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Opeth's latest album continues to their brutal heavy passages with gorgeous acoustic interludes and a protean expanse of other flavors ranging from Scandinavian folk to jazz to 70s prog. Even though this is their sixth album, Mikael Akerfeldt's bohemian preoccupation with creating progressive music remains as poignant as ever. While _Deliverance_ does call upon familiar elements from past albums, it likewise adds new assets to the Opethian palette -- especially the final song, "By the Pain I See in Others". After all, Opeth is nothing if not surprising.

Right now, I'm not sure how I would rate this relative to other Opeth works. Certain things are clear, however. For one thing, it the most complex musically. This makes it difficult to take in quickly, but Opeth was never musical fast-food anyway. With only six songs, all ten minutes or longer (not including a short instrumental), it is quite overwhelming to take in at first. The astonishing drumming, heaviness, and seemingly impenetrable song structures necessitate a lot of listening. Lyrically, Akerfeldt has mined a very personal side which makes this the most emotional of Opeth's albums. The lyrics are gorgeous, haunting, darkly evocative. Ex. "Pacing further down | Familiar children's laughter | Dissonant and out of time | And their eyes are dead | Watching myself in a pool of water | Wearing the mask of a ghost | Smeared all across my skin | Rotten earth and insects." Creepy!

"Wreath" opens with a tempestuous fury unlike any previous Opeth song. An inferno of guitars pours on the attack, a gale of drums besieges the mix, and Akerfeldt's chthonic growl waste no time getting into things. The towering sonic architecture of Opeth's compositions stands out for all 11 minutes of this fierce track, a menagerie of dark, crushing rhythms.

As this song demonstrates, the band is so surreally powerful due to the sheer density of their heavy assault, especially here, because this is their heaviest album by a fair margin. This disc is a big onslaught of sound. Opeth's thick wall-of-sound arrangements are not just distorted blobs of noise, however -- the instrumental interplay is elaborately constructed, rife with nuance and intricacy. Guitars are often used in a keyboard like way, creating waves of ambience over top a scorched-earth battlefield of guitars and drums and the hellfire vocals of Akerfeldt.

"By the Pain I See in Others" is one of the most experimental Opeth song to date. Early on, the gelid growls washing over the acoustic guitar is an absolutely spellbinding and somewhat unnerving effect. Later, an eerie section evoking carnival music forms a haunting atmosphere. Awesome riffs are everywhere. And when it goes quiet at the end, keep listening...one of the most mysteriously beautiful Opeth moments brings the album to its end.

And in between, you have four other amazing songs: "Deliverance" is sure to be an Opethian classic, with awesome riffs from the outset, stirring ambiance, and beautiful soft sections; "A Fair Judgment", a pseudo-ballad with soaring guitars lines, melting pianos, ghostly bursts of atmosphere, gorgeous vocal harmonies (you can hear Steven Wilson's vocal influence big time); "For Absent Friends", a brief halcyon instrumental with a touch of jazz; and "Master's Apprentices", opening with an evil groove and proceeding through a terrain of rhythmic power and gorgeous soft passages typical of Opeth.

_Deliverance_ demonstrates clearly that Akerfeldt is turning into a fine singer. While he summons forth his demonic growl from some nether realm, his singing voice must be called from the heavens. He is also a classic aesthete, with an ear for arrangement and chord selections that would humble the best.

_Deliverance_ showcases a band that continues to astonish and grow. _Deliverance_ makes previous albums -- while beautiful and amazing -- seem underdeveloped, in a way. In March 2003, Opeth will release the _Deliverance_'s "mellow" follow-up called _Damnation_. Until then, we can revel in what we have here -- yet another astonishing release from one of the most powerful forces in progressive metal. Opeth is a truly mythic experience, and _Deliverance_ is your salvation from traditional prog metal. Enjoy.


So good it should have a warning label   November 23, 2002
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

Opeth have become sort of an underground metal legend in the past few years, and deservedly so. Although their sound clearly has roots in death metal, at the same time they're willing to go outside the genre and do something completely different. "Deliverance," like every Opeth album, has the guttural vocals and heavy guitars that are the hallmark of death metal, but there's a lot more going on here. Opeth use acoustic guitars and clean vocals extensively, and it works wonders. I can't think of any band I've heard that creates such emotionally and musically diverse albums, and Opeth have done it six times now. I'm not one of those fans that have gone ga-ga over everything Opeth has done, but any way you slice it this album is amazing.

