Few bands boast the collective talent, impressive longevity, or outright inventiveness of the perpetually underappreciated Swedish progressive metal outfit Opeth.
The brainchild and primary creative outlet of founder, lead vocalist and lead guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt, Opeth is a rare group that can claim to have never made a bad album; the streak continues on Heritage, the group's 10th studio release.
Things get off to a rather somber start with the brief instrumental piece "Heritage." The beautiful two minutes of piano present a stark contrast to the intense progressive death metal anthems that have kicked off past albums – fans of "Advent" and "The Leper Affinity" might be skeptical at first, but will ultimately come around.
From there, Heritage really earns its title. Tracks like "The Devil's Orchard" and "Nepenthe" incorporate the organ/synth stylings and folksy '70s grooves of Swedish progressive rock innovators Anekdoten, while segments of "Haxprocess" and "Folklore" would be right at home on previous Opeth efforts Damnation and Watershed.
Like previous ventures, Heritage is replete with the dramatic shifts in dynamics that Åkerfeldt and Opeth have employed since the beginning. "Famine," a highlight of the album, morphs from a jazzy flute introduction to an abstract sinister synth interlude to a somber piano ballad to a very '70s guitar groove before three minutes pass.
Surely to the dismay of many of the band's fans, Åkerfeldt's signature death metal growls are nowhere to be found on Heritage. Exceptional guitar work, striking vocals and the album's all-around inventiveness compensate for the absence, however.
Heritage isn't without the occasional low point. Dramatic shifts in dynamics and instrumentation are overused on some tracks, giving the sense that Åkerfeldt and company are trying a bit too hard at times.
Minor reservations aside, Heritage is another fantastic album from a band that doesn't nearly get the mainstream recognition it deserves.
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