This one's been out a little while.  I wanted to buy it last year but the budget would not allow.  Now it does.  Money well spent.  I didn't buy the deluxe crap, just the double disc.  Disc One clocks in around 61:00.  Disc Two a bit over 30:00.  Having only seen the mighty Opeth once, I was looking forward to this disc like I would seeing them live again since I hadn't seen them since 2001 at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival (Blackwater Park Tour).  Their popularity has grown innumerably since then and they've released three more studio albums (soon to be four).

If you suffer from ADD, save your cash there buddy.  Practically every song on the first disc is at least 10 minutes long.  Despite that obstacle (or strength--depending on how you look at it), this double record may be the ideal introduction to the band for the uninitiated.  It spans their history and also their diverse musical stylings. 

Recorded Nov. 9, 2006 at The Roundhouse Theater in London, this album captures what will one day be regarded as a metal pioneer at it's peak.  The U.K. punters are naturally part of the experience and that's a good thing.  On newest track, "Ghost Of Perdition", the crowd nails the lyrics brilliantly, even above the bands claustrophobic din.  i actually really enjoyed Micheal Akerfeldt's between song banter.  From his dismissal of silly black metal lyrics on one of their older tracks "Under The Weeping Moon" to something to the effect of, "This one gets us laid backstage!" on the intro to "Windowpane" which kicks off disc two.  Which also brings me to an important point on this review.  If you're unfamiliar with the brilliant, progreesive rock/death metal hybrid that is Sweden's Opeth, listen to disc two.  Three songs.  Half an hour.  "Windowpane"; jazzy, mellow, groovy, with clean, melodic vocals.  Beautiful really.  "Blackwater park"; a landmark album/song.  Brutally heavy (Akerfeldt has the most convincing death bellow in the genre), epic in it's punishing journey, yet the song ebbs and flows and truly showcases the band's penchant for light and dark.  Mr. Pink Floyd swallows a Morbid Angel.  James Taylor, all stoned out, partyin' with Satan.  "Demon Of The Fall" is the up tempo, thrashy closer that follows a very drawn out, redundant band introduction by Mike, although it will incite some chuckles the first time.  Fast forward anyone?

Disc one is more of a history lesson and a must hear for not only fans of Opeth but any heavy metal fan that digs death metal and all things experimental and progressive.  Did I mention they had a keyboard player?  Oops.