Opeth
(09/22/11 8:00am)
16 years ago, Opeth exploded onto the death metal scene with a debut album, Orchid, that redefined the limits of the genre, blending technical jazz influences and haunting acoustic arrangements between blasting double kick and Mikael Akerfeldt’s gravelly vocals. Now, ten full-length albums after their rough and revolutionary inception in Stockholm, the Swedish five-piece returns with Heritage, their most recent release, to the styles and influences that preceded and informed their music, and the progressive death metal they helped cultivate. Casting their sights backward and easing off the thunderous distortion, the Opeth we hear on Heritage are decidedly more thoughtful, sophisticated and technically proficient than they’ve ever been.