Opeth - Pale Communion - review
Opeth - Pale Communion - review
Tracklist
01. Eternal Rains Will Come02. Cusp Of Eternity
03. Moon Above, Sun Below
04. Elysian Woes
05. Goblin
06. River
07. Voice Of Treason
08. Faith In Others
09. Solitude [Black Sabbath cover] [live] [special edition bonus]
10. Var Kommer Barnen In [Hansson De Wolfe United cover] [live] [special edition bonus]
11. Atonement [live] [Japanese bonus]
12. Demon Of The Fall [live] [Japanese bonus]
A review by
R'Vannith August 20, 2014
Pale Communion has direction and frame. Less a collation of Opethian filtered prog homage, more a record with a sense of purpose and stylistic decision making of its own accord and character. In this respect the Swedes have found their comfort zone in their newly adopted style, something which focuses purely on the progressive rock, an element which has always permeated their sound within prior metal albums.
This effort is driven by percussion and acoustic, two aspects of the instrumentation which stand out clearly across the record in ways unprecedented for Opeth. Axe at the drums is noticeably busy for much of the album's duration, clearly steering its course in a style of progression that is typical for the band. Softer segments of keys intersperse the sound defined by rhythmic precision and progressive guitar noodling, also adding that golden glow to the atmospheric backdrop that is as much a part of their artistry as ever.
This is not to overlook Åkerfeldt, his vocal work receiving its usual pride of place at the fore of delivery in his purely clean style, offering an identifiable and comforting croon to the arrangements. Though emphasised, his delivery is never overstated, but finds a natural accommodating factor into providing much of the record's character. Otherwise, the new and assured direction in this album comes at a price; its vintage feel becomes hardened and less exciting as what was presented in Heritage in such an eager and somewhat heavy handed construction of a track list. This made the preceding sound more varied but largely aimless, whereas Pale Communion turns this notion on its head.
One can hear that this record has a place to be. It proceeds in progressions more neatly and astutely defined, yet the initially impacting waft of sounds from prog of yore that Heritage had seems to be lost. No heady projections of early era Deep Purple, for instance. What we're offered this time is a rather more bare bones approach, yet the bones solidify the direction the band has taken into their own renditions of progressive rock.
The production adds modern veneer to the old style of sound, and is especially suited to the enhancing of the percussive strengths, granting it a weight that is best afforded to recent progressive rock records that aim for stylistic heaviness where appropriate, such as The Void by Beardfish. Pale Communion is produced in such a way that easily acclimatises Opeth's sound into the modern progressive rock scene.
While Opeth have found their reason in rock, Pale Communion is progressive in two ways especially. One, it calls upon stylistic similarities to and compositional borrowings from the genre's founding fathers, and two, it marks a move further down the band's own path into their demetallized direction.
Rating:
8.7
8.7
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Rating:
8.7 |
My favorite band is Opeth; I was on the bandwagon around the days of My Arms, Your Hearse and have never jumped off. When it comes to an album like Pale Communion there is an important question I've had to ask myself: do I like Opeth because they're a metal band or do I like Opeth because of the way they play their music? Is it the heavy death metal growls that make them so great or the overall vibe they create with their experimentation? In the end, I find it is the latter that is true for me in both cases. Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments:
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Very well written review. Thank you.
---- The sun shines over The Fool...
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Posts: 104 Written by MaiSweettShaadow on 20.08.2014 at 11:06 Interesting, I thought his vocals on this album were best do date (naturally, considering clear vocals only). Oh, people and their different opinions 
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Posts: 1464 Written by seafood on 20.08.2014 at 13:12 I haven't listened to the album yet, only the two advance songs released and his vocals sounded as good as they've always been. As well as having one of the best growls in the business (which he doesn't use at the moment), he's one of the very few metal guys who can really sing clean vocals well. So much talent, but you can never please everyone.
---- The sun shines over The Fool...
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Posts: 1856
Spot on Review. I normally don't read reviews until I have the material on hand but this wasn't something that i was 'Holding my Breath' for so to speak. I can't believe im saying that about Opeth 
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Posts: 21306
Smooth move not giving a rating. Now people will have to read your review before they can complain. 
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 94 Written by Ace Frawley on 20.08.2014 at 13:46 The only track in this album that I did not enjoy mike voice and his singing was Elysian Woes.
