I wanted to write this review because I noticed that the magnificent "Deliverance" had only one review, so...

I'll start by saying that for me "Deliverance" is in the second position of my mental Opeth TOP list (the first one is "Orchid").

6 songs, 61 minutes... you must have already noticed that the average is an exorbitant 10 minutes per song... moreover, one is just over 2 minutes... so you can see where the remaining 8 minutes go!

It is probably the least catchy album of all Opeth's masterpieces, but once you set it to play, it can go on for whole months.

Predominantly, it is an absolutely "death metal" album, but "progressive" structures are not lacking. In this album, the rhythm prevails over everything else, the songs are meticulously crafted, and I can assure you that not a single minute is wasted.

"Wreath": Great song for all sturdy metalheads. Beautiful.

"Deliverance": Stunning soundtrack. The rhythms are very engaging, and the final counterpoint rhythm is quite fun (it took me 5 whole days to memorize it).

"A Fair Judgement": A ballad masterpiece. The calm in the middle of the song is also wonderful. The voice is magnificent.

"For Absent Friends": Very nice instrumental... very atmospheric. Also very delicate.

"Master's Apprentices": (for me, the best of the album). Ridiculously beautiful rhythms. The final buildup and fade-out are out of this world. This song is truly awesome.

"By the Pain I See in Others": Perhaps the least catchy but still a very valid song. The effects used for the voice and guitar are very interesting. The Hidden Track is also interesting, although those 2 minutes of silence between the actual song and the hidden track are quite inconvenient.

Like all of Opeth's albums, "Deliverance" is a "concept". Opeth is also famous for their extremely diverse interpretations of concepts, so what I'm about to write is just my point of view.

The album "Deliverance" is about a couple of lovers. He is somehow possessed by a demon ("Wreath"), although it is much better to talk about a dual personality since the two parts fight with each other. The fact is He, in one night, overwhelmed by this second evil personality, kills her (drowning her) ("Deliverance"). After this episode, he returns to his senses and realizes the mess he made and thinks that sooner or later there will be a penalty, rightfully deserved (even according to him) ("A Fair Judgement").

The listener begins to understand that this second personality (or demon, as you like) took over due to a lack of some friends (probably dead) ("For Absent Friends"). He can't bear it any longer due to remorse and tries to commit suicide by setting the house on fire, believing he can put an end to this double life (Master's Apprentices). The last scene is a separate story where the aforementioned demon narrates its situation (By the Pain I See in Others).

Nice and eeee&graves;&maaac; ? Well, this is just my point of view. Now I'm trying to convince you:

(I will only refer to the lyrics translated into Italian, otherwise the review would be too long):

"Wreath": "Spiral" represents the moment when He is overwhelmed by the demon. The song can be divided into 3 thematic blocks:

-in the first block, we see Him describing the whole process of the demon's incarnation:

"Falling into it again

The same old nightmare

While I move in the dark

Dripping inside to hide"

"I observe myself in a pool of water

While I wear the mask of a ghost"

-in the second block, He describes all the sensations he feels during the mental sleep. Referring to a strange situation: indeed, he sees himself stained, eaten by worms in decay, and around he can distinguish dead, bleeding animals in a fiery wasteland (?). I won’t refer to the text as it seems inappropriate.

-in the third block, finally, we are at the resolution of this presence. He returns to his senses, and the demon vanishes:

"They call me back

End of gloomy business

End of a quest

The morning comes

They call me back

End of gloomy arguments

The morning comes-Return"

Furthermore, we can understand from the last verse that this presence mainly arises at night. It can also be understood from the fact that the song returns to the initial rhythm.

"Deliverance": "Liberation" is about the (probably) murder of his girlfriend.

The song can mainly be divided into 2 thematic blocks:

-in the first half of the song, we see the whole scene where he drowns his girlfriend:

"As I make you drown in the sea

Unfolding nets of mistrust

Your wrist grips my face

Look into my eyes, they are clear

This is your moment

Head down below the water

You stare at me in the depths"

-in the second half, we see Him waking from sleep, thinking he is finally free, at least for the next 12 hours:

"Deliverance

Returned to me

Deliverance

Laughing at me"

Yes. "Deliverance laughing at me". Indeed, this deliverance laughs at him because He has not yet realized what he did that night; he will realize it in the next song. Only apparent deliverance.

"A Fair Judgement": "Deserved Judgment" because He initially realizes the murder and starts to believe that if he should undergo a punishment, it would be rightfully deserved (humble guy).

