Watershed
by Opeth
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 95 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 95
  3. Negative: 4 out of 95

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  1. kyleb
    Jul 10, 2009
    10
    Breathtaking album.
  2. AlexD
    Nov 12, 2008
    10
    Simply breathtaking, an album that starts up like Deliverance does, enging up like Damnation / Blackwater Park, but with more memorable riffs. Definitely a must get for Opeth fans!
  3. JackO.
    Oct 5, 2008
    10
    Almost as good as Blackwater Park, Watershed is a great album! Opeth has never lost that amazing song-writing talent that they possess.
  4. WesleyM
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    Yes; complex and original -- though the clean vocals often fall a tad short of real innovation, Watershed is a proggy and diverse diamond in the horrifically simplistic and derivative rough that is the metal genre.
  5. afff
    Jun 20, 2008
    10
    This is the best metal band there ever was and they are always able to top themselves.
  6. EricL.
    Aug 8, 2008
    9
    Akerfeldt is incapable of making anything that doesn't rule, no matter which genres he's checking. Consistant, smart, ballsy.
  7. fetidbreath
    Jun 18, 2010
    9
    David is a moron. This is a very fresh album. Perhaps he needs to grow up a little and put away his toys. This is a man's band and he is a little out of his league.
  8. David
    Dec 5, 2008
    4
    Further proof Akerfeldt & Co. are incapable of interesting, fresh music. At least Ghost Reveries had some great songs. This one barely has any good ones; boring prog-lite at its worst.
  9. AlexisM.
    Sep 5, 2008
    8
    Great album I would just like to make a comment about the Alternative press review which has made the horrendous claim that what Opeth do best is flat out shred....which is not true by any stretch of the imagination.
  10. ZM
    Jun 28, 2008
    7
    It's very good, especially Hessian Peel and The Lotus Eater. But I don't see that it's a huge step forward from Ghost Reveries as it's been touted. The keyboards are playing a more prominent role, and they're totally awesome. Burden is a little dull though. Overall, I think I still like Ghost Reveries more.
  11. MikeC
    Feb 21, 2009
    9
    Not the groups best by a long shot. The first 4 songs are absolutly killer, the next 3 could have been shortened by about minutes. And what's with every song having a gimmicky ending? Burden? Heir Apparent?! anyways, it's Opeth, the greatest, most creative and beautiful heavy metal band around now, and this is a great album with some great flaws that keep it from really being Not the groups best by a long shot. The first 4 songs are absolutly killer, the next 3 could have been shortened by about minutes. And what's with every song having a gimmicky ending? Burden? Heir Apparent?! anyways, it's Opeth, the greatest, most creative and beautiful heavy metal band around now, and this is a great album with some great flaws that keep it from really being essential like Still Life, Ghost Reveries and Morningrise. Hessian Peel is a masterpeice, no question about that.… Expand
  12. TimY
    Mar 15, 2010
    8
    Honestly, I think now as I always have; there are only two types of people in the world: Opeth die-hards (like myself) and people that haven't given Opeth a fair chance at amazing them. Because of their genre, growling death metal and perhaps the fact that their songs do tend to be a bit longer, unfortunately people tend to be hesitant to give Opeth the time of day. The fact is, much Honestly, I think now as I always have; there are only two types of people in the world: Opeth die-hards (like myself) and people that haven't given Opeth a fair chance at amazing them. Because of their genre, growling death metal and perhaps the fact that their songs do tend to be a bit longer, unfortunately people tend to be hesitant to give Opeth the time of day. The fact is, much like the beauty of the minor scales found in many classical songs like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata; Opeth delivers the best in musical movement. So why only an 8? Because the band didn't move from riff to riff flawlessly like they have in the past. Albums like 'Still Life' and 'Backwater Park' are, in my opinion this band's best. maybe that's me in nastalgia, maybe it's because they lost half of the band's line-up, maybe it's because the album was recorded in two different locations... I found it left me amused but with no fiery love for the songs due to silent pauses in the middle of what should have been more intense rock. In 'Heir Apparent' the track has notably three or four breaks of more than 4 seconds of sound, and the riffs seemed to drag on too long. To this album's credit though, it is a masterpiece and one cannot say they are a fan if they don't own the album. It's not their best but it is damn fine. The music in 'Hessian Peel' is my favorite.… Expand
  13. Kraxx
    Nov 17, 2008
    7
    Good & solid, but not awesome like Ghost Reveries was. This is more a subtle shift. Perhaps the personnel changes made things a little uneven. Hopefully it suggests a more creative and coherent shift next time.
