Release date: 27.09.2019
Label: Nuclear Blast
Producer: Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart
Length: 67:49
Genre: progressive rock/progressive metal
Rating: 9.5
»In Cauda Venenum«, which means ‘venom in the tail’ in Latin, is the latest outing from the brilliant Swedish progressive crew Opeth. Under the leadership of their untamable chieftain, guitarist and vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt, they’ve ‘forced’ their longtime metal faithful since 2011 to get used to a gradual musical metamorphosis from progressive death metal into progressive rock and an ever-growing experimentalism, even though their mostly dark and melancholic essence stays the same. After the excellent predecessor »Sorceress« (2016), Mikael announced that »In Clauda Venenum«, released in two language versions, English and Swedish, would be a somewhat heavier affair again. That’s far from meaning it’s any less experimental, though: the occasional flute arrangements and Gregorian-chant-style choir melodies add a dash of sonic freshness, and there are acoustic sections aplenty too.
»In Clauda Venum« is thus the first Opeth record you can also hear in their native language. As you’d expect, the music itself doesn’t differ between the two versions. Mikael’s gloomy lyrics come off surprisingly well in Swedish, and many Opeth fans reckon the Swedish version sounds even more interesting. For anyone who doesn’t understand the Scandinavian tongue, its enigmatic quality only deepens the mysterious, dark atmosphere of the album. Mikael’s superb clean singing certainly helps, and once again there are no death metal ‘growls’ from the prog-death past, something plenty of longtime fans miss badly.
Åkerfeldt’s promises of a somewhat ‘louder’, more metal approach have come true, as you can hear already in the excellent »Dignity«, which follows the dark opening piece »Garden of Earthly Delights«. Thanks to its fatalistic-sounding Gregorian chant elements, the opener sounds like the soundtrack to Dante’s journey through hell. All the sonic ingredients that defined the previous three Opeth albums come together on »Dignity« as one ideal whole.
»Heart in Hand« is even more uncompromising, loaded with dark, epic moments. It’s one of many pieces on the album with a complex instrumental section, heavy and calm passages (a sudden acoustic section spices up the whole atmosphere very nicely) and a slowly mounting tension. »Next of Kin« is likewise packed with unexpected tempo shifts and interesting instrumental sections, while Mikael’s dramatic vocals tie the apocalyptic mood together to great effect.
»Lovelorn Crime« starts out like a melancholic, fairly innocent piano ballad, until an epic, mighty atmosphere gradually swells, something Opeth have always had down to a T. The experimentally minded »Charlatan« is full of obscure effects and fairly original guitar passages, while Mikael’s vocals successfully crank up the claustrophobic, bleak atmosphere. Near the end, a Gregorian chant breaks in, unexpected but spot on. »Universal Truth«, marked above all by mighty multi-part harmonies and epic guitar passages, opens with an unusually upbeat atmosphere, which of course doesn’t last long. Some of the rhythmic jumps in the middle section have a slight Oriental flavor, which only adds to the prevailing mystical mood.
Steeped in a chilling, cold atmosphere, »The Garroter« announces with its very title, a reference to the user of an Inquisition torture device, that this will be a seriously dark composition. It wins you over with its flute passages, orchestral arrangements and Mikael’s excellent singing. The chameleon-like »Continuum« contains some old-school progressive rock elements, while a chaotic guitar solo helps build the dramatic atmosphere all the way to an exceptionally beautiful, ethereal, symphonic closing section. The final piece, »All Things Will Pass«, opens with an ominous intro and slowly works its way through dark ambient passages, all the way to an epic ending with gorgeous harmonies. It’s hard to imagine a better finale for this album.
Opeth have once again crafted a masterpiece full of standout moments: in the songwriting, the lyrics and the atmosphere alike, and in two different languages at that. For anyone who knows the life and work of Mikael Åkerfeldt and his musical comrades, though, it’s no big surprise. They’ve convinced us once more that their sonic evolution isn’t over and that they’re still chasing new, previously undiscovered experimental paths. »In Clauda Venenum« is undoubtedly the most mature record of their progressive rock era so far and one of the best of their career. Opeth didn’t need a large number of guest musicians to make it. The exception was the cult keyboardist of the Canterbury scene Dave Stewart (Uriel, Egg, Khan, Hatfield and the North, National Health, Bruford), who helped build the string arrangements and with the production.
Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. Garden Of Earthly Delights (3:29)
2. Dignity (6:37)
3. Heart In Hand (8:30)
4. Next Of Kin (7:10)
5. Lovelorn Crime (6:34)
6. Charlatan (5:29)
7. Universal Truth (7:22)
8. The Garroter (6:44)
9. Continuum (7:23)
10. All Things Will Pass (8:31)
Opeth:
Mikael Åkerfeldt – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, producer
Fredrik Åkesson – lead and rhythm guitar
Joakim Svalberg – keyboards, backing vocals
Martín Méndez – bass guitar
Martin Axenrot – drums, percussion
Guest musician:
Dave Stewart – string arranger and producer
