GHOST REVERIES

My brother discovered this band the past year, by this site. I expected Opeth to be another 'so called prog', but not prog Death Metal band, but I was wrong !! I never could imagine Death Metal and Prog together !! But also this has 'gothic' and experimental music, with some Pink Floyd influences too. So, Opeth has an unique sound: the use of clean - (Cookie Monster) raw vocals, all by Akerfeldt, and the acoustic transitions combined with metal parts, sometimes all in the same song. The growls do not bother me (despite of I love classic Prog too), maybe because now I'm more habitual with my brother's music (Black/Death Metal). And "Ghost Reveries" itself has an special sound; I don't know how to explain it, but it's true. If the Cookie Monster vocals are a problem to you, please don't buy this album. It's nice to listen to this album on a rainy or claudy day (specially by night), because of its dark and sad atmospheres. I love the combination here between heavy and soft parts. I'll take my time and will make a description track by track:

The album starts with the kick ass "Ghost Of Perdition". That song title could suggest me another uninnovating Death Metal band; but it's completely the opposite. This opener has a duration of 10:29. On the first seconds, an acoustic guitar plays a couple of notes, and then the band explodes with the heavy guitars and Cookie Monster voice: "Ghost of murder !! ...". "Woah!", I said to myself, "This is strong!" On the first minutes of this song, I can hear sophisticated bases that give even more power to Mikael's growls. Then comes another heavy part with more percussion, and the clean and relatively catchy voice enters: "Devil cracked the earthly shell ...". The song goes on with different parts and well done bases. The keyboards here give a more dramatic tone to the song. I must say that on "Ghost Reveries" aren't choruses. From a moment to another, the song calms down and a depressive part comes (with clean vocals, obviously): "Road into the dark unaware, winding ever higher". It has nice acoustic guitars and a mini solo that fits well with the part. The music turns hard again, with more prescence of clean vocals, but then, surprisingly, the monster comes again: "Ghost of perdition !! ...". The solo is very good, with no shredding excess. Excellent opener to the disc !!

The follower track is "The Baying Of The Hounds". Another long song (10:49). The opening riff kicks ass !! Very simple but extremely effective. When the vocals enter: "I hear the baying of the hounds !!...", I just can't stop headbanging !! Then, it turns more dramatic, with clean vocals again. Very good quiet part, with a kind of 'suspended' piano on it. Again another good, solo, followed by another acoustic relaxing part, that depresses me a lot, but it's beautiful ... One more time, the monster comes again: "Urghhh!!" ... Very good song !!

"Beneath The Mire" is the next song. Starts with a very Dream Theater (?) influenced intro. Even the keyboards seem like are being played by Kevin Moore !! This song is like the two I described above, with heavy - quiet transitions. Excellent solo in the middle and the one in the end is superb !! There is an experimental part in the end.

I have to calm down a little, so the comes "Atonement", the first totally quiet song on the album, again with some experimentation and obviously here clean vocals. The guitar melody that is repeated along the song is so beautiful.

Then comes "Reverie / Harlequin Forest", the longest song of the CD (11:39). This song gives me a kind of gothic and cold feeling. Again another Floydian (?) melody: "A trail of sickness leading to me ...", wich is used as a mini chorus. After the second one I can hear the growl of the beast that advances what will come next, haven't you guessed yet ? The acoustic part á la Opeth in the middle of the song is very nice. The riff repeated around the 8th minute is a good demostration that actually, there are more renovating riffs to discover. And the intrincated part on the end (á la DT) surprised me, and is repeated constantly up to the song finishes.

After "Reverie / Harlequin Forest", surely you'll need to relax ... so comes the acoustic "Hours Of Wealth". The more melodic side of Opeth is here, making a lot of enjoyable melodies. Now I can hear the piano !! Akerfeldt does his best vocal performance on this song (no growls). The solo is nice and Gilmour - influenced, evidently. Just beautiful ...

"The Grand Conjuration" with another killer riff, in which is based a big part of the song. Then enter the suspense clean vocals: "Majesty, faithfull me ...". I was surprised by the only fast solo on the album, which is here. After some growls, the music calms down ... but then "Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh !!" (sometimes the use of growls makes me laugh, really). The main riff is repeated from 7 up to the song finishes.

To close the album, comes "Isolation Years", another beautiful acoustic song. Great vocals here. A big feeling of loneliness catches me, with the beautiful chorus ... very good closing.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to any Prog music collection. If you don't pay attention to the growls, you'll like this a lot. It's a great effort by Opeth, with tons of creativity. As Gatot says, highly recommended !!

Rating: 4.0/5