Although Opeth are obviously highly skilled musicians, this isn't the most complex or technical metal I've heard. I think Opeth's real appeal lies in their music's evocative power and in the element of melody that they bring to their sound. Opeth have a way of playing that manages to convey a lot of emotion, whether you can make out the lyrics or not. Sometimes the band rages, at other times they sound mournful and contemplative, but it's always obvious that they put a lot of feeling into what they do. And since Opeth are Swedish, they have tons of those catchy, melodic guitars that give that country's metal its distinctive flavor.

The eleven-minute opener "Wreath" is a fine example of just what makes Opeth such a great and unique band. Mikael Akerfeldt delivers his vocals in a rumbling, menacing death growl almost reminiscent of Cannibal Corpse's Chris Barnes, but with far more of a melodic sensibility. And like most of Opeth's songs, it has an epic feel that few extreme metal bands can conjure up. "Wreath" is followed by the even longer (thirteen and a half minutes) title track. "Deliverance" is definitely my favorite song on the disc, as well as the one that I feel best exemplifies what Opeth are all about. It starts out, much as "Wreath" does, with Akerfeldt's menacing death vocals, but then quickly switches to acoustic guitars and clean vocals. The song ends up being an emotional roller coaster, with myriad shifts in vocal and musical style (the song also has an extremely cool outro). That's what I like most about Opeth: they seem comitted to exploring a broad range of moods, both with their lyrics (which I'll admit I need to brush up on a bit) and their music.

Anyway, the next track, "A Fair Judgement," is another gem. I didn't really like it at first, but like many great songs, it needs a little time. The vocals are all sung, but that's not a problem at all. Akerfeldt's singing voice is extremely powerful and emotional, and the song expertly mixes acoustic and electric guitars, so it never gets boring. I'm not a huge fan of soft or slow music, but "A Fair Judgement" is just plain mesmerizing.

"A Fair Judgement" is followed by the brief acoustic interlude "For Absent Friends," but the album then makes a quick return to heaviness with "Master's Apprentices." This song is loaded with violent guitar work and some of Akerfeldt's scariest and most tortured-sounding vocals, but there's also a mellow acoustic section and a couple of terrific guitar leads. Needless to say, it rules. The album concludes with "By the Pain I See in Others." This song is in pretty much the same vein as the others, except it briefly includes some weird vocal effects that I don't recall ever having heard in an Opeth song before. Other than that, though, it's typical Opeth all the way.

Okay, it's come to my attention that this review may have run a tad bit long, but I think it's a testament to Opeth's abilities that they've made my keyboard run over this much. They're one of the few bands that I think have been able to develop a style that truly can't be imitated. And this album may be the best example yet of just how good they are. Keep 'em coming, guys.


Some people don't know what Opeth is yet.   January 19, 2003
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Ok, I know what you're thinking. I just got this new Opeth cd, its called Deliverence. "Wow this is really heavy!" No. Duh. They announced they were releasing a heavy album and a mellow album. At first listen, you think they are totally death metal now. You're wrong. They don't even have a genre. They are Opeth, a genre that elludes and personifies what everyone wants out of music. Intense riffage interspersed with God-like melodies and clean vocals. "Wreath" has just ended, and you don't know what to think after hearing brutal drums at first and then bongos half way through. Then the title track emerges out of your speakers. You warm up to it, because it warms up to you. It continues and you're hoping it doesn't end. Then, it gets to the closing riff. You are in a trance now, intoxicated by music. You've never heard anything like this. Holy... poo. It ends, you catch your breath to the next track "A Fair Judgement." Beautiful. Pure magnificence. The song came out of nowhere and you don't want it to leave. But sadly it is only 10 and a half minutes long. Then comes an interlude instrumental by the name of "For Absent Friends." If you don't appreciate music, you won't like this song. If you can sit in a seat for more than 30 seconds without wanting to eat a rabbit, you will love this short piece. Then, out of Nowhere, Alaska comes "Master's Apprentices." It's heavier than your fat Aunt Helga, but somehow you love it just like you love her. Give it time and let it sink in. The cd is not over, even though you've invested about 50 minutes of your near worthless existence. There is still a 13 minute charm named "By the Pain I See in Others." It starts, you like. It continues, he adds vocal effect, you don't know what to think, yet you're still intrigued. Then it goes into some sort of circus riff. You remember calling this death metal, ... and Opeth are their own genre. You now like this song. In fact, you liked this whole cd, just like every other song that Opeth ever released. If you don't buy this, stop listening to music. Peace.


