Album Rating: 4.0

Zey don't vant to

Album Rating: 4.0

prove it

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Heritage is a rather lackluster attempt at referencing retro prog.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

It's ok.

Heritage is a rather lackluster attempt at referencing retro prog.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

It lacks the cutting-edge creativity and spirit that old prog acts had so it kind of falls flat like most retro prog acts.



Besides, I've heard retro prog bands that way more convincingly copy the sound of old acts (Check out Wobbler, for one). I'd say they are a lot worse, though. At least this is more original.

For me one of things that makes this more convincing is the fact that, depite the obvious influences from bands such as Camel and Tull, there is still some originality, which was obviously a big part of 70's prog in the first place.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Interestingly, the music feels more tame than their last couple of albums.

Also on top of what I said in my previous comment, this is more interesting because it incorporates influnces from a number of different old school prog acts and doesnt concetrate on the sound of one particular band, like say Wobbler (Yes) or The Watch (Genesis).

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

True, but I still don't think it convincingly recreates the sound or spirit of the scene.



To me it sounds like typical Opeth elements with kitschy retro prog elements sprinkled on top, reducing their originality and actually making their music less "progressive" than it already was.



It's a very self-conscious sounding album

I can see your point there but I think that those retro prog elements have been a part of Opeth's sound for a while now and they were just brought to the fore on this album, which did admittedly take away part of their sound that made them original but for me this album does what it was meant to do really well and, for what it is, is an excellent album.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Fair enough.



A lot of the "progressive" elements on this album are the most shallow, surface-level ways to take from "prog" besides throwing out a 20 minute epic. Toss in flute, organ, the lydian mode, maybe some odd timing here and there. Admittedly they already kind of did that before but there was a tasteful balance that made it work better.



I guess that's the problem with making "prog" a sound and self-consciously going for it.

I'll admit that the Jethro Tull-esque flute playing in Famine did sort of fit with what you're saying as it did feel somewhat as though it was 'tossed' in to add to the retro prog sound but I think the other elements, the organ and the odd timing fit quite naturally.

I still think that as far as 70's throwback prog goes this is one of the more interesting albums out there and when I'm looking to listen to some old school prog I do get almost as much enjoyment out of this as I do with some original 70's prog, which to me means that this was really well done. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying this up there with the likes of Mirage or Thick As A Brick by any means, it's just a well done and enjoyable prog album.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Fair enough. It isn't a bad album.

It's been good to be able to have a proper discussion about this album instead of just 'album sucks' or 'have you even heard camel?'.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Yeah, it's been a good discussion.



Don't worry, it will get back to normal in a couple of hours.

Album Rating: 4.0

Jamie pretty much sums up my opinion on this album. cheers dude.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

It's been a little bit, I need to go back and give it another good listen.

Sup Keyblade, good to see someone else who likes this as much as I do.

Album Rating: 2.5

i agree with astablereference.