by Sebastian Kluth
Par kluseba
Opeth has transitioned from its progressive death metal sounds of the early years to airy progressive rock soundscapes in recent years. Most fans certainly prefer the former while a few others favour the latter. In my case, I'm a big fan of both styles and enjoy them best when they collide in equal parts as on career highlight Watershed a decade and a half ago. The Last Will and Testament is only the quintet's second output so far to achieve the same level of quality and thus the group's greatest release in a whopping sixteen years in my book.
Atmospheric, melodic and playful cittra, mellotron, organ, piano, string and synthesizer sounds bring back the band's inspiration from progressive rock legends of the late sixties and early seventies. The versatile drum play, pumping bass guitar and crushing death metal riffs hearken back to the group's death metal references from the late eighties and early nineties. The vocals sound refreshingly versatile and vary from dreamy clean passages to liberating growls and all the way back again. The record's airy, balanced and timeless production blends in splendidly and could make this effort a classic genre release for the ages. To be more specific, this album sounds like a brilliant combination of King Crimson and Morbid Angel to my ears.
One element that deserves much attention is the record's lyrical concept that deserves to be explored in great detail and invites to be discovered time and again. It deals with a deceased man's testament that is gradually presented to shocked family members. This concept is established so cleverly that one simply can't stop listening to this record once one has started listening to it as long as you manage to understand the lyrics.
Highlights there are aplenty but let me point out the opening song as well as the closing tune in particular. "§1" sets a creepy, foreboding and mysterious atmosphere inspired by classic progressive rock sounds. These chilling vibes culmulate in fast drum patterns, pitiless bass guitar rhythms, crushing riffs and harsh vocals that fit absolutely perfectly. This opening track exemplifies everything that makes this record great. If you like this song, then you are going to be appreciating the full album. If it's simply not your cup of tea, then don't even bother to check it out.
Closing epic "A Story Never Told" impresses for very similar reasons. This song has an overall almost conciliatory, slow and smooth approach that unfolds its atmospheric magic in seven most memorable minutes. This cinematic experience actually makes me think of gothic metal records of the greatest quality that often end on such a high note. Fans of groups such as Katatonia, The Old Dead Tree and The Vision Bleak should certainly check this wonderful tune out and even give the entire studio album a full spin.
This should be enough to give you an accurate idea whether Opeth's The Last Will and Testament should appeal to you or rather not. Personally, this album is straight down my alley and qualifies as my favourite release of the band along with Watershed. This contemporary classic combines the best elements of progressive rock, gothic metal and death metal. This release sounds surprising because you can never fully know what to expect next but the final result sounds pleasantly coherent to my ears and luckily doesn't repeat some of the group's mistakes of the past such as sudden genre changes and excessive running times. If you had given up on Opeth due to its mellower outputs of the past decade and a half, take note of this record and give this group another chance as you might be in for a most wonderful surprise. In my humble opinion, this album qualifies as one of the greatest five metal studio albums of the year.
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