I received my copy from Tower Records a day early. I'm very happy.
I don't know how many of you are fond of Opeth, but this is their best album yet. Damnation was great, but a one-of type album. Though the mellow tracks on this album outdo some songs on Damnation.
Mikael Akerfeldt puts forth some high quality clean vocals on this album. The mellow track Hours Of Wealth contains, dare I say? some of the best vocals I have ever heard, period. And I'm not just talking about Mikael. This is truly a remarkable effort.
The other two mellow tracks Atonement and Isolation Years are also very well done. The first of which has a very Porcupine Tree "Dark Matter" bass line and drum section. It also has a very Arabian sort of guitar feel along with more great vocals. Isolation Years, the final track on the album is short, but sweet.
The death tracks are also brilliant. My favorite being Harlequin Forest which actually has clean vocals for the most part. Baying Of The Hounds is also brilliant with some great riffs. The other three death tracks are also great, but I haven't even given the album a full spin through yet, as the songs are so long. So it'll take me some time to break down the harder tracks.
I know the death vocals are hard to get past, I still can't believe I even listen to them, but Opeth does them in a way unlike other death metal bands. Mixed with the very proggy keyboards and mellotron efforts of new member Per Wilberg, this is one fantastic album for any fans of true musicianship and non-mainstream sugar coating.
I don't know how many of you are fond of Opeth, but this is their best album yet. Damnation was great, but a one-of type album. Though the mellow tracks on this album outdo some songs on Damnation.
Mikael Akerfeldt puts forth some high quality clean vocals on this album. The mellow track Hours Of Wealth contains, dare I say? some of the best vocals I have ever heard, period. And I'm not just talking about Mikael. This is truly a remarkable effort.
The other two mellow tracks Atonement and Isolation Years are also very well done. The first of which has a very Porcupine Tree "Dark Matter" bass line and drum section. It also has a very Arabian sort of guitar feel along with more great vocals. Isolation Years, the final track on the album is short, but sweet.
The death tracks are also brilliant. My favorite being Harlequin Forest which actually has clean vocals for the most part. Baying Of The Hounds is also brilliant with some great riffs. The other three death tracks are also great, but I haven't even given the album a full spin through yet, as the songs are so long. So it'll take me some time to break down the harder tracks.
I know the death vocals are hard to get past, I still can't believe I even listen to them, but Opeth does them in a way unlike other death metal bands. Mixed with the very proggy keyboards and mellotron efforts of new member Per Wilberg, this is one fantastic album for any fans of true musicianship and non-mainstream sugar coating.
