Unlike a lot of Opeth fans, I really love this record. Most fans say this is the album that death metal Opeth ended and prog band Opeth started. I disagree, as I think the seeds were sown back on Blackwater Park. Personally I think because this was the first album to feature Mikael’s drumming partner from Bloodbath Martin Axenrot and ex Talisman guitarist Fredrick Akesson (who both replaced fan favourites Peter Lindgren and Martin Lopez), fans saw this as the change. I think both of them are upgrades for the music that Opeth are creating.
The opening of the very melodic sorrowful Coil into Heir Apparent is pure genius. If any fan was in any doubt that Axenrot could not fill Lopez’s shoes then the blast beats at the start of The Lotus Eaters should blow that away. The riff, the groove and the melody on this song are just fantastic all mixed with the death growls – we have all bases covered here. I want to call the next track Burden a power ballad but it’s way more than that. I really love Mikaels clean vocal and on Burden it’s just perfect, complete with a killer solo from Akesson. Still a live favourite today.
I’ll admit to owning this twice on vinyl as I bought the original when it came out with the bonus CD, and I bought the green splatter that came out for a RSD day release. The bonus CD is worth a mention for a great cover of Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs.
This being a double album, the second disc contains 4 Opeth classics: Porcelain Heart, Hessian Peel, Hex Omega and Derelict Herds – each an absolute metal fans wet dream. The beginning to Porcelain Heart feels as though the end is about to begin – epic stuff. My favourite on this album is Hex Omega, this is such an epic song. It starts out with an almost medieval feel and just builds and builds into the most incredible of songs and concludes with a monstrous ending.
I really don’t think there is another band out there like Opeth. They are very original in their approach. Mixing all elements together to create this wonderful sound.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
