Swedish mood setting Progressive Metal band, Opeth, are back in 2014 with Pale Communion.  Over the years the band has had many lineup changes, but somehow stays the same in its glory and brilliantly composed music.  Opeth is famous for their ability to mix Progressive music and Death Metal with a Gothic influence.  Their music is some of the most dynamic and interesting music ever written. Thanks to frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, who started the band in 1992, Opeth dares to be unique, powerful, and unmatchable.  Pale Communion is a good example of everything this band has to offer.  The whole album is a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s, with a slow melodic and psychedelic sound.  It is brilliantly composed and played, each song flowing to the next.  This album doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard in metal.

Pale Communion is another album from Opeth only featuring clean vocals, but they are as haunting and as beautiful as ever.  Eternal Rains Will Come is a perfect example of Opeth’s dark and Gothic side, with a chest piercing organ and brilliant drumming from Martin Axenrot.  The song twists and turns from a Gothic sound, to a late 60’s early 70’s sound  reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and The Doors.  I was pleasantly surprised with that song, but it does not set a tone for the whole album.  Each song differs in a virtuous sense, onto heavier songs like Cusp of Eternity and Moon Above, Sun Below.  Then it goes into a beautiful ballad, with a possible influence from Simon and Garfunkel, Elysian Woes.  Goblin is as enchanting as the tracks before it, with a slow building funky sound to it that is almost indescribable.

Pale Communion continues with a lighter hearted song, River, that breaks the album into a whole new tone and sound.  River is a perfectly crafted interlude to the album, with chilling and beautiful vocals.  It reminds you of the classic Free Bird by Lynard Skynard, but better than that even.  Voice of Treason has all kinds of different sounds and flavors; It’s a little symphonic, a little Gothic, and a little cinematic.  These past two tracks prove why Opeth is one of the best bands of all time, because of their ability to write anything and everything with such immense quality.  This fantastic album closes with the melodic ballad, Faith in Others, ending the album hopefully with goosebumps on your arms and hair standing on your neck.  The album is short, but it delivers a brilliant cinematic collection of tracks.

Pale Communion is a must buy for all Opeth and fans of rock and metal.