OPETH — Ghost Reveries (review)

OPETH — Ghost Reveries album cover Album · 2005 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
bartosso
The Storm Before the Calm

I'll put it bluntly, Ghost Reveries is the first Opeth album I've ever heard, back then in 2005, and the last one I truly love. As of 2013, Watershed and Heritage are amongst their least engaging albums in my book. Ghost Reveries was in a way a turning point in both Opeth's career and songwriting style. Even though from the perspective of their older releases the path they chose on the 8th record could already be slightly alarming to some fans, the songwriting is nothing short of amazing here and Ghost Reveries, while a bit more accessible, is one of the finest albums in all extreme metal.

Ghost Reveries is the ultimate proof of Akerfeldt's unrivaled craftsmanship and talent for creating multi-layered epics. I could complain about the more straightforward approach to atmosphere and melody compared to their previous releases, but in terms of songwriting Ghost Reveries is flawless. The band delivers their unique branch of extreme eclectic metal with staggering passion and top-notch performance. As a very open-minded music lover, Mikael is a rather unpredictable songwriter and for listing his influences I'd probably need a separate essay. With its atmospheric and dynamic blend of folk, jazz, gothic and progressive rock, Ghost Reveries is certainly varied enough to be called eclectic. What matters the most, though, is that Opeth is most of all about playing good music. Only art with heart and soul put into it is good and consistent. It's as simple as that, really. No need for light-speed solos and breakneck complexity. Experimentation or virtuosity should be a mode of artistic expression, not a goal in itself. Akerfeldt is one of those rare and precious musicians who know that.

Even though Ghost Reveries is more accessible than harsh classics like My Arms Your Hearse or Deliverance, it redeems itself with some amazing songwriting, ambiance and flow. Somewhat similar to Still Life in terms of atmosphere, Ghost Reveries stands out as another masterpiece of eclectic metal. An absolute must for all you progheads out there.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed