SORCERESS

I'll cut to the chase. This is another fine addition to the Opeth cannon and, given some time, will grow on you. Even if you are one of those Opeth fans that doesn't like anything post-Heritage, I suggest you give it a whirl.

There are three aspects of this album that I think make it the great album it is: Flow, Diversity, and Heaviness. Let me explain....

Flow - One thing that really surprised me after my first listen was how well the songs went together. You can tell that a lot of work went into deciding the order of the songs on this album. It's not that the songs sound similar; quite the opposite. Instead, it's something akin to (using a Zappa term), conceptual continuity. There are small but substantial elements of previous songs that bleed into the next tracks. It's almost subliminal, but it is there, and makes the album very enjoyable to listen to.

Diversity - As I mentioned briefly above, the songs are all quite different. Each song brings a new color and feeling to the narrative of the album. I think they did a great job mixing the more rocking songs as acoustic tracks, possibly more so than the previous two albums.

Heaviness - Yeah, it's not death metal, and some may argue it's not metal, but it's definitely heavy music. If you listen carefully, the lyrics are quite dark, touching upon the pain and suffering one can experience from love and being in-love. And, the music follows suit. There's a doom-like element pervading the album, and some very intense moments (the last minute of The Wild Flowers is a great example).

In closing, I think this is a great album that all Opeth fans should give a chance. Continued listens will pay out in dividends. It's also the type of album that you really need to listen to from start to finish. Give it a chance!