MY ARMS, YOUR HEARSE

From the hauntingly beautiful piano chords of the Prologue to the last chorus in Karma, My Arms Your Hearse is definitely Opeth's darkest endeavor. I mention Karma as being the album's closer only because the song Epilogue is the album's only weak point as it doesn't seem to flow with the brooding, doom ridden content of the songs that precede it. Stylistically, MAYH is drastically different than both Morningrise and Orchid. Akerfeldt's death metal vocals are significantly more guttural on this record and the guitars, while still harmonious, are muddled with a thicker, heavier distortion. This album also introduces Martin Lopez behind the drum kit who has a significantly different style than previous drummer Anders Nordin. Lopez manages to add a groovy backdrop to the menacing guitar melodies that is simply breathtaking. Johan DeFarfalla's spectacular bass playing is not present on this album as he was dismissed by Akerfeldt and Lindgren shortly after Morningrise. As much as I enjoyed his contributions to the band's sound I think his style would have been a bit out of place on this particular record. With that said, Akerfeldt does an adequate job filling these, respected, shoes. The bass lines are a bit low in the mix but this is hardly a noticeable drawback as the guitars create more of a "wall of sound" than the riff heavy, high treble production of the previous two outings. As a whole, MAYH is a wonderful leap forward as well as a concisely written and fluid concept album. That is to say, until the Epilogue.

Prologue - 10/10 April Ethereal - 10/10 When - 10/10 Madrigal - 8/10 The Amen Corner - 10/10 Demon of the Fall - 10/10 Credence - 7/10 Karma - 9/10 Epilogue - 1/10