DELIVERANCE

This second review in very short time of an Opeth album comes after Damnation which is of course a very quiet sounding album for Opeth standard and with this one we are back with the usual style, meaning lots of grunt passages and the steady noisy kind of instrumental playing they became famous with.

This already becomes clear with the first two tracks, Wreath and Deliverance where the mentioned features are now and then variegated with some normal vocals and an occasional guitar riff. In the 3rd track A fair Judgement this even gets more evident and this is not by coincidence my favourite track of the album and no doubt one of the best ever by Opeth. I just wish they did more of their repertoire like this, then they could have been a favourite band of mine but as said their main style is really different. The 4th track is a shorty and a nice quiet interlude between all the heavy stuff. The 5th track is another slight surprise at least where the second half of the song is concerned. Here they start to "imitate" Porcupine Tree all over sudden but I'm convinced I'm still listening to Opeth. Unbelievable, really it's a 100% sound alike ! After studying the booklet I'm less surprised because I read Steve Wilson is actually participating on this album so that explains. Last few minutes they alter back to their own self again till the end of the song. Last track is less of a surprise, the only thing worth mentioning here is that also Opeth has stooped to the annoying habit of hidden tracks at the end of this song. I can't believe so many bands (and labels ?) decide to lower themselves to this nonsense. They probably think the public loves this, of course I don't know about everybody else but I can't imagine that somebody is a fan of this trashy phenomenon.

Anyway, it doesn't really change my overall opinion about the album. One great track and a few nice ones can't bring me to another decision than three stars.