Album Review #2

So this time round it's going to be Katatonia's fellow swedes Opeth.

A lot of opinion is divided about their Ghost Reveries record. It was the last to feature Martin Lopez and Peter Lindgren although it was also Per Wilberg's first record with the band. Some people think it wasn't as good as Damnation/Deliverance or Blackwater Park. It does have a change from their older work, the album feels more compact. Less a collection of songs and more of a cohesive statement.

Opeth enlisted Swedish producer Jens Bogren for the album. Sonicly it's incredible , almost flawless. Personaly I think the only thing I could moan about is the lack of bass on the guitars, at times they sound like they could use some beefing up.

It stars out with the huge epic Ghost Of Perdition. What a way to say “we're back!” This song is nothing short of incredible, it twists and turns whilst taking you on a majestic journey through Opeth's own brand of prog metal.

Next up is The baying Of The Hounds, continuing in the same vein as Ghost Of Perdition this is another exercise in prog metal. This song has some excellent dynamics during the middle section. Mikael Åkerfeldt sounds as perfect as ever with the addition of Per Wilberg backing up the melody with some emotive keys.

Next of the agenda is Beneath The Mire. Don't be fooled by the intro , this song picks up some serious brutality during the verses. The clean vocal section if what it's all about though. Bringing that epic feel that only a band like Opeth could do. It also contains a interesting ending with some interplay between the drums and keys. Very cool stuff.

Now we have Atonement. A refreshing change of pace, this song brings the tempo down quite nicely. The vocals have a shimmery effect at the beginning which leads into a bursting soar of melodies. This song sounds like a bit of an experiment for Opeth, it's not typically something they would try. It sounds a bit like a mishmash of 70's prog with a almost jazzy flare. It feels a bit more compact than their usual more is more efforts.

Now were back on track. Reverie/Harlequin Forest kicks things straight ahead. This is Opeth firing on all cylinders. The vocal melody is instantly hummable. It twists , turns and flows right through your ears. The guitars are ripping it up on this track with some of the best playing on the album. Lyrically this song shines brightly, Åkerfeldt describes his words with such a passion and humility most vocalists only wish they could convey.

What a shame. Just when we thought Opeth had created the perfect album they did this. Hours Of Wealth isn't a song. It's a total borefest of incredible proportions. How the heck could they write all that amazing music then come up with this crap? It's basicly 2 piano/keys and guitar riffs repeated endlessly till you nearly fall asleep. Then out of nowhere Åkerfeldt and co try to save things, with an attempt at a sort of acapella. Only thing is while the performance is great the lyrics are pure cheese! This was a 5 minute journey through boredom.

YES! This what im talking about! After a slight misfire, Opeth are back in the saddle . The Grand Conjuration kick straight in with one of Opeth's best riffs.EVER. Opeth's beautiful controlled dynamics are ever present here. They certainly aren't pulling any punches now. Lyrical there's some sort of satanic vibe going on, don't take it too seriously though. This track defines what Opeth are about for me , epic transformations from wonderfully melodic to dark powerful metal with all the bells and whistles of progressive rock.

OK, Isolation Years is what Hours Of Wealth tried to be. A beautiful reprise from the grand conjuration, this is such a good song. Plain and simple, no prog frills here, just incredibly well written melodies , lyrics and instrumentation. Flawless is the best way to describe this. Just let go , close your eyes and let Opeth take you away to somewhere much better than wherever you might be reading this.

Ghost Reveries is quite a journey, much like any Opeth record. I feel as a whole this is a better representation of them than most of their other records present. This is a record for anyone that's into the finer things in life, call it thinking man's metal is you will. Opeth have carved out their name in metal history and this record certainly helped them prove that they deserve it.