 OPETH
Damnation
Music For Nations/Koch Records 2003
www.opeth.com
Read the Peter Lindgren interview
Live Opeth pics
What’s the 4-1-1?
Opeth have returned with the companion piece to their brutal and black-hearted
2002 release Deliverance. Recorded at the same time, Damnation has
the group abandoning the harsh guitars, pounding riffs, and violent
growls for acoustic guitars, melodic vocals, and heavenly melodies. With
this
release Opeth draw from their high regard of the 70s progressive
rock scene and twist it into a 21st century work of art. Quite a drastic
move
for
a death metal act. I’ve been dying to gets my hands on this
disc after being blown away by their last (see review below). Will
Opeth
still impress me?
Genre
Hard rock / alternative / death metal
The Good
This CD packs more tracks than their last, but they also cut back on the
twelve minute epics. Don’t go thinking that Opeth have gone soft
or lost there edge. These aren’t sappy love ballads. In fact, they
sound kind of creepy, like a bad 70’s acid trip. “Windowpane” sounds
like it could’ve been in the movie The Others. Akerfeldt’s
vocals are soothing, but Lindgren plays some ominous guitar riffs. In true
Opeth style, the instrumental that concludes the track outweighs the lyrics.
The lyrics take center stage on “In My Time of Need”, a song
about contemplating suicide (at least I think so). Its delivery is powerful
and despondent. There’s more doom and gloom in “Death Whispered
a Lullaby”. The more you listen, the more you see how the songs all
come together. Akerfeldt brings it down to a whisper on “Hope Leaves”.
On the instrumental track “Ending Credits”, the rhythm section
displays their fondness for bands like Pink Floyd. “Weakness” concludes
our eerie journey, but leaves you with one question…is this really
the lighter CD or was it Deliverance?
The Bad
The lighter side of Opeth could turn off the die-hards.
The Verdict
Damnation is loaded with beautiful vocal melodies, soothing acoustic guitars,
and calming musical interludes. All this from a death metal band! Opeth
break down musical stereotypes with this 360-degree musical venture. Death
metal fans may be disappointed, but fans of rock in general will be quite
impressed. Damnation is the light at the end of Deliverance’s dark
tunnel (or is it?). Side by side these two discs are sheer rock brilliance.
Did You Know?
Opeth won a Swedish Grammy Award in 2003 for ‘Best Rock/Metal Act’.
Rating:  out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Opeth - Deliverence
--George Dionne |
