STILL LIFE

Opeth

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

4.29 | 1835 ratings

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This is it. Opeth's grand opus. Despite common fan opinions, I believe this is a greater achievement than the much fabled Blackwater Park.

The entire album revolves around a style that is both brutal and beautiful, with stunning moments of melodic goodness, with some truly headbanging riffs in there too. The 11 and a half minute opener "The Moor" begins with some lovely acoustic guitar, showing one side of the band, before blasting into pure chaos, the other side. This track boasts some of the best riffs Opeth have, and yet has one of the best melodic vocal lines as well. A true opener.

"Godhead's Lament" begins in the same style as the Moor, but without as many great riffs. Sometimes the guitar feels a bit muddled, but that all fades as it goes into possibly the best melodic section on the record (save Benighted)

"Benighted" is Opeth's best 'acoustic' song. Like Harvest and Hours of Wealth from later albums, it is all clean, and has some very nice acoustic guitar layering. One of the better songs of the record, possibly even the best, despite its length.

"Moonlapse Vertigo" (what a fucking song title) is probably the heaviest on the album, with a nice grinding riff moving through the middle section, and another very good clean section at the end.

As of now I have realised I have almost nothing to add to each song, since they all follow the same formula (except Benighted) of cool riff, brootal growling, awesome acoustic, Mikael Akerfeldt's stunning clean vocals, except in a different order each time. But that's what makes this album fantastic. Opeth have perfected their style, and I'm not surprised they got bored of it after a while.

Overall, a masterpiece, and if you want a taste of the 'Opeth formula", then this is your best bet.

Gallifrey | 5/5 | 2012-4-26

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