Review Summary: Losing sleep... in too deep... fading sun... what have I done?
Deliverance seems to be the most contentious release in Opeth's discography (in the area of the discography that's highly regarded, at least). Many people see it as being far too long for the stripped back, bare bones heaviness the band adopted for the record, while others see it as raw, uncompromising, and achingly beautiful in ways other highly regarded Opeth records aren't. There's a certain mood that's created on Deliverance that is different from anything before, except maybe Morningrise. It's far more aggressive than Blackwater Park, My Arms Your Hearse, or even Still Life, and it works in the record's favor.
The production is harsher, dingier, more abrasive. Some see it as a significant step down from the likes of Blackwater Park and Still Life, and objectively, they're right. Deliverance just doesn't sound as massive and as gorgeous as those records. And I don't think it should've. It's a completely justifiable criticism, as going from Blackwater Park to this is jarring to say the least. But I see it as an attempt to convey the aggression and ache that the songs hold in them in a more thematic way. By the Pain I See In Others wouldn't have achieved its horrific, bone-chilling atmosphere without the awful voice filter over Åkerfeldt's growls. The album truly would've lost something if it was as crystal clear and sweeping as previous efforts, because those songs were more akin to a symphony performed by four metalheads, and this is more akin to an album by Death, particularly their more progressive efforts like Symbolic or The Sound of Perseverance. It's a standout part of the album for me, creating my personal favorite sound the band created at this point in their career.
In terms of songwriting, not all that much is different. The formula that was perfected on My Arms through to Blackwater is still here, just in less expansive and progressive ways. The songs, while as long as usual, feel more direct, less focused on atmosphere and more focused on kicking your teeth down your throat. Almost all songs, excluding the instrumental interlude For Absent Friends and my personal favorite on the album, A Fair Judgement, are the most brutal and harsh death metal the band have created, while still balancing a lighter, more progressive side in songs like title track. In essence, it's more of what was great about the past albums through a different lens. It was the best way to follow Blackwater Park, because there was no way they could've done the same thing and it been even a fraction as good as Blackwater Park. There was nowhere to go but down after that record, and they did go down in the eyes of fans. But that doesn't mean this record isn't worth a shot, because it absolutely is. Like on the past three albums, not a song falters in my eyes. It all flows together perfectly. This is the hardest good Opeth album to get into, and most complaints one might have are justifiable, even to someone like me who loves it dearly. But again, Opeth took a risk, and it paid off. This is another shining moment in a career already full of highlights.
Favorite Tracks: A Fair Judgement, Deliverance, By the Pain I See In Others, For Absent Friends
Least Favorite Tracks: Wreath (even though I like it a lot, it just isn't as strong as the rest of the album)
