HERITAGE

This is the most experimental Opeth i've heard! Folk, jazz, psicodelic. No growls, screamings, Double bass drumming, heavy riffing or 10min Opus sincopatics. Definitely this not an easy record. It will take a couple of listens to see if it grows or not on you.

As one of the most awaited records of 2011, i was expecting a lot more of it, specially after hearing the devil's orchard on July, which is in mho a hell of a song.

For sure has it's momments, but overall i think, there something missing here. Is not the lack of death metal or heavier stuff. I feel a little lack of Dynamics.

Heritage is a really beutiful little dark track, and as an instrumental intro it really works.

The Devil's Orchard is Great song with a Rush like feeling. Some jazz.

I feel the dark sounds actually Really dark . Mikael singing a la damnation. A little lineal structure, specially for opeth.

Slither. I heard somewhere is a Ronnie James Dio Tribute. Despite that, this is, in my opinion one of the worse opeth songs, sounded a lot like Riverside to me (I love riverside By the way) But for Opeth, not sure about that one.

Nepenthe and Haxprocess work as one track divided in two pieces. Lot of Jazz on both songs, Really sounds like a 70s record, with sections that can perfectly be on a camel or King Crmson record.

Famine starts with a Tribal drumming quasi King crimson. The highliht is the flute that appears towards the outro, Jethro tull perhaps?. Despite that quite a boring track.

The Lines in My Hand: One of the best in the record. It ends all of a sudden. Lot of energy, and after 3 slow tracks, it feels like fresh air.

Folklore has a little medieval feeling. Not a bad track, but at this point, Akerfeldt new way of singing sounds monotonous.

Finally Marrow of the Earth starts with an interesting guitar Arpeggio. A linear instrumental song, which sound almost like a Lullaby, again, not bad at all, but weak for the last song of the album.

To me this is the peak of Akerfeldt Obsession with Camel and the 70s prog sound. It was even recorded almost analogous. Of course, another record with the "loud/soft/loud" formula woul probably had nothing to offer, but to me Heritage lacks of a little focus to make the ideas in here, which are not bad al all, sounded solid. If Watershed can be taked as a transition record (and the worst Ever for me) Heritage stablish the new direction that mr. Akerfeldt has Build for Opeth. For better or Worse.

Over all, Not Opeth as it best in here. 3.5 Stars