Opeth
Mikael Åkerfeldt - Swedish heavy metal band Opeth performed live at the Manchester Academy in Manchester, United Kingdom - Wednesday 15th October 2014
Opeth - Anathema Nottingham Rock City, Monday 11th November Live Review 2012
By Jordan Dowling in Music Reviews on 19 November 2012
Opeth and Anathema bear between them many similarities. Chiefly among them, a gradual shift from harsh, visceral roots that grew over two decades ago (albeit a considerable distance apart) in the then-fertile grounds of death metal into a much more melodic, multi-layered sound; something which, despite their relative lack of success and placement as support act, Anathema have done with more success than Opeth themselves.
In their new direction, they sound completely comfortable. Opeth are yet to truly achieve this but, live, they eradicate this problem by leaning as much on the depth of their back catalogue as more recent material. Opener 'The Devil's Orchid' from this year's Heritage album is the weakest track of the set and Mikael Akerfeldt's mid-range vocals on it are limp and uninspiring, but things pick up as soon as it has passed. Between songs, Mikael seems dismissive of the album, with his self-depreciating wit being a highlight in itself, and soon they launch into what at times approaches a greatest hits set reaching as far back as 1999s breakthrough full-length Still Life.
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