OPETH - Orchid

Celkové hodnocení alba: 69% Rok vydání: 1995 Žánr: progressive metal Celkový čas: 65:11 Skladby

Recenze:

OPETH have gained a sudden degree of notoriety over the past few years. The band creates music that might be classified by some as "Death" or "Progressive" Metal, but in reality they are none of the above. OPETH is a genre upon themselves and in recent years their influence has been seen as other bands attempt to imitate and assimilate their style. I have yet to find a relatively accurate way to describe OPETH to the uninitiated, but the best description I have stumbled upon is "Death Metal with Folk and early Progressive roots".

"Orchid" was the first OPETH album to be released, and is likely their most inaccessible. The album is stuffed full of long, flowing songs that seem to jump without thought or hesitation between beauty and brutality. Intricate passages of acoustic presence are intertwined seamlessly with oppressive, crushing riffs and harsh vocals. The playing is top-notch; Lindgren and Akerfeldt's layered guitar harmonies are simply inspiring. Akerfeldt is the star of the album though, and his vocal performance leaves little to be desired. He breaks the boundaries of style and genre, switching without any apparent difficulty between agonizingly harsh screams and soft, "clean" vocals.

Akerfeldt's lyrics seem to deal with themes of human loss and solitude. Although typical for the genre, his poetry is a perfect match for the music. The song arrangements are original, and unmatched by any Metal band. Yin and yang seem to come together to create a perfect whole; the perfect musical package. Although it is unusual for me to do so, I am going to completely avoid commenting on individual songs in this review, because I am so drawn into the music that I find it difficult to keep track of when one song ends and another begins. "Orchid" is an album-lover's album. Track numbers lose all meaning here, as each song integrates perfectly with the next (This is a trait can be also witnessed in OPETH's third release, the concept album "My Arms, Your Hearse").

There are some drawbacks, though. To the unfamiliar, Akerfeldt's harsh vocal screams can be quite disengaging. My first thought upon hearing OPETH was "Yeah, the music is great but could he please shut up?" Now, I am the staunchest defender of his vocal style. It requires time, patience and an open mind to enjoy OPETH, but the rewards are more than worth the investment. And as inaccessible as it is, "Orchid" is the perfect place to start if you wish to witness the progression of one of Metal's finest innovative bands first-hand. (Online September 25, 2003)

Author: Dan Pritchard (8,5 of 10)
Source: http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=3468