^^I still have not been able to acquire a copy of that album.
DawnGleaminG wrote:
Will refrain from commentary until I have given this at least 7-8-10 spins. It is his most difficult work to date. However, checking on the Archives about the personnel involved on this recording, tells me that I should continue listening. And so I will. Needless to say that the release is very rich with ideas.
This recording is the noir version of
Watershed, hence, with much less melodicism, and almost no sweeping structures, or very little found, the songs are almost all mid-paced in upbuilt, with no blast-beats at all, near no leads, very little break-downs, very little contrast, and variety in song-writing. Åkerfeldt is not someone who would ever repeat himself, or try to live on an already-built legacy. I cannot entirely be sure why Mikael would choose this approach to song-writing, on this release, when he is competent of so much more.
The recording is dark in nature, and the usual gravatize of melancholy is absent, but also its contrast with euphoria and ecstasy, and the typical lure of despair and triumph, loss and glory which would bring so much life to Opeth's immediately recognizable sound, is very much missing on this recording and it is because of the exploration of different lyrical-content, and the musical modality of the release, altogether.
Opeth is not a progressive rock cover band and nor is this a poor album. However, It is a new phase in Opeth's musical career, and I hope Mr. Åkerfeldt explores other dominions of life. As he has done so masterfully in the past.
Do you I like this new release? Not all that much. But he is Åkerfeldt, and so I will still listen to it, once in a while because he was my constant companion for such long years all through my 20's, and because I know what a capable musician he truly is. And because the solo on the last track still brings me to tears. This is the reason I will continue to listen to him.
