As far as performance is concerned, The Roundhouse Tapes is incredible. The band are as tight as they've ever been, and never put a foot, finger or throat wrong. Early songs "Under The Weeping Moon" and "The Night And The Silent Water" are transformed by a passion that brings the entire setlist into a unified realm beyond album borders.

 

Thanks to producer Jens Bogren, many of the songs here (especially those from the first three albums) sound better than their original versions. The album sounds fantastic in and out of headphones, and the vibe is utterly tangible. It absolutely feels like you're at the gig. The first time I listened to it, I was looking out my window at the baking grass on a sunny Australian December afternoon, but I was still completely transported to the world of Opeth.

 

As sad as it is that Peter Lindgren is no longer a member of Opeth after all these wonderful years, this release is perfect as his last recorded material with the band. In contrast, the album is new drummer Martin Axenrot's first Opeth release (with the exception of the Deep Purple cover "Soldier Of Fortune"), and what a great way to start. He honours Martin Lopez's style and the way the drum music was written, but exactly mimics the former drummer's playing considerably less than he did at The Forum in Melbourne on the same tour a few months earlier. At times this can make the music "feel wrong", but there is still no doubt whatsoever that he is the right man for the job. He strikes a good balance between "it was written this way" and "let's face it, Lopez is no longer in the band". And is that a Lucius Borich fill near the end of "Face Of Melinda"?! That moment is as strange and unexpected as it is inspiring.

 

Both phases of Mikael Akerfeldt's voice are in amazing form, although keyboardist Per Wiberg's voice is not quite loud enough, leaving the powerful effect of vocal orchestration somewhat diminished (no pun intended).

 

There are a couple of very small but iconic musical details which have been changed from what they are on their respective albums. I won't give too much away, you'll notice them if you know the music well. And they aren't major enough (again, no pun) to seriously reduce enjoyment. I'll just say it's amazing how much can change when you shift a single snare drum hit one semi-quaver into the past. But I would still give the album a perfect score if it wasn't for "Ghost Of Perdition" and "Bleak" being slightly too fast throughout, and consequently not feeling quite as awesome as they could.

 

The setlist contains some of Opeth's finest masterpieces, and aptly showcases the enduring quality of music that has always been the chief element of what they are. 2002's Deliverance is the only album we don't hear from, which clearly disappointed a couple of very vocal fans. "Windowpane" is thankfully played at the right tempo, unlike most of the Damnation material on the Lamentations DVD, recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire (also in London, interestingly) in 2003. After that relatively accessible masterpiece from the mellow album, Opeth hit the audience with two of their darkest, heaviest songs back to back, explosively ending a fantastic show that covers the vast musical scope of their catalogue. "Blackwater Park" is very intense, and is a highlight of the show whichever way you look at it. You can really feel the crowd on this one, from before the song begins, although they're not the most rhythmically gifted bunch.

 

The crowd-banter is at times almost as engaging as the Aker-banter, and they both add a lot to the experience. From start to finish, the crowd are absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this event, and they won't let you forget it.

 

Each track, and the gig as a whole, is such a grand journey, proving once again just how breathtaking it is to experience the music of this fine band. If you're a fan, buy this album. If you're not (yet) a fan and you don't like this album, Opeth is probably not for you, although you should definitely check out 2003's Damnation. Wherever you are in the world, get excited about the next time these guys pay you a visit. If The Roundhouse Tapes is any indication whatsoever, it will be an unforgettable experience.