Opeth – Heritage (2011) – Review by Logan Lee

            Another great album of this amazing Swedish band. Opeth fans have been used to get great masterpieces every time a new work is released but this time, at least in my opinion, Opeth has managed to hit the goal. Heritage is the result of a process that began on The Damnation Game passed through the incredible live DVD Lamentations and recently culminated in some great albums (studio and live).

            On Heritage we will find a bit of it all: mostly Lamentations influences came to my mind, but after hearing it a few times I understood that I had an unique album on my hands. Opeth’s ability to create an atmosphere is something from out of this world (progers from all over the world should have Opeth albums as reference) and here you will find their top expression on creating such musical ambient.

            I guess what makes me so happy about this album is that for the first time on Opeth’s discography the death metal influences are secondary giving plenty of space to all those Prog features that we love: Experimentation, other genres influences (classic progressive rock, folk and even jazz are easy to find on Heritage) and perfect timing on instrumental arrangements. Opeth leaves no blank spaces for interpretation: this is the road they want to follow from now on despite what some fans might think about their choice (personally I think Heritage is their best studio album together with the damnation game).

            Heritage is mixed by Porcupine Tree genius Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt (who is also one of the producers) and I find very interesting the cover artwork. Designed by Travis Smith (following specific directions from Akerfeldt himself) in which we may find all members head on a tree instead of classic fruits (notice that there’s one head falling from the tree: it belongs to the now former keyboarder Per Wiberg). On the bottom, we find lots of skulls that might symbolize all former members. Shall we see this as another sign of Opeth’s will? I truly hope that the answer is positive, but for now let’s enjoy Heritage (which is among my 3 best 2011 albums until now).

            Vote 9,5/10

Tracklist:

1.  Heritage
2. The Devil's Orchard
3. I Feel The Dark
4. Slither
5. Nepenthe
6. Haxprocess
7. Famine
8. The Lines In My Hand
9. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth