Opeth Heritage

Opeth have always been a band to surprise there audience constantly moving the boundaries of progression album after album. Heritage serves as an album at the mellow end of there spectrum more closely related to there 2003 album Damnation than there previous release 2008’s watershed.

Despite the dropped death metal vocal style which made them synonymous among death metal fans as well as hard rockers and classic prog fans. The album still remains Heavy although the distortion has been turned down to the core revealing a more organic warmth which feels like it helps underline the depth and dynamics of the album.

The album opens up with the mournful Piano interlude heritage. Although this does not help define a band that still have there heavy elements intact the following track the devils orchard features a punchier upbeat vibe with warmth and exploration on lyrical themes such as the devil and god. And also reveals much of Opeths long, tranquil and experimental instrumental passages are still as present as ever.

 The next track I feel the dark opens up with a chime but daunting finger picked riff closely followed by Mikeal Akerfeldts reverberant and melancholic vocals. With this track being followed up by slither a track with more of a straight forward nod to hard rock acts such as Dio fronted era rainbow and bad company. This shows a band who have carefully considered the dynamics and sequencing of there album as a collective whole as opposed to a single’s album.

There is much evidence of picked acoustics and clean tones being present but frequently helping to add tension and a classic vibe people will heavily associate with 70’s rock. A good example is folklore and the ending track marrow of the earth. These present a strong folk vibe which seems like a strong nod to the latter bands of the late 60’s and early 70’s such as jethro Tull Even to the point one could be forgiven for thinking it is a collaboration with Ian Anderson himself.

However the tricky interlacing of the drums and bass are quite reflective of jazzier works such as Haxprocess which screams King crimson influence but still sounding like a fresh Opeth release in a modern era where a creative melding of exploration on lyrical themes and a wide palette of musical styles is never quite present.

To conclude Opeth have produced a fascinating album full of warmth and experimentation. People looking for straight death metal growling from Akerfeldt might not want to step out there comfort zone. Sure heritage has some strong predecessors to live up to but this album still secures there legacy as a band who can create something fresh a definite album to be listened to as a whole as opposed to a single’s album.

4/5