Release date: 11/22/2024
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden
Personnel: Mikael Akerfeldt-vox/guitar, Fredrik Akesson-guitar, Martin Mendez-bass, Joakim Svalberg-keys, Walterri Vayrynen-drums
You heard the news shouted from rooftops and throughout the hills. You couldn’t believe your ears, but it was true. The Growls Are Back! The Growls Are Back! Yes, after many years of turning his back on the death metal growls and going with a total melodic voice, Akerfeldt is working the growls back into Opeth’s sound. And it is a welcome addition. The cool thing about old Opeth was the perfect blending of death and prog. It just feels like the contrasting styles of death and melodic vocals really help push Opeth into a much more satisfying band. The latest album was inspired by the HBO show Succession. So, lots of backbiting and scheming amongst some truly terrible people is on the docket. This album is a breath of fresh air for a band this far along in their career.
5 flip flops out of 5
The list so far:
4. Opeth-The Last Will and Testament
5. Lord Dying-Clandestine Transcendence
6. Horseburner-Voice of Storms
7. Gatecreeper-Dark Superstition
8. Kerry King-From Hell I Rise
9. Evergrey-Theories of Emptiness
10. Oceans of Slumber-Where Gods Fear To Speak
11. Haunting-Stare At Nothing
12. Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere
13. Huntsmen-The Dry Land
14. God Is An Astronaut-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose
DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID 