OPETH – GHOST REVERIES

Following up the extreme bookends that were their last CDs, Deliverance (mostly heavy) and Damnation (hauntingly mellow), Opeth returns with Ghost Reveries, a soon to be classic next step for this excellent band…an odd but interesting combination of Progressive/Death and even hints of Black Metal.
Averaging at about eight and a half minutes per song, this CD is a complex combination of Opeth’s signature tight but roaring metallic riffing and the haunting clean vocals of Damnation. There’s still plenty of the slightly subdued yet guttural growling, but there’s some more standard clean vocals at a quicker tempo too. All the classic themes you’d expect to find on an Opeth album are there too, somber, intelligent and compelling, with an almost gothic atmosphere.
Good stuff. These guys are at the top of their game, and each musician is a master of his instrument. If you like the heavy stuff, and can get past the growling, Ghost Reveries delivers!

NEVERMORE – THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOR

I really like Nevermore’s stuff, going back a few CDs now, but sadly, their last one, Enemies Of Reality was a disappointment to me. I try to listen to it, to get used to it and learn to like it, but I just can’t. It was just too aggressive without the usual Nevermore touch that usually hooks me immediately.
(I think that CD has since been re-released with a new mix, as apparently I wasn’t the only one to find it grating.)
This Godless Endeavor however is a return to greatness for this Seattle quintet. It rocks hard. It hits all the right notes and themes and is both brutal and melodic and a pleasure to listen to. It also has some great guitar playing, mostly courtesy of Jeff Loomis. Guitar solos aren’t what they used to be back in the Metal heyday when some songs were practically written around killer riffs. Loomis is a nice bridge between the new school and the old. Great stuff here.
The dark themes, as always, are also appreciated. This CD is a must!

I just found out that Nevermore will be supporting Opeth in South Florida in November 2005. I am PSYCHED!!!