It seems that metal heads just simply don’t get why Opeth would stop playing death metal. Having been asked if they would would ever make another heavy record Akerfeldt stated that “If we made another heavy record, it’d be pure death metal with blastbeats and shit”. Although surely this would satisfy most metal heads appetite to hear the legendary swedes play their signature style of ethereal ghostly death metal. However their new direction I think, is one of the most daring things a band like them could do. Having been around for 24 years a drastic change this late in their career is absolutely genius. Bands can get stale and content with putting out the same records essentially over and over again, but Opeth have decided to go completely against the grain and re invent themselves stylistically, although that being said Akerfeldt is pretty savvy

“I’m not stupid, I can hear people saying we’re not a heavy metal band anymore … Maybe what we are doing is rebelling against metal, but only ‘cause we love it so much.”  Amen, there should be more bands that have this mindset, I for one cannot wait to hear Opeth’s new album later this month we should also not rule out that there will be a possibility of perhaps hearing some of the heavier sounds as next year will be Opeth’s 25th anniversary. Not being one to shy away from the grandiose I think we might be in for a treat. Although Heritage polarised people’s views, Pale Communion will cement Opeth into the category of visionaries that take risks that pay off.

Pale Communion is to be released on August 26th and is sure to be one of the best records this year, check out their first single the groovy prgotastic “Cusp Of Eternity”