It's good to hear that you're doing well otherwise, and so I hope things continue to go well for you, Plex :)

Thank you.

Wow... I've never heard those band's music. Are they that good?

That's how I felt when I had to miss seeing MY favorite band on Friday ;.=.;

I'm very picky about what metal I listen to. Katatonia and Opeth are very high on my list next to Fear Factory and Agalloch. A lot of their stuff, especially Katatonia, is very close to my heart.

Who did you miss seeing?

Pendulum. I also made an attempt to see Pogo in concert, but alas, he got deported.

That's horrible. They said they'd be coming back here in October so I've got my eyes peeled on the tour dates.

Do it! I've heard a lot of whining and complaining about the new Opeth album "Heritage", but what I heard was quite good, I think. I heard some folks comparing it to 70's era Pink Floyd... which I think is a tremendous stretch, silly.

I think it's pretty much impossible for Opeth to make an album I don't thoroughly enjoy. So it has no screaming. Big deal. It's not even something unheard of for Opeth to do. I can hear some more classic rock undertones but it is distinctly Opeth.

It is -very- Opeth. Right off the bat, images of very early Pink Floyd and King Crimson came to mind. As much as I love deathmetal, and Deliverence/Blackwater Park era, I've always quietly thought to myself, "What would Opeth sound like with clean vocals in this heaviness?"

Heritage isn't really metal, as far as I can feel, but it isn't the softness of Damnation, so it's about as close as I can come to hearing it. And I agree with how they make albums; they always release work that is at least well-written and interesting (like Deftones and Cold).

Well fuck.. Get this. As I was looking for Toronto dates I just found out they came a little outside the city a week or two ago. Same thing with Agalloch 6 MONTHS ago. I'm a little heartbroken and kicking myself in the ass =C

Oh dear god, Agalloch :( It would be fantastic to see them.

I love that band SO much.

Also what albums would you suggest I delve into for Katatonia?

"The Great Cold Distance" and "Night is the New Day" are my faves. "Discouraged Ones" and "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" are good too. Their older stuff has more black/death influence in it, and Mike from Opeth did vocals for them on their "Brave Murder Day" album.