DELIVERANCE

"Deliverance" is the sixth studio album of Opeth and was released in 2002. It was recorded at the same time that was recorded their follower seventh studio album "Damnation", but it was only released in the following year. However, the two studio albums contrast completely and drastically with each other, purposely dividing the group's two most prevalent musical styles. While "Deliverance" is considered to be as one of the band's heaviest and aggressive studio albums, "Damnation" experiments with a much soft, acoustic and mellower progressive rock influenced sound.

Originally, the group intended for "Deliverance" and "Damnation" to be released at the same time, as a double studio album. However, the record company decided against this idea and released both albums separately, approximately five months apart from one to the other, in order to promote each of them properly, in order to earn more money.

There are two curiosities on "Deliverance". The track "Master's Apprentices" was named due to the name of a proto- prog Australian group of the 60's The Masters Apprentices. The track "For Absent Friends" was named because the song of the same name that originally appeared on the third studio album of Genesis "Nursery Cryme", in 1971.

The line up on the album is Mikael Akerfeldt (vocals and guitars), Peter Lindgren (guitar), Martin Mendez (bass guitar) and Martin Lopez (drums and percussion). The album has also the collaboration of Steven Wilson (backing vocals, guitars, Mellotron, piano and keyboards).

"Deliverance" has six tracks. All songs were written and composed by Mikael Akerfeldt. The first track "Wreath" is one of the heaviest songs that Opeth have ever recorded. It's a fast upbeat song and one of the less melodic too. However, even thought this can be considered one of their heaviest songs, it does have its softer and melodic moments too. This song is really a phenomenal work with its musical atmosphere absolutely devastating, sounding like a piece of music depicting the end of the world. This is really a great track. The second track is the title track "Deliverance". This is a track with a very sinister sound. It's not only the lyrics or the music that makes this song really sounds very evil, but the way how Akerfeldt sings is absolutely strange, amazing and terrifying. The lyrics are just beautiful, describing very accurately and vividly the intentions and actions that are taking place. This is another great track that continues giving a very high note to the album. The third track "A Fair Judgement" is the mellowest song on the album. It starts sounding like it's being played through an old radio. After about a minute and a quarter the song turns into a dreamy ballad, then progressing to a brilliant and heavy lead without seeming to change from mellow to heavy at all. This progression repeats throughout, with no rapid changes. This is Opeth at their best musical experimentation. The fourth track "For Absent friends" is very short and sounds more like a little acoustic interlude. It's basically a filler track, so there isn't a lot to say about it. What can be said is that it's a fairly harmless nice acoustic track with a clean electric lead player over it. It acts as a pretty and nice little intermission for the album and it serves as a neat way to bridge the gap between the two halves of the album and rest your ears a little. The fifth track "Master's Apprentices", despite its simplicity, can be considered as one of the best tracks of the album. The first main riff is one of those ones that have an unsophisticated charm and memorability, and even people that eventually dislike the track, I guarantee that there will be at least few days when you have this song in your head, and find yourself humming along with it. This is another great moment on the abum. The sixth and last track "By The Pain I See In Others" is a brilliant closing track to the album. Akerfeldt experiments with varied growls over an acoustic riff in the song, achieving a very nice sounding effect as a final result. The several musical transitions that have been used all over the song are very enjoyable to hear and they seem to seamlessly flow into each other. The acoustic transitions to the heavy parts are the most notable things here.

Conclusion: "Deliverance" is, in my humble opinion and I'm not a specialist into this kind of music, a great heavy metal album. It's also one of the best progressive metal, atmospheric metal and art rock albums ever. Unfortunately, Opeth's "Deliverance" is an often maligned album in their musical discography for many reasons. But, it's still certainly a very strong musical work in its own right, with some incredible songs that have their very own place in the Opeth's musical catalogue. This is an album with many enjoyable riffs and guitar solos. As usual and always, Akerfeldt's clean vocals are a real joy to listen to over the chaotic guitar riffs. Lopez's drumming, that at some moments reminds me the great John Bonham, is absolutely amazing, constantly innovating and contributing to an already excellent final work. Concluding, "Deliverance" is an excellent album and I hope that fans of good music will get it. Probably, it will be very interesting to have "Deliverance" and "Damnation" as a double studio album combining perfectly well the two musical sides of Opeth. As I like the both sides of the group, I'm going to rate both albums with the same rating. So, 4 stars.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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