By By Jim Shea

When a band signs on to a major label, it is certain there will be some controversy among the band’s faithful listeners. For Opeth, many of its longtime fans began to cry foul when the group signed on to Roadrunner Records. However, once Ghost Reveries hit stores, much of that fear subsided. In their latest album, the band returned to the sounds of classic albums like My Arms, Your Hearse and Blackwater Park.

As the self-proclaimed creator of prog-metal, Opeth has earned a reputation in delivering long epic songs that mix traditional Swedish death metal with acoustic instrumentals. Opeth is unique in that they make sure their songs aren’t made just for radio, but solely cater to their fans.

On Ghost Reveries, the band makes usual twists and turns. Vocalist/guitarist, Mikael Ã…kerfeldt, finds the perfect balance in melodic singing and death growls. It is not just the vocals that stand out, but the instrumentals are absolutely amazing for those who initially come across Opeth. The ever-changing guitar riffs are attractive and the drums are mastered to perfection with some of the best double bass.

“Ghost of Perdition” is a great example of how Opeth solidified its sound after all these years. This track shifts from hard-hitting metal to outstanding acoustic rock. The production is crisp in Ghost Reveries. This shows an advantage of signing to a major label.

People with short-attention spans will have a difficult time trying to follow Opeth, as many of their songs clock in over 10 minutes. But that shouldn’t be an issue, because Opeth’s music deserves time to be heard. This is a great album for listeners who want to dig deeper into Opeth’s catalog.

Many of the naysayers will change their moods and people who have never heard of Opeth will be surprised they’ve been missing out on them for all these years.

The Chronicle gives “Ghost Reveries” by Opeth four 1/2 stars out of five.