Album Rating: 4.0

Charlatan is good but doesn’t belong on this tbh, it’s very left field and breaks the albums flow.



Every other track pretty much delivers though.



Those melodies on Universal Truth just wow, ily Mike.

Album Rating: 2.5

i think this is better than the last record in terms of songwriting but i get this weird homogeneous quality to the way it sounds, idk. it doesn't seem to agree with me. really struggled my way through it.

I didnt check the last 2 albums but I liked heritage and took delight in the divisiveness of it all. Peeped a couple tracks from the last 2 last night and they weren't bad at all. Guess I'm in the minority that doesnt mind Opeths new direction

Album Rating: 4.5

Have you heard this yet? It's way more adventurous and diverse than PC or Sorceress.

Album Rating: 3.0

"homogeneous quality"



yeah where previous albums had interesting song structures and it was impossible to confuse two pieces, this just feels like one big slab of pretty prog rock. I can't remember where anything really went and none of it really stuck in my head. I phased out for a bit of the last half of it too.

Album Rating: 2.5

I’m so confused at these homogenous comments, the individual tracks stand out way more than on the last 2, how can anyone think it all sounds the same? Especially the section from Loverlorn Crime through to Garroter, it’s bizarrely eclectic. If anything it tries to do too much.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah agreed Demon! I get these homogenous vibes from Sorceress (and not even that strong actually) but certainly not from this one.

Maybe they don't mean style wise but energy wise for instance?

Album Rating: 4.0

For me the ‘new era’ has been topsy turvy.



Heritage - Classic

Pale Communion - Pretty damn good

Sorceress - Lazy but I’m a fanboy so still dig it somewhat

In Cauda Venenum - Entertaining and downright beautiful in numerous places





Like seriously, even if the lyrics aren’t anything special the compositions and production on this thing are amazing.

Album Rating: 2.5

@demon: yeah i'm not gonna deny that at all - there's a lot going on in this album that's for certain. i think it's just the specific things they're doing didn't grab me so it just sorta blurred into a homogenous experience for me. my comment wasn't an objective analysis of the songwriting, more just how i felt listening to it because what they're doing here just doesn't appeal.



prog-opeth wise i had a much better time with pale communion because of how spacious it was.

Album Rating: 3.8

Pleb bro Heritage is not a classic.

Album Rating: 4.5

@Noctus: Ah I get that, yeah. I mean, I don't experience it the same way, but I can see how this is possibly a bit crammed or something.

Plus PC has one of their best production jobs ever. That record sounds perfect (even if the tracks themselves are still a little meh to me).



@Hawks: it so is.

Album Rating: 4.0

PC sounds amazing but the emotional depth is minimal.



Now Opeth is exclusively ‘clean’ I look for the next best thing in their arsenal: beauty.



This record has plenty of breathtaking moments for me, much like Heritage.

Album Rating: 2.5

i might eat my words if i listen to this again and it clicks due to its density - i've been known to uturn a lot lol

Album Rating: 4.5

@Pleb: Yeah I get these vibes too. It's as energetic/diverse/playful (keep repeating these words) as Heritage is. Makes me one happy guy!



@Nosctus: I also think this will change over time, these weirder and denser records usually do so for me.

Album Rating: 3.8

@Hawks: it so is.

Album Rating: 4.0

Axe man what a drummer.



Even when the band has dwindled his performance on every album has been top notch.

Album Rating: 4.5

Haha I know Hawks, on this point we will never agree. Which is fine!

I just love that album to death. And Axe is one of the main reasons. He totally owns that one, together with Mendez.

Album Rating: 3.8

Axe is the man I’ll give you that. m/

Album Rating: 4.5

Yessss.

Any ideas on this one yet?

Album Rating: 3.8

Haven’t jammed yet bro.