Opeth - Still Life

Swedish metal outfit Opeth are as well known for their forays into symphonic and progressive territory as for their grinding riffs and skull-crushing power. STILL LIFE continues to refine Opeth's unique fusion: balancing atmospheric interludes (the lush acoustic guitar passage on Benighted is a good example) with slash and burn black metal (as on Godhead's Lament). Lead vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt's satanic growl sends mortal chills up the spine, but his singing can also be surprisingly melodic, as it is on Face of Melinda. Opeth exhibit plenty of technical mastery, but it's their multi-part compositions and their ease in switching between styles that make the material on STILL LIFE so compelling.