IN CAUDA VENENUM

Following a triptych of albums which largely abandoned metal (but for a few momentary outbursts here and there) in favour of a retro-progressive rock approach, Opeth's In Cauda Venenum at first seems like it's going to continue that approach. However, to my ears it seems like there's substantially more modern touches here - some quieter passages reminiscent of those on Opeth's earliest albums, some loud passages that put me in mind of late-period Arcturus, if given a bit more of a rock direction in place of their black metal roots.

Once again, Mikael 'kerfeldt's vocals - which I thought was often the least interesting aspect of their earlier material - have really come ahead in leaps and bounds. The album was actually released in two versions, one with English vocals and one with Swedish, though I'd say he now sounds more comfortable singing in English than ever.

If you are pining for Opeth's extreme metal days, and only regard them as interesting for the death metal side of their sound, then this won't win you back - but nor would any album since at least as far back as Watershed. If, on the other hand, you appreciate what they've been doing from Heritage onwards, this is another excellent evolution of that approach, which I feel has only been getting better and better on subsequent releases.