Track Listing

1. Wreath
2. Deliverance
3. Fair Judgement
4. For Absent Friends
5. Master's Apprentices
6. By The Pain I See In Others

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21588 in Music
• Released on: 2006-06-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Truly The New Gods
Its amazing that when you research Opeth, nothing stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Everyone likes something different, no one can agree which is their best CD or even their best tracks. Sure, I've got my own opinions and I'd give 5 stars to all their releases to date (apart from Orchid that I haven't heard yet - sorry). My favourite is Deliverance - It was the first Opeth CD I bought and maybe thats the reason. A lot is said about this being the "heavy" half of the Deliverance/Damnation releases but this isn't true. Its not as heavy as Morningrise or Blackwater Park and is more accessible than those releases. Its just that I can hum along to this one and enjoy the superior musicianship. My particular favourite that doesn't often get mentioned is "A Fair Judgement" particularly for its lyrics that had a personal meaning to me. All the 6 tracks here are special - There's no filler, nothing is too long or too ambitious. Their last CD, Ghost Reveries is the progression from this CD, but this one's better. Would be a fantastic introduction to the band if you're curious, and would prepare you for Blackwater Park, their other classic.

'Blackwater Park' Part Two ? As good but not better.
Opeth have once again managed to produce an exceptional album continuing the musical progression I thought must have reached it's creative pinnacle with 'Blackwater Park' (one of the albums of all time !). I say 'continuing' rather than 'improving' as I feel that this slightly less immediate than 'BP' and takes a little longer to absorb. Even so, the material here is streets ahead of the majority of other bands out there. How anyone is supposed to compete with these guys is beyond me as they keep raising the standards with every release.

Opener 'Wreath' starts at breakneck speed (no blast beats though, thank god), the guitars and rhythm section truly crushing. Drops down a gear later on and you hear the sound of bongos, no less, then picks up and bolts off sounding ever so slightly like classic Dokken with a George Lynch-esque guitar sound. This doesn't mean they've mellowed out. Far from it, as the song segues into a classic Opeth like finale with recurring, driving doomy riff, very atmospheric and a great way to kick things off.

The title track follows immediately with another driving, powerful intro. A minute or so in and we get our first true acoustic interlude, as beautiful and moving as anything Opeth have given us before. Slightly jazzy in feel, Mickaels vocals really are on top form both clean and rough. This track is going to be a true Opeth classic. All 13 minutes of it.

'A Fair Judgement' continues with the light and dark movements, interspersing quiet verses before launching into an almighty anthemic style hook. As intricate and varied as anything previous, it keeps the mood fully on the 'dark and doomy' side.

After 'For Absent Friends' (an acoustic instrumental), we have 'Master's Apprentices' which begins with a riff that Candlemass would be kill for. This is heavy. And it rarely lets up throughout. Possibly the best track on the album. More of the same intricate time and mood changes but never ever sounds contrived or too calculated. That is the joy of Opeth. They write songs of inordinate length but it all feels so natural, knowing every section fits perfectly with the next. This track finishes with a rollocking final guitar fest, maintaining the recurring hook riff till fade out. Fantastic.

Last track is 'By The Pain I See In Others'. Absolutely rocks out of the blocks. Best part of the song is the mid section, reminding me a little of Alice Cooper's 'Steven'. Ever so slightly 'disturbed'. In fact, keep the CD running for a while after you think it's all finished for some bizarre vocals, sounding like wails from a Middle Eastern mosque.

This is Opeth doing what they do best so don't expect any Anathema style shifts in musical direction. 'Deliverance' offers more evidence to support the view that Opeth are one of the best metal bands, certainly the most creative, around. While I found 'Blackwater Park' to be more immediate, 'Deliverance' is more like the first four albums, in that I expect to be finding new things in each song over the months to come.

What more can I say? Find out for yourself.

The Best Band On The Planet
What I love about Opeth is that they are like no other band on earth. There is noone close to what they do. And whilst I acknowledge other amazing bands as being on par with them, there is noone to compete with them, and if there was Opeth would still be head and shoulders better.
Another amazing thing about Opeth is that none of their fans can agree on what album is best. Whilst Blackwater Park is touted as their 'classic', and don't get me wrong, it is incredible, Opeth manage an amazing consistency on all their albums.
This isn't my favourite, but it's still phenomenal. It took me a little while to get into, but was so worth it, as it always is.

Whilst I read that Wreath is Mickael Akerfelt's least favourite Opeth track it has really grown on me recently, and I would say it is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Deliverance is the real masterpiece on here though, over 13 minutes in length and with amazing riffs throughout and great vocals. Oh, and a drumbeat to die for at the end. Perfection.
A Fair Judgement is a bit lighter in terms of the intruments and vocals, but is another great song, lesser known, but fantastic nonetheless.
For Absent Friends is a short instumental that provides a break before the band launch back into their death/prog assault on Master's Apprentices and By The Pain I See In Others is another solid track.
They don't really write bad songs, the arrangement is complex yet listenable, and they are truly some of the most competent musicians in the world.

I saw them live recently at Hammerfest 09, and they were staggering. The crowd reaction is odd, as people don't really mosh to Opeth, they just stand and stare in awe! But it's good to be able to appreciate a band that trancends the boundaries of metal, folk and so many others without having to leap around, not that I'm against moshing obviously.

As one band said the following day "Did anyone here see Opeth last night? It makes us all want to just go home and give in."
Whilst being a funny start to their set it was also very poignant, as it is totally true. Opeth are unbeatable at what they do, and I hope they continue making music for as long as they can.