Damnation

Opeth | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 22, 2003
• Label: KOCH Records
• Copyright: (C) 2003 KOCH RECORDS
• Total Length: 43:18
• Genres: Hard Rock & Metal/Death Metal, Rock/Progressive
• ASIN: B000V99N08
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (240 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am breathless - a spellbinding masterpiece., May 2, 2003

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Damnation (Audio CD)

Opeth: one of the most acclaimed bands in progressive metal, because of (despite?) their shifts between heavenly atmospheres and brutal heaviness and death growls -- a band that has won over metal fans, progressive metal fans & metal prog fans, and critics alike -- a band that continues to prevail over expectations and mature in various respects.

And so we turn the page to another chapter in the Opethian saga, _Damnation_. If Opeth has any doubters remaining, this album will reverse their opinion or at least dice their credibility. As almost everyone knows by now, _Damnation_ is the "mellow" counterpart to _Deliverance_, which was their heaviest album to date. Its songs therefore converge entirely in the softer side of Opeth's sound. However, I would like to emphasize that this is _not_ a collection of typical mellow Opeth songs, which most people were seemingly expecting. You should not assume this is an album of songs like "Credence" and "Harvest" -- _Damnation_ establishes a different sound but maintains their identity. This is still unmistakably Opeth, from the atmosphere to the production (Steven Wilson is a genius) to the pristine excellence that is Mikael Akerfeldt's voice.

Even though it is the shortest Opeth album (eight songs, 43 minutes), it is probably my favorite. My reaction actually surprises me, since my allure to Opeth is largely their dynamic of light and shade. The symbiosis of those roaring black slabs of surreally powerful metal fluidly merged with the warm embrace of their placid, elegiac side is no small part of what makes them so powerful. But despite leaning entirely to one end of the Opeth spectrum, _Damnation_ is just....perfect -- unspeakably well-crafted -- preternaturally beautiful -- enthrallingly poetic.

Of course, it _is_ a "mellow" album. There is no metal, no growling, not even any parts that would be considered heavy by anyone but Grandma. Even though most people associate "mellow Opeth" with "acoustic guitar Opeth", _Damnation_ is primarily an electric guitar album (with Steven Wilson's enchanting mellotrons and pianos appearing at times). The difference, obviously, is that the soul-withering crunch of _Deliverance_ is replaced with a distortion soft as falling leaves and chilling as a late summer rain. Akerfeldt's acoustic guitars still convey that sylvan atmosphere, but they usually supplement the electric guitars rather than replace them. Arrangements can be gorgeously transparent and light, sometimes little more than cellophane pulled over vocals. "Weakness" is a prime example of this crystalline sound in viscous minimalism.

"Mellow" it may be, but the music does not lack ntensity. "Death Whispered a Lullaby" has a tortured, silvery solo that sounds like a mix between Tool and old Norwegian black metal. "Closure" is in my opinion one of the heaviest sounding Opeth songs yet, even though it is far from metal. It is heavy because of the plodding, extreme density of whole arrangement. Even the first stanza, just acoustic guitar and voice, is nerve-racking on its own. The middle and closing instrumental sections involve a frightening, devilishly soundscape. The guitar figure remains mostly the same but galloping drums, crunchy bass, and pallid distortion build and shift according to some twisted orchestration. Since this is one of the heaviest Opeth songs, the transition into the gorgeous "Hope Leaves" is all the more effective. This is probably the most beautiful Opeth song to date. A languished, frightened Akerfeldt sings over a simple funereal chord. It hits with an added sadness when you think the line "And I know you will never return to this place" is directed to "hope."

"Windowpane" is one of the longer songs and phenomenally gorgeous. Spirit-melting guitar solo, complex yet beautiful chord harmonies -- with some measures more beautiful than any the finest Sigur Ros soundscape or the most enchanting King Crimson. Haunting lyrics and lush vocal harmonies a la Porcupine Tree. "Ending Credits" is an instrumental that sounds like the continuation of "Epilogue", from _My Arms, Your Hearse_. A harrowing melody possibly influenced by Eastern European folk, supplemented by keys from the shadows, with mellotron here instead of Hammond organ.

This is their third album produced by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson. Wilson's talents as a musician are also used for in the ghostly keyboards throughout the album -- no synthesizers, however. They are organic, warm instruments: mellotron, grand piano, and Fender Rhodes. "In My Time of Need" is like dreamy symphonic rock due to its mellotron and slow harmonic rhythm. Wilson also wrote lyrics to one of the songs here, "Death Whispered a Lullaby". Wilson may as well be a member of Opeth, because I believe he has become essential to their music (those background vocals!). The Wilson/Porcupine Tree influences in Opeth's music have a lot to do with *sound* (the guitar tones, vocal harmonies, and vocal recording especially), but Akerfeldt himself is also adopting some of Wilson's singing characteristics. Otherwise, I'd say the influences -- like Camel and other Akerfeldt favorites -- and ideas are too well-assembled with ingenuity to reduce _Damnation_ to a mere homage. In the end, it can only be defined as Opeth.

The rhythm section shines like never before on _Damnation_. They have always an impressive rhythmic mainstay in this quartet (especially on _Deliverance_), but here they are given more breathing room and eloquently add to the music in more ways. The bass of (severely) underrated Martin Mendez remains deep and heavy despite the music's overall lighter tone, but he beautifully engages the low-end to beautifully enhance the sound rather than encumber or merely follow it. Martin Lopez understands the needs of the music perfectly, and his hammering death metal drumming is stripped down to something that enhances the music in a more subtly articulate way.

