Opeth – The Baying of the Hounds

Section Analysis

Statistics

Observations

This song starts with an „A-B-A“ structure (sections 1-2-1) just hinting at a verse-chorus-verse setup before going elsewhere to explore the galaxy.

Section 7 has a „riff introduction then lyrics“ setup.

A certain framing happens around sections 6 to 9. Section 6 is carried by the „Lopez Beat“ which is reprised in section 9b (which otherwise sounds completely different). This pulls the soft section 6 together to form a whole with the heavy sections 7, 8, and 9. Also, the reprise of the „Lopez Beat“ can be viewed as foretelling the beginning of the next soft section which appears in section 10.

Sections 12 and 13 actually work together to form a complete „A-B-A-B“ seldomly seen in Opeth songs (12-13-12-13).

The song closes with another „A-B-A“ structure (14-15-14). But the inner workings of section 14 are maybe the most interesting aspect of this song. It begins with 14a-14b-14c repeated twice. Actually 14a and 14c only consist of one measure each, 14a first working as an upbeat and 14c as a finale to 14b. Yet, after section 15 the song goes straight into 14b omiting 14a. After that, three repetitions of 14b seem to form the final of section 14b and the whole song altogether when suddenly 14c comes up again and really ends the song. That way, the whole „A-B-A“ structure of sections 14 and 15 are framed by 14a.

Simplified Overview

(1-2-1)-3-4-5-(6-7-8-9)-(10-11-12-13-12-13)-(14-14-15-14)

Opinion

I like that song for the refreshing, hard rocking, swinging drive that it has in the opening sections 1-4 and towards the end in sections 14 and 15.

I love the „Lopez Beat“ section 6 and the way it connects to the monstrously heavy sections 7 and 8 then cooling down again through section 9 to the very soft sections 10 to 13.