Reviewed by Wynand
My first Opeth album and still my favourite. Even after listnng to 'Blackwater park', 'Morningrise' and 'My arms, your hearse', this album still kicks my ass across the room every time I listen to it.
The album tells a story (much like MAYH) about a warrior way back in ancient times that questions the strict religious dogma's of the time. Well, naturally he gets exciled for his heretical beliefs. and so the first song and perhaps the greatest Opeth song is born: 'The Moore'. This song literally gives you the impression of someone running away from a mob through a swamp. At this point I must a moment to reflect upon Mikael Akerfeldt's poetry:
"I was foul and tainted,
devoid of faith
wearing my deathmask at birth
hands of God
decrepit and thin
cold caress the nothing
I was taken away from my plight
a treason
bestrowed to the crowd
branded a Jonah
with fevered blood
ungodly freak
defiler."
So the exciled warrior returns after 15 years to reclaim his ol' girlfriend: Melinda.
So the next three tracks is uneventfull story-wise, but exceptional music-wise. 'Godheads lament' has a really catchy intro. I cant help but wonder why they put the climax of the song at the introduction. Anyway the song drags on a bit too long though, they should have stopped after the acoustic interlude (some really cool folk music happening here).
'Benighted' has been greatly debated concerning its presence on the album. its a short (for Opeth) linear acoustic medlee. i think it fits but i dont think its a stand-out track. In this track the protagonist tries to pursuade Melinda to come away with him but she has too much to give up.
'Moonlapse Vertigo' contains perhaps the greatest opeth intro. the song itself is really good, with a very good outro as well. in this song we also meet the first guitar solo on the album - and its pretty cool (im a bit of a power-metal fan so i love my guitar solo's :p).
'Face of Melinda' is an amazing acoustic song. its a lot like 'To bid you farewell' (Mornigrise) in its structure, and i rate this the second best acoustic song by Opeth (better than anything on 'Damnation' for sure). then ending of this song really sums up Melinda's attitude: "My promise is made, but my heart is thine." although is dosnt actually state it in the song, Akerfeldt has said that the narrator and Melinda had a bit of a passionate night - but Melinda "swore her vows to another" and its unclear whether she means to another man or to God (nun?).
Another great typical death-metal song follows: 'Serenity painted death." This song is easily the heaviest on the album and goes back to the rawness of 'Morningrise' while still having stylistic consistancy with the rest of the album. Anyway, in this song Melinda gets executed for her passionate encounter with our man and her throat is cut before our guy. In the middle of this song is THE best example of death-metal i have heard. Mikaels voice mixed with the somewhat incoherent guitars portrays a rage beyond description - "Each and everyone would (will?) die at my hands, choking in warm ponds of blood." 'Nuff said.
'White cluster' is one of the favourite tracks. i cant actually figure out the story behind it but im pretty sure he gets executed and vows to seek revenge on all of those that did him wrong - "Hangman clutching at his tools, I wil come for you." Whats follows is perhaps the coolest interlude i have ever heard and goes into a very good guitar solo.
Well personally i think any metal fan that dies with hearing this album has had a very unfulfilling life. its a newish album (1999) and there's no nu-metalish riffs like in 'Blackwater Park' (yuck!), its just good, honest Opeth. Highly recommended.