörskogen and the guitarist of the band Steel...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Fredrik ÅkessonFredrik ÅkessonKarl Fredrik Henry Åkesson is a Swedish heavy metal guitarist. He is a current member of Opeth. He is also active in Krux, Monsters of Metal and Talisman.-Biography:...
– guitar - Per WibergPer WibergPer Jonas Wiberg is the former keyboardist of Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth, and a member of Michael Amott's stoner metal band Spiritual Beggars. Wiberg toured with Opeth from the 2003 Deliverance/Damnation tour onward, and joined Opeth officially in 2005. Wiberg provided backing...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Martin MendezMartin MendezMartín Méndez is the bass guitar player of progressive death metal band Opeth and second most constant member of the band, behind lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Martin AxenrotMartin AxenrotErik Martin "Axe" Axenrot is the drummer for the bands Opeth, Bloodbath and Witchery. Axenrot played with Opeth on their last five tours, filling in for then drummer Martin Lopez. On May 12, 2006, he officially joined the band as Lopez left permanently...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional Musicians
- Nathalie Lorichs – guest vocals on "Coil"
- Lisa Almberg – English horn, oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
- Christoffer Wadensten – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Karin Svensson – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Andreas Tengberg – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Production
- Production – Mikael Åkerfeldt, Jens Bogren
- Engineering – Jens Bogren, David Castillo
- Mixing – Jens Bogren
- Mastering – Jens Bogren
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Europe Continental Europe Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands.... |
May 30, 2008 | Roadrunner Roadrunner Records Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:... |
Physical Release CD | RR 7962-2 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
June 2, 2008 | Roadrunner | CD | RR 7962-2 |
| North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... |
June 3, 2008 | Roadrunner | Enhanced Enhanced CD Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players.... |
R 1384409 |
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
June 3, 2008 | Roadrunner Records (Australia) | Enhanced | RR 7962-8 |