STILL LIFE

A few days ago one of my supposedly best friends gave me as a present a copy of OPETH'S album "Still Life", and I say supposedly because anybody who knows me a bit, wouldn't had bought a copy of this of this record, probably he received it and got rid if it as soon as he could, incredibly I enjoyed the music very much but sadly not the final product.

My main problem is in the vocals..Who told this guy that that guttural growl is singing? Never heard something so terrible, I believe I like Steve Howe's voice more, because despite he can't keep a tune even if his life is in risk, at least he tries, this guy just shouts without any sense, something strange for a vocalist who has a nice voice when singing normally.

When I listened "The Moor" mysterious intro, I really got exited, it was promising, despite being a bit too long, then came the wonderful acoustic section and thought it was even better, still when the band starts with the repetitive shredding I liked the track but then Akerfeldt started to growl and simply was disgusting, a good start but an horrendous development.

Godhead's Lament is even worst, because doesn't even has a good intro, they start with the noise from the first instant, even though extremely repetitive and unimaginative, I believe the band could do a lot better with a good vocalist, because the guys have talent, some excellent changes but sadly they go back to the same thing.

"Benighted" again starts very promising with another excellent acoustic guitar solo, that leads to a nice power ballad where Akerfeldt proves he can sing if he tries, not spectacular or something too imaginative, but at least you can listen it. The guitar solo in the instrumental break is excellent.

"Moonlapse Vertigo" is a good change, starts aggressive and frantic and radically turns into melodic and acoustic, excellent change and even the vocals sound well, but it was too good to be real, the growls come again..Please, somebody tell him to sing as a human.

"Face of Melinda" is a good relief, again the privilege the melody over the senseless cacophony, and even when around the middle there's a radical change into a frantic section, it's a very decent track with good vocals.

"Serenity Painted Death" has a spectacular intro again ruined by the noise Michael Akerfeldt calls singing. The music is outstanding, the changes are perfect, but simply that guy sis capable of ruining anything.

"White Cluster" is a very imaginative track, again with excellent instrumental performance, even when a bit cacophonic by moments, but you all can guess what turns me off.

It's really a shame, musically "Still Life" is a three, maybe four stars album, but Akerfeldt destroys any possibility of enjoyment for me, with another vocalist or even without vocals I would give the album a much higher rating, but I can't stand that noise he makes, so two stars.