DAMNATION

This release catapulted Opeth to the rest of progressive rock fans who were looking down on them because of growling vocals and death-metal drumming. At the time of the release, I belonged to the second group of listeners and despised other Opeth records but acoustic numbers. With the help of Steven Wilson, the Opeth singer (who was born on the same day in the year as me) shows his sensitive colourful voice and the band confirm that they have outgrown metal sphere since a long time. Tasty acoustic or mellow electric guitar playing is greatly complemented by retro mellotron or contemporary piano as on the masterfully bleak "To rid the disease". And yet vocals are used sparingly to give way to reflective instruments and a couple of nice guitar solos. Playing tasty solos may not be easier than metal riffing and fast soloing. Most of the numbers have some level of melancholy or even depression.

What is missed by lack of flamboyant instrumentaton and complex composition is compensated by rich feelings of introspectiveness. Even though the music is mellow, the chord structure, lyrics and motives remain mostly dark, so typical Opeth. The section after 4:40 in "To rid the disease" is one of the most depressing moments in Opeth discography without being heavy. Something similar will come 9 hours later on "Pale Communion".

Excellent companion to moments which you spent with people that don't want to listen to your complex 12- minute long epics!

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