STILL LIFE

1. The Moor (11:28). Mini suite with heavy metal rhythm, Akerfeldt's death metal growl and Peter Lindgren's guitar chase each other for a long time, alternating different atmospheres: the best are the instrumental acoustic one of the incipit, and the semi-acoustic one that arrives at around 7-8 minutes (sung with the normal voice). The death metal parts are bad, like the final one, where the death metal growl returns which to my ears is somewhat kitsch. Rating 7+.

2. Godhead's Lament (9:47) Accelerated and overloaded death metal start, then progression to an acoustic phase, almost a rock ballad, then the excited death metal phase returns. Weak song. Rating 5.75.

3. Benighted (5:01) Slow guitar ballad, almost entirely instrumental, which comes alive only in the final but which overall sounds subdued and monotonous. Sweetness is appreciated. Rating 6.5.

4. Moonlapse Vertigo (9:00) Third mini-suite that alternates grotesque atmospheres with clear parts, heterogeneous and unequal song both in singing and in music. Rating 6.5.

5. Face of Melinda (7:59). It may be the only really beautiful and meaningful song of the Lp, able to go from acoustic ballad to heavy metal without forcing and without the kitsch of death metal singing. Not a masterpiece, but beautiful. Rating 8.

6. Death painted with serenity (9:14). Another minisuite that alternates slow acoustic parts, classic rock parts and death metal parts, insisting (too much) in the changes of rhythm and atmosphere. Overall, however, an appreciable result. Rating 7.

7. White cluster (10:02). Final mini-suite, perhaps the most proggy song on the album, which after a bad start in death metal gains quality over time with pause, acceleration and even melody. Rating 7.75

Total time 62:31

Overall, according to the canons of its genre, Still Life is, in my opinion, a good album which, however, does not achieve the objectives of its ambition; the songs are almost all decent, with no real peaks but overall without serious drops. Final rating 7+. Three stars.

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