Peter Luscombe - 1/30/2010

Opeth. A band that probably the majority of people that regularly visit this site have never even heard of. Don't google them yet though, as you will probably run away in fear.

As for this album, we start off with 'Windowpane', a song which to begin with sounds bleak and desolate. Frontman Mikael Akerfeld is not just a pretty voice, he is also a sensational poet, 'Blank face in the windowpane, Made clear in seconds of light' he whispers. Not bad for someone whose mother tongue is Swedish. For those of you who like to listen to your music with gay abandon, then maybe you would like to stop reading here. You'll struggle to find passages in these songs that are in a major key, but then of course that is your loss.

As tracks go on, there are plenty of reverberated guitars, soft drum beats and even mellotrons, and with most tracks hovering around five minutes, if you have a short-attention span then this is most likely not for you either. You may use adjectives such as washy or empty, whereas I hear tension, a slow-burning anger or desperation. Again, your loss, go listen to some Green Day.

The standout piece for me is the instrumental track entitled 'Ending Credits'. It is in a very similar vain to that of 'Exit Music (For A Film)' by Radiohead, although weirdly not as depressing, (that would take some beating). Are you still reading? Are you still interested?

So I guess then it would surprise you to learn that this seemingly harmless, stripped-down, acoustic album comes from one of Sweden's premier Death Metal bands. But don't be so quick to judge because trust me there are no nasty surprises here, just some damn good acoustic songs.