UNDER THE SHADOW OF A FOREIGN SUN

Piah Mater's last album, The Wandering Daughter, was one of the first albums I ever reviewed for this site. I enjoyed it overall, but I did complain it was a bit too close to classic Opeth. Their new record is certainly still Opeth-y, but they've established a more distinct sound for themselves. Dashes of black metal can be heard throughout the record, and jazz elements are prominent. "Fallow Garden", in particular, has an extended sax-forward section which varies between smooth and harsh; and "In Fringes" mixes in folk-jazz between crushing riffs. Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun does an excellent job of continuing Opeth's musical legacy without just sounding like a clone.

Review originally published here: theeliteextremophile.com/2024/10/07/odds-ends-october-7-2024/