STILL LIFE

Let's go with a review of, perhaps, my favourite band (actually). When this albums was released, it was the best effort to pursue Opeth into progressive metal, with those growlings only Akerfeldt is capable of. From beginning to end, the disc is an all-emotional and intense piece of art, with harsh chords, putting together the both extremes of music.

Combining raw Death Metal with great clean-sounding atmospheres in awesome change, reaching all audible range you can imagine. Mikael it's a very good compositor. He compose all lyrics and harmonies, nothing serious since he's a very talented musician.

At the beginning of the album we found an increasing tune, fitting perfectly with the work of art that is the rest of the album. The progressing of the music is awesome, leaving you in a mystery aura, until first distorted riff starts. The style here listened is purely Opeth, with some riff repetitions before new riffs began to flow, creating great rhythm dynamics. For being an starting song, 11:26 minutes are an invitation to taste an unique and real prog album. Here we find growls, clean and classical guitar parts, rough sounds, and all putted together with great taste for music. Really nice start.

"Godhead's Lament" begins with lots of fury, which grips you to wait the next musical landscape. At 1st minute we found great riffing full of grief. The 2:56 solo can only be described as a passional lament, full of musical virtuosity. From now to end we have melodies loaded of feeling. I'm really pleased hearing an unique combination I've waited long time ago to hear.

Now, at 3rd track, we hear a sudden registry change, finding slow melodies flowing with a perfectly and minimalist arranged acoustic guitar. Quietly introduces you into a melancholic array of landscapes. It's focused on being a link and an intro to Moonlapse Vertigo, our next song.

4th track: At that point all have reported the musical dimension of the band. Again, a great song combining clean arrangements and the harshly punishment of perhaps the best voice Death Metal can bring us (in my opinion). The music flows so good we desire not to end, so much the song doesn't look like 9 minutes long.

"Face of Melinda" is another soft and lovely song. Not in vain Akerfeldt uses the name Melinda for his daughter, a great newborn present. All the album felts in an intimate shape.

6th track, "Serenity Painted Death", warn us the nearly of the end. Again we found grandiose melodies. Perhaps together with the 2nd track, it's the most brute sounding (at times).

The last track, the second in lenght after "The Moor", acts well at the closer.

The album leaves you wanting more of the same, not a problem since they have more albums to please us with the always-in-depelopement style of these awesome musicians.

For me, this album is more progressive (in the literally meaning of the word) than gratuitous virtuosity we found in soloists of other bands also called Prog-Metal I think, listening to this album, it's more important to focus on entire composition than in displayin an individual technique effort (which I like too). I can only give it 5 stars. Recommended for all Prog listener (who want to expand to other styles), especially the heavyness lovers.