GHOST REVERIES

I can easily say that this is one of the best albums I have ever heard in my life. Also I would like to say that it really is Opeth's first completely progressive album. Beyond the musical virtuosity there is an excellent occult concept album that shows how versatile this band really is. His growls may be hard to swallow for most classic prog fans, but I believe that contained within these growls is the emotion that my favorite Crimson and Yes albums can't do justice, anger. Opeth may be the most extreme progressive act on the planet considering the euphoria that surrounds a floyd inspired "Atonement", or the Clapton esque clean guitar solo at the end of "hours of wealth". The song that sets this band apart from everyone is ghost of Perdition, a song that can only be described as incredible. The Layered electric gutars, perfect accompanying keyboard as well as the menacing sonic explosions lead by the drums, creates a sound so diverse and epic in proportions that I can only compare feeling to that of the emotional journey and dramatic climax of a piano concerto a la Rachmaninov. If you can just tolerate the screams you will understand their signifcance. The only weak track here is the recently released Grand Conjuration.