  14. JackC
    Jun 11, 2008
    9
    There was a time when Opeth was my favorite band in the world. I was absolutely obsessed with them during the Blackwater Park period. For whatever reason, I lost interest in most metal and stopped listening to Opeth as well. I still bought Ghost Reveries, listened to it a couple times, but didn't think much of it one way or another. Well, I took a chance and decided to just check out There was a time when Opeth was my favorite band in the world. I was absolutely obsessed with them during the Blackwater Park period. For whatever reason, I lost interest in most metal and stopped listening to Opeth as well. I still bought Ghost Reveries, listened to it a couple times, but didn't think much of it one way or another. Well, I took a chance and decided to just check out Watershed for the hell of it. Wow. This is great music, whatever genre you want to to place it under. I don't really know what to say, other than it's revived my interest in Opeth. Great album. Mikael's songwriting has the spark and wild ambition it lacked since BWP.… Expand
  15. JoshuaH.
    Jun 25, 2008
    10
    I was disappointed the first time I listened through it, but the second time... Wow. Absolutely incredible. Akesson and Axe have definitely earned my respect, and Mikael, or course, is still a god.
  16. Spaciak
    Jun 28, 2008
    9
    Besides Blackwater Park, Watershed is Opeths finest effort.
  17. AttilaL.
    Jul 21, 2008
    10
    This album is brilliant. Perfect clean/brutal balance as always and the musicianship is top notch.
  18. ChrisS.
    Mar 19, 2009
    10
    Brilliant album, the best metal album from the decade since Blood Mointain from Mastodon. Brutal and beauty, the album's centerpiece is the furious "Heir Apparent", one of the best metal songs from the decade.
  19. Sydek93jm
    Feb 12, 2012
    10
    This album puts a mark that divides another band's phase that follows the path of an interesting and innovative evolution in their genre. It's just perfect.
  20. Happymonk
    Dec 10, 2011
    10
    The best album by Opeth. From it's jazz interludes in "the lotus eaters" to it's heavy riffs in "heir apparent" and everything in between makes this the quintessential Opeth album. It's everything that's great about the band in one package, while showing that they can improve and take themselves forward. Every metal fan should own this album.
  21. IHateFanboys
    Nov 9, 2011
    8
    This was one of the first cd's I ever purchased by Opeth. I picked this up after I saw them on tour supporting this particular album. On top of the fact that the music is interesting and great to listen to, the guys in the band were very nice when I met after they had finished their set. Overall a great peice of music to pick up for fans of this type of music.
  22. Fargus990
    Jul 31, 2013
    10
    Another breathtaking composition of progressive metal from Mikael Akerfeldt. Riffs like you've never heard before combined with ghostly clean sections complimented by clean vocals. Just amazing. The whole album is an experience that takes you to an entirely new place.
  23. Handyman003
    Mar 16, 2014
    10
    Mikael Akerfeldt is one of the greatest musicians of all time. His musical endeavors (Opeth or otherwise) are original, challenging, emotional and breathtaking. I would rank his contributions up there with the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix to name a few. Akerfeldt's penchant for musical excellence continues on Opeth's ninth studio album, "Watershed". TheMikael Akerfeldt is one of the greatest musicians of all time. His musical endeavors (Opeth or otherwise) are original, challenging, emotional and breathtaking. I would rank his contributions up there with the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix to name a few. Akerfeldt's penchant for musical excellence continues on Opeth's ninth studio album, "Watershed". The album more than lives up to its title, with rich melodies and instrumentation throughout, and red hot songwriting. It is also the band's most diverse to date, offering just as much for the metalheads as it does for the casual listener. Tracks such as "Burden," "Porcelain Heart," and "The Lotus Eater" offer the listener a unique sonic experience that just cannot be rivaled. It is an album that you will not regret hearing.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2008
76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2008
53
#53 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Watershed marks a new chapter for Opeth, one that promises infinitely more than its predecessors.
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  2. Blender
    80
    Prog was rarely as songful as the brutal beauty here.
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  3. Pitchfork
    75
    Watershed has friction, and friction brings heat. Those left cold by metal's po-faced tendencies might well warm up to it.
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