DELIVERANCE

Every song on this album really has a sense of identity. This is Opeth's most experimental album thus far. "Wreath" is the album's most relentlessly heavy song. It has a really dark guitar effect in the middle of the song that sounds like winnowing winds or a bell tower ringing. "Deliverance" is also a very heavy track and a bit repetitive in the last 4 minutes, hence that, the song is magnificent and has great changes and the best transitition I've ever heard in a song from a solo to another part of the song. "A Fair Judgement" is a great piano driven song, that expresses some of Mikael's classical influences about midway through the song with a classical guitar instrumental piece, incredible. The song is the only entirely clean vocal song on the album. "For Absent Friends" is a very somber and relaxing instrumental. Perhaps my favorite Opeth instrumental behind that of "Requiem," from "Orchid." "Master's Apprentices" is one of my favorite Opeth songs, showcasing their dynamic abilities throughout. Great vocal melodies in this song and powerful guitar sections. This song has one the most serene and beautiful moments abruptly interrupted by Mikael's most sinister growls, which then the song proceeds to its peak. "By the Pain I See in Others" fluctuates quite a bit and at first listen seems to be a bit weak, but really has a lasting strenght after several listens. Great dynamics, changes, and solo's. This album definately possesses the best solo's they've ever recorded. I'm very excited to see where they'll go next after Damnation. Opeth are consitently mesmerizing and progress with each album, the future is very promising for them.