DELIVERANCE

What a strange album by Opeth. Whereas vast majority of bands choose their best song to start the record, they've chosen the weakest. And I don't mean it is a weak song, it's just the weakest in the album. Because, in contrast to many Opeth fans, I consider DELIVERANCE a fantastic release.

The title track is, in my opinion, a real beginning of the record. This, one of the best Opeth songs, built upon disharmonious sound of tritones, is absolutely brilliant in terms of rhythm, progressiveness, passion and lyrics. Masterpiece in the full sense of the word! The end of the song is so amazing that I often listen to these last minutes only, skipping the rest, which is actually great. That's absolutely amazing culmination, based on one chord and captivating rhythm.

As the whole, DELIVERANCE is an album more severe in term of sound than BLACKWATER PARK, it is heavier and above all it is the most rhythm-based Opeth' album. Martin Lopez playing is amazingly understated - without additional showing off - yet very powerful and unique. The rhythms are intriguing and become embedded in the memory for a long time. With this release Martin proved his incredible feeling for drumming.

It's a great album, full of moving passages, fantastic guitar harmonies and rhythms. Still, it is not a perfect creation, even if such songs as Deliverance, Master's Apprentices and By the Pain I See in Others are absolutely breathtaking. Unfortunately, Wreath spoils the fun and takes points off.