Their Sixth Masterpiece   November 15, 2002
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I was blown away when I listened to Deliverance. The sheer power of it is beyond description. I felt that every song was even better than the one before it, if thats at all possible.

To all Opeth fans: YES! Its true that Deliverance is the heaviest Opeth to date. However, that doesnt mean that the usual soft spots aren't present. For Absent freinds is a soft, beautiful instrumental. Not as good as Harvest on Blackwater Park, but if thats what Damnation (the upcoming softer Opeth album) sounds like, it will be another masterpiece.

For people new to Opeth, they are a band that mixes Death Metal with Prog influences. As opposed to many Death bands, Akerfeldt (the singer) is not ashamed to use clean vocals as well as death growls, i.e he doesnt growl for the sake of it, only when necessary as befits the lyrics and music. The music is melodic and, at times, haunting. The lyrics are some o the best I've heard in metal.

All in all, this is one album I'd recommend to all ineterested in Prog And Melodic Death Metal. 5 Stars.


Heavy, Original, Brilliant.   June 19, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Opeth are one of the finer progressive metal bands I've heard, I think. You've heard it 1000 times before: Opeth takes incredibly heavy riffs and death metal growling and mixes them with regular vocals, melodic guitar riffs, and often acoustic guitars. This does not get old; Opeth keeps every album fresh and original. On "Deliverance", the heaviness is kicked up a notch, and the melody and clean vocals take a bit of a back step. Now, don't get me wrong. There are some great acoustic guitar parts, but overall this is Opeth's heaviest album.

Just because it's heavier doesn't mean the songs are shorter. The songs are still in the 10-13 minute range, except for the brief instrumental "For Absent Friends". Opeth are very talented musicians, and they have a unique songwriting style. Peter Lindgren adds his melodic solos to many parts, and they are often paralyzingly beautiful ("A Fair Judgment" and "For Absent Friends" especially, but all his solos are good). Martin Lopez tears it up on this album, with pounding dopulbe bass and super fast fills, but he also knows how to lay back and play for the song, which he does most of the time.

Opening up the album is a lightning quick drum fill and a super-heavy guitar riff. Mikael's vocals come in reminding me of Cannibal Corpse. He's really developed a deeper voice since the days of "Morningrise". I like it better. The song slows down after a few minutes to a more melodic part in 6/8, that's stunningly beautiful, although still pretty heavy. The title track is familiar Opeth, but much more heavy and intense. The end vamps on an amazing timed guitar riff. You'll know the one when it comes. It's sick as hell. "Master's Apprentice" almost reminds me of Black-album Metallica, until the vocals come in. It has that crunchy "Sad But True" feel though. The song gets more interesting though, with some nice melodic bits in the middle. "By The Pain I See in Others" features some death metal vocals over a clean guitar bit. It sounded weird as hell to me at first, but now I think it sounds right, in a demented way. Great song.

In addition to the heavier parts, this album features perhaps the most beautiful Opeth song to date (not including anything off "Damnation", which I will review next). "A Fair Judgement" is one of my favorite Opeth songs. It's beautifully melodic and mellow at the beginning. It keeps building up, while staying melodic, and then coming back down to more mellow parts. The guitar leads are incredibly beautiful thoughout the whole song. Truly, this song is gorgeous like few others. Probably my favorite on the album. "For Absent Friends" is a nice, short piece. It's basically just an acoustic guitar with an electric lead over it, but it gives you that chillingly beautiful feeling all Opeth acoustic songs do.

This album is disgustingly good, but I wouldn't recommend it as your first Opeth album, as it's heaviness may be over powering. Get "Blackwater Park" first, and if you like that, immediately buy "Deliverance" and their newest "Damnation" (which is incredibly good also.)