In every bands career there seems to be a moment where everything justs falls together and "the magic happens". This creation is definitely the result of the maturity, experience and passion accumulated over the years by this progressive death metal band from Sweden. Earlier iterations have had the elements that makes Opeth the widespread success it has become today. But this dark moody story of the occult paints an musical atmosphere truly unique. Michael Åkerfeldts deep growls and singer song-writer inspired soft as silk singing weaves a vivid imagery of calamity alternated with calm wonder.
With all except one of the tracks spanning over 5 minutes and four over 10 each song is like a chapter of a book. The opening track Ghost of Perdition drops you straight into a relentless drama of death-metal transferring straight into clean acoustic arrangements. Where some may see it as a counter-intuitive element to metal it really is well executed here and is a recurring theme throughout. Clever usage of Hammond-organs, strings and other ambient pads softens the furious guitars and makes for a vibrant sound.
Grand arrangements are greatly strengthened by craftily adding and subtracting to the mix of instruments. It grants the songs that feeling of grand suspense followed by a satisfying climaxes.
It's brutal and it's edgy. Not until the 4th track Atonement are you given room to breath. Bongos are evenly distributed throughout the album but are most noticeable here. The grand finale and as of my opinion the magnum opus track of Opeth is the Grand Conjuration. With it's endless in your face drumming and simplistic epic structure it serves as an excellent finale to a very exceptional production of heavy music. It offers a simple but powerful imagery.
It's Opeth at it's finest, and it's one hell of a ride!
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