The song is mainly divided into 2 blocks:

-in the first one, He realizes what he did during the night while still sleepy:

"Losing sleep, too deep

The sun fades away, what have I done

Came so close to what I needed most

Nothing remains here"

-in the second block, He believes it was destiny that wanted his ruin. He gets ready in confusion to commit suicide by setting the house on fire:

"Let it be

It was meant for me

Sacrifice of the soul

Forgot the advice

Lost track of time

In a whirl of smoke

Eagerly waiting

For a deserved fair sentence"

"For Absent Friends": "For the absence of friends" is the song that can be interpreted in its way. I interpreted it as the motive, the cause of the demon's presence. In "Master's Apprentices," in one verse, it says "Consequence of an absent friend". This is the song I have least identified thematically.

"Master's Apprentices": "The Master's Apprentice" because (in my opinion) He (the apprentice) does something that usually the demon (the master) does: murder. Not exactly, but suicide is a murder.

The song can be divided into 3 main thematic blocks:

-in the first block, we see the whole scene where he is suffocating and burning. We can also understand the thoughts that cross his mind:

"There is a voice calling me

There is a light coming down on me

There is a doubt clearing up

There is a wound healing

There is a road turning

There is a fire still burning"

"There is a peace I am seeking

There is a pain that never ends

There is a dream I am living

There is a life I am dreaming

There is a death I am waiting for

There is a house I am leaving

I hold my breath and wait

Only memories remain

The movement for a vanished hope

Consequence of an absent friend"

Very interesting "There is a fire still burning" where we perfectly individualize the presence of the fire.

"There is a peace I am seeking" is practically the reason for Him to commit suicide. Indeed, He seeks peace, considering that this demon wants nothing to do with leaving, so he applies the ultimate remedies: suicide.

"There is a dream I am living-There is a life I am dreaming" here we can understand his entire life: a whole life where it isn’t clear if there’s life in a dream or dreaming in a life, a complete and constant confusion.

"There is a death I am waiting for-There is a house I am leaving" here we can perfectly understand His desire to die.

-in the second block, we can understand all the thoughts of Him who is trying, indeed, He is dying:

"Colors fade

And disappear

Ethereal Light"

"Fading away

And leaving

Long to sleep

Closer now

Show the path to death"

 

-in the third block, we see (the hardest part of the song: the stratospheric final buildup) He finally realizes he has left his body and reached a desolate place (I interpreted it as the afterlife):

"As I fall into the deepest void

A dead and empty shell left behind...

Walking unknown roads

Searching for a new home

The desert in my eyes

Barren lands within me"

The figure of the shell is very interesting. In the end, He is dead.

"By the Pain I See in Others": "Through the Pain I Perceive in Others" is the only song where the demon speaks in the first person. Indeed, in my opinion, the entire song is narrated by this demon.

The entire song is a thematic block, although within this block I found a small glimpse:

-in the main block (beginning and end of the song) the demon explains the obsession with thirst for power and dominance:

"Rising to submission

I am still underground

Take off the clothes

Untie the hair

We are bound forever and always have been

Speak the word

And I will go away

On your lips, nothing remains except the meaning of my cause"

"This is ours, solitary

We feed on the warmth

Attracted from within

Dependent on lifeblood

Silently

Whispering

Move in me and set me free"

The ultimate verse is very fascinating, where we can observe the immense slyness and thirst for power of the demon: "Silently-Whispering-Move in me and set me free".

-In the sub-block (in the middle of the song), we can see this demon in a certain park, explaining that the owners of the demons can do nothing to stop their own demon:

"Out in the park

The days go by

And nothing changes

They have no influence over us

And we have always known

That nothing ever changes"

Regarding this last verse, I would like to say something: I interpreted this park as the "BlackWater Park"... because in that concept, I assigned the figure of the afterlife to "BlackWater Park" (read the "BlackWater Park" lyrics, and you’ll understand). You can also notice a certain rhythm while singing that seems very akin to one of the songs heard in parks and circuses (in "Psycho Circus" style by Kiss). Another analogy is that the very last riff heard in "By the Pain I See in Others" is quite similar to the final rhythm of "BlackWater Park".

That concludes my review.

I would give this album a 9+.

I hope you like it.

Please criticize; let me know the idea you developed about the concept after knowing mine. And if you have another interpretation, write it to me.

1784 words... ouch!!

