[youtube]http://youtu.be/p0B26wv22ao[/youtube]
After a delay that bummed out many of its fans, Opeth will finally release Pale Communion. And while you’ve already gotten a chance to hear “Cusp of Eternity,” today, the band released “Eternal Rains,” another track from the album, which will be released on August 26th. Old-school Opeth fans that would like the death/black metal version of the band to return will be disappointed, but those that liked the band’s last album, Heritage, or 2003’s Damnation will love it. It’s been said by Mikael Akerfeldt that he’s in no hurry to return to the heavier side of the band, the from the two songs we’ve heard so far ,the album’s livelier than the largely subdued Heritage. It’s really continuing to show the band embracing their ’70s prog roots, as well as the influence of the album’s mixer, Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson. In an interview with Stereogum, guitarist Fredrik Akesson aptly describes the record as “heavier than Heritage, but it doesn’t have the growling vocals.”
Akerfeldt tells the website that the evolution of the band’s sound is ballsy:
I hope people will appreciate that we aren’t playing it safe. I think for a band called metal we have balls. It’s supposed to be rebellious music but I see little rebellion, just people raking in money putting out the same shit out over and over. A lot of bands actually don’t like that stuff and would want other influences in their music. But they are too afraid to fuck up their career. Then, it becomes a job. I won’t let this happen. This will be about our artistic needs and what we want to do. Career is secondary even if bills depend on it.
You can pre-order the album here.
