Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 05:48 PM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Nuclear Blast
Year: 2016
Opeth strike back with their new full length album 2 years after “Pale Communion”. This is album number 12 for the Swedes and once more progressive rock of the 70’s is influencing but also being praised by mister Akerfeldt and his band. “Sorceress” is their third album (in the line with 2011’s “Heritage” and the aforementioned “Pale Communion” of 2014) that the musical road that the band as a whole is moving along is the sweet and analogue sound of the 70’s. Truth is they never hid those influences and signs could be detected even in earlier releases, although those were predominated by Death Metal (save “Damnation” of course). Remember “Burden” and “Harvest” from the albums “Watershed” and “Blackwater Park” respectively where the aesthetics and some elements were bringing the 70’s in our minds…
Our tour starts with “Persephone”, a two-minute acoustic intro with some recitation under the sound of a beautiful female voice, which is perfect to put as in the right mood.
Then we have “Sorceress”. It is a heavy song (YES, this record contains heavy elements as well) because of its starting riff, simple as far as its development goes and direct, somehow an easy listening song.
“The Wilde Flowers” is also rather heavy and grooves for the most part of it and after an exceptional acoustic passage it goes to an exquisite finish in which the main theme is being repeated a bit faster with a galloping rhythm creating a progressive tornado.
“Will O The Wisp” (my personal favourite) leaves the best sentiments a human being can feel and all that through a perfect simplicity, If I may say so, with which it flows from the beginning to the end. A lot of Jethro Tull vibe is in there, bringing out an intense positive energy from the first till the last second with the characteristic break in Akerfeldt’s voice.
“Chrysalis” is dynamic and complex. An intense progressive rhythm in the drums that rouses, guitars that compete with the keyboards in a speed race (with a keyboard solo bringing the late John Lord in mind). Its first half is a reference-ode to Deep Purple and then in transforms in a majestic, calm and sentimental song till its end.
“Sorceress 2” and the Swedish prog masters are holding back with a second acoustic track cladded in soft guitar cords accompanied by Joakim Svalberg’s discrete melotron. In this one the dosage of psychedelia the band offers us is huge.
As if it came from Anatolia’s depths, “The Seventh Sojourn” keeps on offering peace and tranquillity from where the previous song stopped. It is a relaxing tune, written in Eastern scales, reminiscent of “Atonement” from “Ghost Reveries” exactly for that reason.
Next comes “Strange Brew”, a real epic that contains more or less everything. A mystical introduction, a blasting continuation with the band playing its ass off, outstanding solos, great changes that come and vanish in hand before you have enough of them and a fantastic finish. Since it takes you through a lot of waves, I believe it takes many times to listen to it in order to “grasp” its mood.
Short before the end we come across “A Fleeting Glance” that has a more easy going mood. It is nostalgic and trippy and brings about tender memories, chaste situations and spouting a sweet childlike innocence, well written with a simple structure, I dare to call it catchy.
Essentially last is “Era” where, after the piano intro, all the instruments are breaking into our ears. It has tremendous speed, intensity and right attitude to level anything in its way. It shows the tremendous self-confidence the band enjoys in this given moment in a very imposing way.
“Persephone (Slight Return)” is but a one-minute outro with piano and a whispering voice so we can’t say many things about it, I guess it brings out different feelings in each person.
As a fan from the first day, I have to say one thing. Opeth was, is and will be a very big band. They play at the highest level and this is not to be disputed, not even by those who didn’t follow them in their recent musical direction. The reason is clear. In whatever way they chose to express themselves, they do it flawlessly. They are in every way connected with an era that legends of this music like Scorpions, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath – and so many others that I will not mention for this review to end at some point – reigned, they have managed to create memorable works using and piecing together different genres and styles. They are actually bringing together 2 different generations – being 40 years apart -, 2 different eras, 2 different worlds.
5/6