 

 

By LUGREZZO

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   Wreath (11:10)

Falling inside again
This nightmare always the same
Still never enough
Halting at the brink of discovery
Moving into the darkness
Leaking inside to cover up
Dragging me down and under
Entangled and undone at once

Old memories
I'm not in need but wish to know
What are the tragedies
The history behind the walls

Pacing further down
Familiar children's laughter
Dissonant and out of time
And their eyes are dead
Watching myself in a pool of water
Wearing the mask of a ghost
Smeared all across my skin
Rotten earth and insects

Endless night
Always preserving the calm
Movement behind
Bleeding animals in a field of fire
There is no absolution
Death is but a fairytale
They are mere visions
They are afraid of me

Clear insight
A smoke is rising nearby
Dust covering my coat
Blend together to spell my name
Pale, covered me with sweat
There are no words left
Sole provider of death
Distorted faith in myself

Human harvest burning
Blackest pages turning
Twisted perception come true
Captured in dreams connected

Staring right back
Spiritual decay - Still seeking
Frozen in time
Mourn this departure - All watching
Calling me back
Closure to bleak matters
I'm leaving
End of a search
Coming of morning
Calling me back
Closure to bleak matters
I'm leaving
End of a search
Coming of morning - Returning

02   Deliverance (13:36)

Floating on mist
Crept up the caverns of my brain
Receiving no warning
From nothing to a life code

Walk with me, you'll never leave
Wait to see your spirit free

Tell me how your heart's in need
As I drown you in the sea

Unwinding snares of distrust
Your wrist in my face grip
Look me in the eye, I'm clear
This is your time
Face down beneath the waterline
Gazing into the deep

From love to death
In a time span of seconds
Oblivious to regret
Pushed into belief
In liquid cellophane
Gasping for air
Mercy in my eyes
Is the shade of the night

The piercing sounds you make
Soaring higher, higher now
And once left in my wake
Your memory is nothing but the scars on me

All over now
Forgotten why I needed this
Standing down
Disappear into the obscure
Resting days
Waiting for new disease
Biding time
Looked inside insanity

It always burns within
The downward spiral never ends
When driven into sin
Your salvation's found in a sinner's deed

The devil guides the day
Tells me what to say
Pours himself inside
And snuffs the final light

Deliverance
Thrown back at me

Deliverance
Laughing at me

03   A Fair Judgement (10:24)

Losing sleep, In too deep
Fading sun, What have I done
Came so close to what I need most
Nothing left here
Cut the ties, Uncover disguise
Left behind all intertwined
Lost control, Moved out of the role now
Nothing's left here
Leave it be
It was meant for me
Soul sacrifice
Forgot the advice
Lost track of time
In a flurry of smoke
Waiting anxiety
For a fair judgement deserved

04   For Absent Friends (02:17)

[Instrumental]

05   Master's Apprentices (10:32)

There is a voice calling for me
There is a light coming down on me
There is a doubt that is clearing
There is a day that is dawning
There is a wound that is healing
There is a season waiting for me
There is a road that is turning
There is a fire still burning
A sickness in me
Constant pace towards the end
The need is stronger
This time the need is deeper
There is a peace I am searching
There is a freedom I'm depending on
There is a pain that's never ending
There is a rain falling only on me
There is a dream I am living
There is a life I'm dreaming of
There is a death I'm awaiting
There is a home I am deserting
I hold my breath and wait
Only moments remain
Movement for departed hope
Effect for absent friends
Sever the faith from my body
Leave me begging for more
Take what I have and deliver me
Into everlasting sleep
Soothing trance
Colours fade
And disappear
Ethereal light
Showing me what I can do without
In a motionless scene
There is only me
I take what I can
Controlling you to get ahead
Fading away
And leaving
Long for sleep
Closer now
Lead the way into death
Every wretched dream
I've left behind
Every waking hour
I lie in wait
Sucked inside by will
Gone into the flood
All my questions unfurled
As I was put to the test
Once I'm below there's no turning back
Plunging into the deepest void
Departed shell left drained behind
Pacing roads unknown
Searching for a new home
Desert in my eye
Barren lands inside

06   By the Pain I See in Others (13:50)

Let me taste
Let me feel
I need to know what you keep inside
No need to speak
Just let it be
Carry out this wish for me let nothing interfere
Rise to submission
I'm still beneath in the soil
Discard your clothes
Let loose you hair
We're intertwined forever and have always been
Say the word
And I'll depart
Upon your lips dwells nothing but the meaning of my cause
And so comes the dark
Vibrant as ever before
Flowers already withered
In this endless winter of souls
Outside in the park
The days move along
And nothing ever changes
They have nothing on us
And we've always knew
That nothing ever changes
Rise to submission
I'm still beneath in the soil
This is ours alone
Feeding of the warmth
Lured out from inside
Depending on the life blood
Silently
Whispering
Move in me and set me free

"Htaed otni yaw eht dael
Won resolc
Peels rof gnol
Gnivael dna
Yawa gnidaf

Tuohtiw Od Nac I Tahw
Em Gniwohs
Thgil Laerehte
Raeppasid Dna
Edaf Sruoloc
Ecnart Gnihtoos"

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