I'll just review track by track, it'll be easier:
Windowpane: An excellent opener, and one of the best songs on the album by far. Very complex, good melodies, excellent vocal lines, everything about this song rules. Unfortunately, this is one of the very few excellent tracks on Damnation. I had high expectations of Damnation after hearing this track. With the exception of one more highlight, this album goes downhill from here. I give this track a 9 out of 10.
In My Time of Need: This track is pretty good, nothing absolutely special, but it's okay. The choppy vocal lines during the verse are kinda unique for Opeth, and they work well for this song. The chorus is good too, but nothing astonishing. I give this track a 7 out of 10.
Death Whispered A Lullaby: What a weak Opeth song. Not totally terrible, but overall boring. I've come to expect more from these guys than this. The chorus is okay, but not good enough to repeat over and over again. The verse is even more dull, what were they thinking putting this on the CD?? I give this track a 4 out of 10.
Closure: Huh, am I listening to Nick Drake now? It sure sounds like it at the beginning of this track. Sadly, this is another so-so track on this album. A little better than the previous track, but all that stupid percussion, too much distortion for a so-called "soft album", and the abrupt ending ruin the mood of the CD. This song would probably have worked better on Deliverance. I give this track a 5 out of 10.
Hope Leaves: By far one of the most beautiful tracks Opeth have ever penned. The absolute highlight of Damnation, this song while simple, is so gorgeous and sad that it never gets boring. I only wish Opeth could have kept up this level of songwriting during the rest of this CD. I give this track a 10 out of 10.
To Rid the Disease: Another song that's nothing special, but it's better than some of the other nonsense on this album. The chorus is nice, but too bad they did it better in the original Sorskogen song. The solo piano part and instrumental ending are also very nice. Still, I can't help but think Opeth have better songs left in them than this. I give this track a 7 out of 10.
Ending Credits: Well, if this album had been a little longer this song might have had some worth, but sadly this instrumental doesn't do anything to enhance the listening experience. Very dull, and really not worth it's space on the CD. Maybe this was a warning to stop the CD before you heard the worst the album had to offer? I give this track a 3 out of 10.
Weakness: Steve Wilson, please get the hell out of the band's head. If this is going to be the outcome of your obvious but regretable influence, then you are not worthy to be an influence. A boring keyboard track with scattered guitar parts and Mikael singing poorly is what to expect with this makeshift song. This song does not accomplish anything it was supposed to. What an awful song, especially for Opeth! I can't help but think that the other 2 mystery tracks that didn't end up on this CD HAVE to be better than this garbage. I give this track a 1 out of 10.
Well there you have it. Obviously, Damnation didn't live up to it's expectations. While it had some scattered highlights, this really was quite a stupid album put together for mainly the wimpy Opeth fans who complain about the death vocals and are always crying the blues for more soft Opeth tracks. Somtimes giving the newer "fans" what they want isn't always such a good idea after all, huh guys?
Windowpane: An excellent opener, and one of the best songs on the album by far. Very complex, good melodies, excellent vocal lines, everything about this song rules. Unfortunately, this is one of the very few excellent tracks on Damnation. I had high expectations of Damnation after hearing this track. With the exception of one more highlight, this album goes downhill from here. I give this track a 9 out of 10.
In My Time of Need: This track is pretty good, nothing absolutely special, but it's okay. The choppy vocal lines during the verse are kinda unique for Opeth, and they work well for this song. The chorus is good too, but nothing astonishing. I give this track a 7 out of 10.
Death Whispered A Lullaby: What a weak Opeth song. Not totally terrible, but overall boring. I've come to expect more from these guys than this. The chorus is okay, but not good enough to repeat over and over again. The verse is even more dull, what were they thinking putting this on the CD?? I give this track a 4 out of 10.
Closure: Huh, am I listening to Nick Drake now? It sure sounds like it at the beginning of this track. Sadly, this is another so-so track on this album. A little better than the previous track, but all that stupid percussion, too much distortion for a so-called "soft album", and the abrupt ending ruin the mood of the CD. This song would probably have worked better on Deliverance. I give this track a 5 out of 10.
Hope Leaves: By far one of the most beautiful tracks Opeth have ever penned. The absolute highlight of Damnation, this song while simple, is so gorgeous and sad that it never gets boring. I only wish Opeth could have kept up this level of songwriting during the rest of this CD. I give this track a 10 out of 10.
To Rid the Disease: Another song that's nothing special, but it's better than some of the other nonsense on this album. The chorus is nice, but too bad they did it better in the original Sorskogen song. The solo piano part and instrumental ending are also very nice. Still, I can't help but think Opeth have better songs left in them than this. I give this track a 7 out of 10.
Ending Credits: Well, if this album had been a little longer this song might have had some worth, but sadly this instrumental doesn't do anything to enhance the listening experience. Very dull, and really not worth it's space on the CD. Maybe this was a warning to stop the CD before you heard the worst the album had to offer? I give this track a 3 out of 10.
Weakness: Steve Wilson, please get the hell out of the band's head. If this is going to be the outcome of your obvious but regretable influence, then you are not worthy to be an influence. A boring keyboard track with scattered guitar parts and Mikael singing poorly is what to expect with this makeshift song. This song does not accomplish anything it was supposed to. What an awful song, especially for Opeth! I can't help but think that the other 2 mystery tracks that didn't end up on this CD HAVE to be better than this garbage. I give this track a 1 out of 10.
Well there you have it. Obviously, Damnation didn't live up to it's expectations. While it had some scattered highlights, this really was quite a stupid album put together for mainly the wimpy Opeth fans who complain about the death vocals and are always crying the blues for more soft Opeth tracks. Somtimes giving the newer "fans" what they want isn't always such a good idea after all, huh guys?
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