PALE COMMUNION

Bravo! This is a pleasant surprise. To me, Opeth were a quickly fading star with their release of Watershed, and they only clinched it with that disjointed musical smorgasbord Heritage. Now this, a beautiful return to form. And what form.

Gone are the growls of yore and the emphasis is on relatively quiet yet fully dynamic prog passages that still embrace the evil thread of their older music. Expect to hear a lot of Mellotron and Hammond. It could almost be a 70s prog offering if you take out the hifi mixing. Someone mentioned that it's a tad too bass-heavy. I have to say the kick does sound overpowering at times, but the rest of the mix is crystalline.

There aren't any obviously weak tracks here, but the last two, Voice of Treason and Faith in Others are my clear favorites. Cusp of Eternity is memorable too.