The sound of Nordic metal has always had a distinctive quality, a darkness that becomes apparent shortly after hitting play on any album by its main bands. It’s a sound that neither Americans nor Brits have managed to acquire, as the coldness of the Northern European countries is unique, just like their culture and structured minds. These are geniuses who have succeeded in sharing a bit of their world through music.
These countries are generally found at the top in terms of economy, quality of life, education, and even civil rights. Therefore, it’s very interesting to delve into how the music we love is created in these lands.
Today, we’re discussing “My Arms, Your Hearse” by the Swedish band Opeth, the album that solidified the style of the band’s second era. In our view, Opeth’s career is classified into the following eras: black-prog era (1995-1996), death-prog era (1998-2008), and finally, their rock-jazz era (2011 to the present).
What can we hear?
We are witnessing the beginning of Opeth’s mature sound, heavily influenced by Black Metal, also originating from Northern Europe. There’s a finely calculated balance between the brutality of the guttural vocals, which predominate, and the melodic passages of Mikael Akerfeldt. This marks the first time we hear the clean vocals of this exceptionally talented musician.
The album is predominantly heavy, strongly supported by Martin Lopez’s double bass drumming, with a natural sound and minimal editing in production. This is something we appreciate as the instrument isn’t quantized in a robotic or exaggerated manner, maintaining the sound of each piece of the drum kit in the most organic way possible.
Opeth solidifies their style by incorporating acoustic guitars into their songs, as heard in tracks like “When,” where a series of well-thought-out arpeggios create a pause that allows the listener to gather energy before diving back into the brutality the album offers.
Progressive Death Metal
The band described itself as Progressive Death Metal; however, personally, we hear them in “My Arms Your Hearse” more influenced by Black Metal, especially in their guitar riffs, such as the main one in “April Ethereal.” Nevertheless, Mikael Akerfeldt’s guttural vocal style does lean more towards what Death Metal proposes.
Overall, this album is very dynamic, hence its progressive elements. You can listen to very interesting, well-thought-out, and even complex instrumental sections, always surrounded by an intriguing and captivating darkness. The sound of each arrangement is elegant, and you can hear its geographical origin in every track, a precise coldness that especially appeals to musicians, as there is much to learn from this work.
Moving through the album, we reach “Demon Of The Fall,” the heaviest song in “My Arms, Your Hearse,” where we hear one of Opeth’s deepest guttural performances, supported by fantastic production that makes the voice sound even larger. Subsequently, we encounter the seventh track, “Creedence,” the turning point of the album, a mysterious song with 100% clean vocals that create space for the bass (also recorded by Mikael Akerfeldt) to stand out as a prominent instrument. Far from creating a ballad, they crafted a song that exudes the mystique of a narrative where pain, death, and love coexist in the same material.
The first conceptual album from Opeth
In addition to the musical marvel presented in “My Arms, Your Hearse,” it’s fascinating how they approach the lyrics, a love and death story that concludes with a scene of peace. It is said that Mikael Akerfeldt first wrote the story and then the music. The way the songs connect is very pleasing, creating the feeling of listening to a single composition for an hour and two minutes.
It’s a great, predominantly progressive work that is purposeful and profound. A masterclass in European Metal that is worth listening to repeatedly. Opeth, without a doubt, holds a top position in our list of progressive metal bands alongside Dream Theater and Queensrÿche.
And what are your thoughts on this album? Leave us your comments!
