"Lamentations" is a filmed record of the only UK gig that Sweden’s majestic Opeth did as part of their world tour in support of Damnation, the mellow partner to the more reliably aggressive Deliverance (both albums – in an act of typical Opeth-like ambition - being recorded in a single marathon studio session).
The band tend to attract serious music fans, at least in part because there is little more to witness besides the music. Live, they are an unprepossessing spectacle. Besides band leader Mikael Akerfeldt’s avuncular chat between songs and the spraying hair of bassist Martin Mendez, theirs isn’t a visual feast to rival Kiss.
Instead we get Damnation in its entirety, characterised by the gorgeous, mellotron-soaked "In My Time Of Need", and the reflective melancholia of "Windowpane." There’s an added psychedelic wig-out in the middle section of the excellent "Closure", but otherwise the playing is faithful to the record. As impressive as all this is, the band have built their reputation on the symphonic mix of intricately arranged riffs and delicate interludes, and it isn’t until the second, heavy set commences that matters really get into their stride. Five tracks of epic death metal complexity follow: Akerfeldt lets rip with his incredible guttural roar and the band pound out the likes of Blackwater Park’s "The Leper Affinity" and Deliverance’s astonishing title track. The crowd’s hair flails like a nest of Medusas and metal heaven has been attained.
|
A DVD would be nowhere these days without an added feature or two, and an accompanying documentary takes a thorough look at the making of the two albums. Here, should you require it, is the chance to study Martin Lopez’s superbly fluid drumming at close quarters and witness the band’s curious technique of writing the album in the studio, as though piecing together the shards of a shattered stained-glass window.
The soul-sapping realities of the recording process are all here too – teaching the bass player the songs, the endless individual takes, the sitting round a tiny room looking a bit bored.
For the uninitiated "Lamentations" may perhaps prove too much to take in as an introduction, but for the convert this is rare treasure indeed.
|
