Review Summary: A triumphant return
When SikTh first hit the Metal scene with the dawn of the new millennium, they were fresh, exciting and well ahead of their time. In fact, they were so far ahead that despite the nine years that have passed since their last release, and the legion of imitators that have sprung up in the musical cornfield that is Djent, they still stand head and shoulders above their peers. Since that last release, each of the six members went off to focus on their own projects, promising not to return until the time was right – until they felt that they had something to release that was of the highest quality. Well on first listening to this EP-turned-mini-album, you would have to say that they have gotten the timing right.
Opacities picks up where SikTh left off, with opening track ‘Behind the Doors’ a perfect example of what fans love about their music. We are immediately greeted by the wonderful contrast of the dual vocalists which is highlighted, as always, by the soaring lines of Justin Hill and Mikee Goldman’s unique and at times animalistic delivery. Over the course of the first two tracks, the band display their mastery of song-writing, jumping from one killer-riff to another, milking each one without it becoming stale. The instrumentals on ‘Philistine Philosophies’ in particular are wonderfully tight and beautifully layered.
This is all well and good, but no SikTh record would be complete without a signature piece of Mikee Goodman spoken word. On this release, this takes the form of ‘Tokyo Lights’ in which Goodman’s chilling voice reminds the listener “Don’t forget to smile!”. Furthermore, the eerily beautiful closing track – ‘Days are Dreamed’ – acts as a reminder to the band’s many imitators that complex music should not be produced for the sake of producing complex music, but with the intention of producing something of quality that people want to listen to.
