The only problem I had with Deliverance was that it was not a radical departure.
Of course, Damnation came out afterwards, which was a radical departure from everything Opeth has ever done before. I think that Opeths album before Deliverance, Blackwater Park, was a groundbreaking achievement for the band. There are more than enough memorable tunes on that album and it rightfully deserved all of the respect and praise that it received.
Every Opeth album is memorable in its own way IMHO, but Deliverance is really lacking when it comes to being distinctive. If anything, I thought that the album had the best guitar solos that the group has put out since Still Life. They were in your face, soaring, and emotional. I even liked the repetition of the track Deliverance. I do not mind if a band decides to repeat a certain riff over and again as long as it is for a cause and effect kind of reason. Maybe it was what seemed natural to them? The dynamics in the songs have significantly been reduced to create this monolithic, heavy piece of work. But they have not been reduced enough. In short, Deliverance does not completely succeed at what it sets out to do, which is create this in your face kind of heaviness. There are times when My Arms, Your Hearse, Still Life, and even Blackwater park seem to have heavier sounding songs than the ones that are in Deliverance.
That is my only complaint with the album. Other than that, it is a solid album and it really could have been much worse if you think about it . I am interested to see what Opeth is going to do next. I have a feeling that it is going to be something atmospheric, which in return is a good way to go instead of producing another Deliverance or Blackwater Park.
Of course, Damnation came out afterwards, which was a radical departure from everything Opeth has ever done before. I think that Opeths album before Deliverance, Blackwater Park, was a groundbreaking achievement for the band. There are more than enough memorable tunes on that album and it rightfully deserved all of the respect and praise that it received.
Every Opeth album is memorable in its own way IMHO, but Deliverance is really lacking when it comes to being distinctive. If anything, I thought that the album had the best guitar solos that the group has put out since Still Life. They were in your face, soaring, and emotional. I even liked the repetition of the track Deliverance. I do not mind if a band decides to repeat a certain riff over and again as long as it is for a cause and effect kind of reason. Maybe it was what seemed natural to them? The dynamics in the songs have significantly been reduced to create this monolithic, heavy piece of work. But they have not been reduced enough. In short, Deliverance does not completely succeed at what it sets out to do, which is create this in your face kind of heaviness. There are times when My Arms, Your Hearse, Still Life, and even Blackwater park seem to have heavier sounding songs than the ones that are in Deliverance.
That is my only complaint with the album. Other than that, it is a solid album and it really could have been much worse if you think about it . I am interested to see what Opeth is going to do next. I have a feeling that it is going to be something atmospheric, which in return is a good way to go instead of producing another Deliverance or Blackwater Park.
