Opeth: Pale communion 2014

An unstoppable force for uniqueness amid a sea of generic swill, Opeth have been setting the rulebook ablaze and ploughing a uniquely progressive and exploratory furrow for nearly 25 years now. And that glorious creative rejuvenation continues on the band"'s long-awaited eleventh studio album, Pale Communion. Yet another compelling evolutionary step and a consolidation of the foundations laid down on the bands previous album Heritage, Pale Communion is simply another sublime piece of sonic artistry from one of the greatest bands on the planet. From the skewed grooves and dazzling atmospherics of the opening Eternal Rains Will Come to the devastating orchestral sweep and melodic precision of the closing Faith In Others, it is an album that expands Opeth"'s sonic palette beyond all measure while still retaining that mercurial essence that first made them such a unique proposition. As Mikael explains, Pale Communion is a record that came together intuitively and without compromise, driven forward by the magical chemistry between all five members of the band. In keeping with Opeth"'s oft-professed love of the classic rock, hard rock and progressive records of the early 70s, Pale Communion was recorded at the legendary Rockfield studios in Wales. Soaking up the atmosphere of the place where such immortal albums as Judas Priest"'s Sad Wings Of Destiny and Queen"'s Sheer Heart Attack were recorded 40 years ago, Mikael could hardly have found a more suitable location for the recording of his band"'s new material. Pale Communion is an altogether sharper and more vivid representation of Opeth"'s ongoing development. Overwhelmingly melodic and yet remorselessly diverse and unpredictable, these eight songs are as potent and mesmerising as anything in the band"'s illustrious canon. From the exquisite ebb and flow of Cusp Of Eternity - the first new song to be released into the wider world - and the epic, menacing sprawl of the ten-minute Moon Above, Sun Below through to the throbbing instrumental perversity of Goblin (which, of course, was inspired by the Italian prog band of the same name), the lush, country-tinged harmonies and rhythmic rumble of River and the gorgeous strings and pin-sharp melodic thrust of Faith In Others (""the best song Mikael has ever written."" according to Steven Wilson), Pale Communion is another flawless triumph from a band that seem to still be gathering strength and gaining momentum. Who knows what the future will bring.