OPETH - PALE COMMUNION [REVIEW]
Band: Opeth
Album: Pale Communion
Release Date: August 25, 2014
Label: Roadrunner
Reviewer: Ziad Gadou
Swedish progressive death-metal connoisseurs Opeth have
once again sounded the alarm with the highly anticipated release of “Pale
Communion”. The album production was
done by the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, Mikael Akerfeldt. The mixing
by the mighty Steven Wilson. This album confirmed Akerfeldt’s announced
departure from the death metal sound once and (hopefully not) for all. Despite
the clear division amongst the band’s fan base between the two eras, the album
landed as one of Opeth’s most commercially successful releases to date, topping
charts in nearly 13 countries (Including a first #19 in USA’s billboard
charts).
With an unfortunate push back to the album release from June
17th to August 26th, the band offered the release of two
singles instead of one ahead of the album official release.
“Cusp of Eternity”,
the album’s first single, was released on the 3rd of June. My first
impressions were mixed about the song as it was not very progressive in
essence. It started with a steady 4/4 time signature, an oriental introductory
riff, and what I thought was generally a vocal-based track. However, the second single put my doubts to
rest. “Eternal Rains Will Come” was everything I had hoped for and more. With
almost three minutes of atmosphere foundation, acoustic pauses, odd time
signatures, and lyrics that skillfully complimented the track, this song was an
“Opethian” fantasy come to life.
The album’s diverse content gave fans of all music paradigms
a piece of the prize. Whether it was the ten-minute mind boggling “Moon Above,
Sun Below”, the heart wrenching “Faith in Others”, or the blues-driven
instrumental “Goblin”, there was a song for everyone.
“Pale Communion” was the first album after keyboardist “Per
Wiberg”‘s departure in 2011. Newly appointed Joakim Svalberg, showed no mercy
in what I think was a glorious entrance to the Opeth realm. The production of the album was done in the
legendary “Rockfield Studios” where albums like Judas Priests’ “Sad Wings of
Destiny” and Queen’s “Sheer Heart Attack” came to life.
With what I can simply claim to be 2014’s best release;
“Pale Communion” has comfortably dug its banners amongst Opeth’s prolific
discography. Complimenting 2011’s “Heritage”, Opeth has affirmatively perfected
the sound of their new direction.
9.5/10
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