---- http://www.last.fm/user/behzadsh
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Posts: 3645 Written by Troy Killjoy on 20.08.2014 at 21:07 Only N/A? This album deserves at least N/A+
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 5989 Written by Troy Killjoy on 20.08.2014 at 21:07 Seriously though. I don't really review "popular" bands that often, but if I ever do, and I know my opinion will conflict with mainstream consensus, I might just pull the N/A card myself. God forbid we ever see the visual diarrhea that was the comment section for that review of The Satanist rear its head again.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 40071
I actually find rating something n/a a total chicken shit cop out except for re-releases & e.p.'s and such that is
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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Posts: 709
Great review. I don't really like Mikael's vocals in Elysian Woes and the song Goblin doesn't work for me, but apart from that the album sounds great. Yet, I understand those who don't like it. For me, they're still one of the most talented bands out there.
---- Taste the DARK... ... and you'll live FOREVER!
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Posts: 4326
What this album lacks in flare as found in Heritage, it makes up in refinement. As a whole, however, Heritage is the superior album.
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Posts: 6212
A step up from Heritage, but still far from satisfactory. R'Vannith, grow a pair and rate the album.
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Posts: 40071 Written by LeKiwi on 20.08.2014 at 23:21 Heritage flair?  That was a total recycle bin of 60s and 70s progrock.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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Posts: 4326 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.08.2014 at 23:27 Whoops, spelled flair wrong  I don't believe that to any degree given that early prog rock sounds like garbage to my ears, yet Heritage doesn't.
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Posts: 40071 Written by LeKiwi on 20.08.2014 at 23:49 I hadn't even noticed you had spelled flaire wrong 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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Posts: 4326
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Posts: 40071 Written by LeKiwi on 21.08.2014 at 00:23 Craft beers kicking in it seemss
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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Posts: 4326 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 21.08.2014 at 00:29 No shame in that
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Posts: 144
Not a fan of Mikael's new "dirty clean" vocals that he started using in Watershed, to me he now sounds quite one-dimensional.
---- "Truly, my child, if I were allowed to see my sins, three or four men would not be enough to weep for them." - Abba Dioscorus
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Posts: 15359
I am intrigued. enjoyed Heritage a bit, even if derivative. was a nice curve ball. looking forward to this.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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Posts: 1464 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.08.2014 at 22:57 I must admit, the lack of a rating does disappoint me, but the quality of the writing on the review was first class. I'm over the trend of reviewers trying to come up with witty one-liners and jokes to try and make their reviews stand out or get attention. Especially the ones that make outlandish and far-fetched claims to garner controversy (intentionally or not). This review is superbly written and really explains the album and the music well. Would have been top notch with a rating.
---- The sun shines over The Fool...
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Posts: 4326 Written by Desert Father on 21.08.2014 at 01:37 I can't even express how polar I feel about them compared to you.
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Posts: 9726 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.08.2014 at 22:57 I've gotten back into the habit of giving the rating with my reviews, but some times it is difficult based on content. Like my review for the new Keitzer album, the first couple of tracks I'd pin around the low 6 area, the latter half of the album is probably the best material I've listened to this year. Makes it hard to give it a flat score. As for Opeth...Judging by this review and the snippets I've heard it sounds better than Heritage. Still, I can't get into new Opeth stuff, without that dynamic, varied sound, I find very few redeeming qualities left in this band. That being said, I don't feel as pissed off as I was when Heritage came out, after all, Mikael Akerfeldt has been quite vocal about his love for 70's prog for a while, it shouldn't have come as any surprise. Good for him for taking his band in the direction he wants at the risk of alienating his fan base. At least the shift in sound wasn't spurred on because of some silly trend appeal. Besides, by now I've found a lot more bands that deliver that sort of...duality. It's a shame I won't be able to hear it in the Opeth fashion again, but at least I've still got Still Life to listen to.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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Posts: 6212 Written by Doc G. on 21.08.2014 at 12:36 By far my favourite Opeth album. Godhead's Lament is my favourite song of all time.
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Posts: 15359 Written by Doc G. on 21.08.2014 at 12:36 When I saw the on the Heritage tour they opened with "Heritage" (the title track) and I thought "ok, this is it...", but the rest of the set bounced all over their catalog. ALso must say I've enjoyed their albums a bit, but live I found them a lot more enthralling.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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