Review
OPETH – HERITAGE
Released 12th September 2011 (Roadunner Records)
Words: Richard Heaven
Whether your tastes lie in pop folk or progressive metal, you’ve got to respect any band that keeps creating challenging yet refreshing music 16 years after their debut album hits the shelves. Whilst Dream Theater bought progressive metal into the mainstream, it was Opeth who proved to be the more diverse and unpredictable beast.
All this begs the question – where do you go after you’ve produced 9 albums in 16 years? The answer for Mikael Akerfeldt was seemingly simple – you mellow out. While Opeth have never afraid to embrace haunting minimalism in their music, they have never produced an album which balances horns, flutes and pianos so perfectly with the rift heavy metal you’d expect. Despite being one of their most mellow releases, Heritage still contains enough sections to keep the Ghost Reveries and Still Life fans happy at shows.
Speaking of Still Life, I’d encourage you to take a close look at the artwork. The 8th person in line, the lady in red – yes, that is Melinda from the Still Life storyline. I couldn’t tell you if there are any more references without the lyric sheet, but it feels like this level of attention has been paid to every aspect of this album. Nothing sounds unnecessary, and that is a rarity in a progressive metal album.
This might not excite the fans who dream of the band returning to their black metal roots, but anyone else who listens with an open mind is not going to be disappointed.
