DELIVERANCE

After the exceptional statement that was Blackwater Park the band went on to write and record their most ambitious release to date. Mikael Åkerfeldt had originally intended to create the band's heaviest album to date but due to amount of great mellow song ideas decided to separate the two styles and release a double album that featured one side of each.

Unfortunately this idea didn't hit it off with the label, especially after Mikael's proposal to sell the album at the price of a single disc release, and the two sides were split into two separate releases with almost half a year between the release dates. Personally I think that the original idea would have easily made the album into the pinnacle of this band's career, sort of a new Physical Graffiti following up the success of Led Zeppelin IV and Houses Of The Holy (Still Life and Blackwater Park).

Deliverance is the first of the two releases demonstrating the heavy side of Opeth. Surprisingly enough this album has been very underrated due to something I call the Train Of Thought-effect (even though that album was released a year after Deliverance). It seems that the unexpected heavy side of the music discourages people to see the progressive side of the material, which I assure you delivers plenty of highlights. The title-track is an excellent example of just that, featuring some of the best riffs and section transitions that Opeth have ever delivered.

Even though this was suppose to be the heaviest Opeth release to date the album actually delivers a great ballad called A Fair Judgement that might get a bit heavy towards the end of its 10 minute run but the overall mood will most likely remind the listeners of similar compositions like Harvest and Credence. Master's Apprentices is another huge favorite of mine which does have a few structural similarities to the The Funeral Portrait from the previous album but a few revisits will uncover that this is anything but an ultra-heavy straightforward performance. The middle acoustic section is easily among the best performances from the band in terms of atmosphere and melodic hooks.

It's a pity that such a great album has to end with the sloppy number called By The Pain I See In Others. This track jumps all over the place without a clear sense of direction plus I really dislike the echo-effect that was added to Mikael's growl at one early instance of the song. Also I seen no point in fading out the composition at a 10-minute mark only to add a short hidden track towards the end. I remember reading an interview with Mikael Åkerfeldt where he listed this track as one of his least favorite among the band's works and I can only agree with that statement.

Deliverance is an excellent continuation of the Blackwater Park-sound that only falls slightly short of a masterpiece due to the mixed bag of a last track. Therefore only an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection, with a higher rating dangling by a thread.

***** star songs: Deliverance (13:36) A Fair Judgement (10:21) Master's Apprentices (10:30)

**** star songs: Wreath (11:11) For Absent Friends (2:17)

*** star songs: By The Pain I See In Others (13:50)