One of my favourite Opeth albums, and the music on this album bares little or no resemblance to what the band release today. That’s not to say I don’t like modern Opeth, I do, it’s just this and Blackwater Park we’re so impactful for me.
The opening and title track is what made Opeth so great for me. It’s like an epic movie, musically laid out for you on one track. The highs and lows, the change from clean to scream vocals, and the change of grooves and riffs, plus the solos within this song alone is wondrous. It doesn’t end there however, as Baying Of The Hounds continues where the last track left off with more of the same, and the middle section is just sublime. Beneath The Mire starts with fat huge chords and a mellotron for added prog credibility. Atonement has a very Beatles feel to the intro, and has the most proggy vibe of the whole album. That huge cinematic feel returns with Reverie/ Harlequin Forest. Hours Of Wealth is a very delicate, almost folk vibe with just vocal, keys, and guitar. The Grand Conjuration is one of my favourite Opeth tracks. Again, a huge epic piece with killer riffs and grooves all the way through, and the ending is epic. The LP version ends with Isolation Years, a prog/folk vibe with a great Mikael vocal. A masterpiece album (and they have done a few of those) and every home should have one.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
