HERITAGE

Opeth, I have not explored so much of their discogrophy, only a metal album in the middle and the real prog album of this year "Pale Communion". That was a story they began 20111 with this record "Heritage" the band's tenth record. When I started to listen to this record a long time ago had I hard to understand it and I found it too melancholic for me. Now that has changed. Heritage is, and I am sure most people think that a good record. It features Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals, guitar, mellotron and grand piano, Fredrik Åkesson on guitars, Per Wiberg on organ, mellotron, fender rhodes, wurlitzer and grand piano, Martin Mendez on bass guitars and Martin Axenrot on drums together with percussionist Alex Arcaña and Björn J:son Lindh, a fabulous flutist who unfortunately died recently and the pianist Joakim Svalberg.

The cover is one of the best things with the album. It is an amazing paintign with the heads of the band members and in the background we see a burning city and under the tree we see hell. The album is a heavy progressive album with so much interesting notes. It has its ups and downs and for me it's hard to keep my interest through it all but the highlights are worth picking up. The opener and the closer are almost only piano and the melody feels like Swedish folk music. For those who have heard Jan Johansson's jazz record with Swedish folk tunes will these tracks remind you of them. "Marrow of the earth" is honestly the album's most nice track (10/10) like massage for my ears. Second best is "The Devil's Orchard"(9/10), an explosion of melodies, riffs and strong progressive music where Åkerfeldt's vocals do a fantastic job. He sings very well on the whole record. "Nepenthe" is another example of song with wonderous vocals and the song is jazzy too(8/10). "Famine" is a long and lovely song also, a varied and story telling track with J:son Lindh's flute and lovely vocals(8/10). "I feel the dark"(7/10) and "Folklore"(7/10) are also more than good and the rest of the songs are good as well.

This is definitely an interesting record with high quality music and some very interesting tracks. Opeth has big potential to be an even better prog band if they become more pretentious. Perhaps is it also the sad feeling this music bears that holds down my feelings and so also my rating. For me it's a strong three star record and a little preview of what's going to come three years later.