There are artists who aim to satisfy the fans. Then there are those who plough ahead with their own vision irrespective of fashion or expectations.

Revered doyens of epic Scando-metal, Opeth, caused a stir on their last outing, Heritage, abandoning heaviness almost entirely as main man Mikael Akerfeldt explored a style similar to the ‘70s prog-rock he grew up on. The album sold well (#12 in Australia) but many of the faithful were disappointed at the lack death roars on tour. 

Pale Communion is another of Opeth’s unified listening experiences, where tracks blend into one typically complex beast that can’t be absorbed entirely in one session. Numerous highlights still shine through, and they don’t come much grander than the organ heavy opener, Eternal Rains Will Come. Melancholy, windswept, stoic… if you’re having an existential crisis and feel like moping around near the edge of a cliff (but not too close) – this is your music. The galloping single, Cusp Of Eternity, carries the momentum into Moon Above, Sun Below, which features gorgeous mid-section interplay between electric and acoustic instruments. River is about the heaviest thing here, migrating from gorgeous alto harmonies into a double-time electric hoedown, but it’s a far cry from the bludgeoning of old. 

The bad news for Heritage haters: Akerfeldt’s conviction to explore less extreme plains is more entrenched than ever. But with material this good, who really cares? If Pale Communion doesn’t bring the naysayers back on board, nothing will.