This masterpiece leaves me quivering like a post-coital concubine. This is ranked highly among my most beautiful music ever, but it is a unique beauty -- a silent lacuna between rock and metal -- the eye of the storm -- complex and haunting and unforgettable. Whether you are an Opeth fan or not, you MUST check this out. It is a special treasure. If it doesn't resonate immediately, continue exploring (it didn't do much for me on the first several spins). Like all of Opeth's albums, _Damnation_ reveals many secrets as its complexities unfold. I think _Damnation_ is probably the vastest of all their experiments, which is an exemplary feat. Opeth is a mythic band worlds beyond metal. Together with _Deliverance_, _Damnation_ reveals Opeth's finest work to date.

Note: The limited edition digipak is WAY nicer than the jewel case.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A kinder, gentler Opeth, April 22, 2003

By 

Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Damnation (Audio CD)

After six albums of establishing connections between the seemingly contradictory genres of extreme metal, folk, and progressive rock, Opeth have finally decided to devote an entire album to exploring their classic folk/prog influences with "Damnation." As such, this isn't a metal album, but Opeth's creativity and top-notch musicianship are still in evidence. Anyone who's heard "A Fair Judgement" from the band's last album "Deliverance" knows just how good Opeth is at weaving together intricate fabrics of music and vocals to create something captivating. Haunting atmospheres and painstaking arrangements pervade the eight tracks here, ensuring that any open-minded Opeth fan will be more than satisfied. Even though they're largely acoustic, and the vocals are all sung cleanly, the songs on "Damnation" contain every bit as much power and emotion as those on any previous Opeth album. While some songs build to massive crescendos ("In My Time Of Need" is a prominent example), mellowness is still the order of the day. Mikael Akerfeldt's entrancing singing voice is ideal for inducing hypnotism, and his and Peter Lindgren's guitar interplay is stunning in its eloquence. Anybody who doubts these guys' ability to pick with the best of them needs to hear this album. Drummer Martin Lopez is, as always, a monster on the kit; it's the complexity of his work, more than anything else, that keeps "Damnation" from being just another light-rock album. With most Opeth albums I make an effort to comment on specific songs, but on "Damnation" the beginnings and ends of the tracks seem rather arbitrary. Each one bleeds into the other, creating an "album" in the truest sense of the word. This samey feeling is both a blessing and a curse: those expecting the sudden, dramatic shifts of Opeth's previous work will be sorely disappointed, but if you want to settle into one listening mode and stay there "Damnation" is an excellent choice. I happen to prefer the heavier approach of such albums as "Still Life" and "Deliverance," but "Damnation" is still more than worth adding to your collection.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars doesn't do Damnation justice... 100 wouldn't, May 13, 2003

By 

Grey (LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Damnation (Audio CD)

I got this album on the day of its release here in the USA (which was April 22nd I think) and not a day has passed that I haven't listened to it. I wrote a review for it after my first listening, But I don't think it was posted because I used a *gasp!* bad word, and if it was posted well then here's another review from me. Anyway, it's impossible for me to say "favorite album," when it comes to Opeth, but Damnation is really something special, even for this band. Opeth truly is the best rock band, that is actively making music, on the planet today. In the past Opeth has weaved acoustic interludes throughout their raging extreme metal infernos, and in my opinion those mellow passages are the best part of Opeth's 15+ minute epics. That's not to say that I don't like the heavy parts too, I love them. The sonic brutality that only Opeth can deliver is staggering. But now I have a whole album devoted to mellow songs, and the masterpieces on Damnation are so eerily melodic and haunting, that just hearing them in my head sends shivers down my spine. Opeth is so much more mature than many of the bands they tour with, with the exception of Lacuna Coil and Porcupine Tree. I've seen them live twice and both times they sounded like the voice of God! Unfortunatly they didn't play any songs off of Damnation, but I'm sure they will be amazing live. This band is so far ahead of everyone else that it's staggering. They don't indulge in all the corpse painted, satanic BS so many bands conform to these days.They're all about the music, not their image/hype, and Damnation is no exception. This album reminds me of the folk-rock bands of the late 60's and 70's. Bands like Forest and Spirit, both being excellent bands. Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree produced this album (and also performed in some pieces) along with Opeth, and they have done a phenomenal job together. Steven Wilson has become a big part of Opeth's albums in the last few years (I think he's been their producer since Blackwater Park) and their alliance works very well. Mikael's voice is so beautiful and moving, and when you hear it over Wilson's fantastic mellotron work it's spectacular. The guitars have excellent timbre, and the melodies are brilliant. Mendez's bass work really stands out on this one. He's done an amazing job on all the other albums, but this time you can really hear his genious. Lopez's drumming is truley awe-inspiring. It's very fast and energetic, but still fits in perfectly with the mellow vibe set by the rest of the band. Everyone shows mastery over their instrument, and all turned in a truley wonderful performance. I'm not going to talk about the songs on Damnation. They're all great. All strange, eerie, beautiful, surprising Opeth phrasing. Bottom line is, this is a must have. If you're new to Opeth, or a die hard fan (like me) I'd highly recommend this album. You won't regret getting it. Get all the Opeth albums because they're all breathtaking.