Jump to content

Heritage


General Metal

Recommended Posts

Heritage, the new Opeth album, came out today in Australia. It probably came out everywhere else first, but that's alright, means we can talk about it freely. I personally thought it was good, very jazz-influenced as far as I could tell, extremely mellow, very slow though, and possibly a tad boring at some points. Opeth are one of my favourite bands, by far, but I think that this is definitely not one of their best works. It's most definitely good, and I enjoyed it more than I did Morningrise (which I did love), but I just don't think that it's really Opeth quality. I think the lineup of songs however was most satisfactory, and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. Opeth are still gods, and hopefully can keep it up. Once again, the album is Heritage. It comes complete with 10 songs, the collectors edition comes with a DVD as well, but being a music entrepreneur, and not a "making of" sorta guy, I prefer to just pull apart the actual songs, and listen to them, rather than watching how they were made, so I only got the standard (Oh, and I had no money to fork out for the collectors haha). I highly recommend it, and (keep in mind my regular rating for bands that I love is usually around a 6-7/10) I give Heritage a nice 5/10. Good album, with room for improvement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Heritage

Heritage, the new Opeth album, came out today in Australia. It probably came out everywhere else first, but that's alright, means we can talk about it freely. I personally thought it was good, very jazz-influenced as far as I could tell, extremely mellow, very slow though, and possibly a tad boring at some points. Opeth are one of my favourite bands, by far, but I think that this is definitely not one of their best works. It's most definitely good, and I enjoyed it more than I did Morningrise (which I did love), but I just don't think that it's really Opeth quality. I think the lineup of songs however was most satisfactory, and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. Opeth are still gods, and hopefully can keep it up. Once again, the album is Heritage. It comes complete with 10 songs, the collectors edition comes with a DVD as well, but being a music entrepreneur, and not a "making of" sorta guy, I prefer to just pull apart the actual songs, and listen to them, rather than watching how they were made, so I only got the standard (Oh, and I had no money to fork out for the collectors haha). I highly recommend it, and (keep in mind my regular rating for bands that I love is usually around a 6-7/10) I give Heritage a nice 5/10. Good album, with room for improvement.
Put this in the Album reviews section - you'll be able to examine it in more detail. Failing that, put it in the Opeth section, where this would make sense. I thought Heritage was a progressive folk group like Northern Oak, or Tyr or something.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Re: Heritage it was definitely A LOT different to all their other stuff, i know people who really really like it and i know people who really really hate it, i think it's all a matter of whether you like the bands influences because it does go back to the roots of the people they got inspiration from, i think the people who dislike it should give it another listen because it is genuinely a good album even if it's not what you would expect from opeth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...