There are bands and artists within the Metal sphere that, due to their exceptional capabilities as musicians inevitably make their way to a fork in the road.

In one direction they have the uniquely identifiable, reliable brand and sound they’ve created and at the end of the other, the promise of total artistic freedom.

Some choose to stay within metal but go out on their own to increase the bandwidth of their pallet of expression such a Devin Townsend or Ihsahn for example. Others depart the originating genre almost entirely leaving a void that their band once occupied. Delivering a particular sound to a particular audience and thereby satisfying a demand.

Its a difficult thing to level criticism at a band or artist for following their heart rather than simply running the band as they always have simply to maintain a brand and a particular revenue level.

So, in the case of Opeth, I can’t have any hard feelings towards the band for effectively walking out on their Death Metal roots to pursue a more progressive rock direction. I can Lament though on the void they left behind…