Music
[Review] Opeth ‘Heritage’
A new Opeth album is always a mini holiday for me. When Ghost Reveries came out, I was at the store when they opened, put the CD in my car and I only stopped listening to it when I had to move it from my car stereo to my computer, whereupon I continued to blast it for the rest of the day. Honestly, I don’t think there is a Opeth song that I haven’t heard at least ten times. So hopefully by now you can understand my excitement and, also, my apprehension upon listening to Heritage. After all, it’s not that I built myself up specifically for this album. Rather, I have built myself up to the idea of Opeth for years, since I first started listening to them. So how does Heritage measure up to my expectations? Find out after the jump.
Warning: Get used to seeing the word “prog”. It’s going to show up a lot in this review.
After the gorgeous prog-jazz instrumental title track, the album dives into The Devil’s Orchard, a 70’s prog-rock tune that is one of the heavier songs on the album. Gone are Mikael Akerfeldt’s signature death growls, replaced by his beautiful croons and soaring cries. The heavily distorted guitars have been replaced by crunchy, almost slightly fuzzy tones. Feeling suspiciously as though Opeth had been transported back in time, this track, and Heritage before it, set the stage for a prog-rock masterpiece.
To properly understand the production, you have to remember that Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield) took care of all of the mixing. Considering that Steven has been hard at work remixing and remastering the King Crimson collection (starting with In The Court Of The Crimson King), it’s impossible to ignore the similarities. Now, I am not knocking Wilson or the mix that he created. On the contrary, I think that for what Opeth was going for with Heritage, this mix was exactly what was needed. At several times, the instruments sound like they’re on the verge of cracking and distorting but not because of vast amounts of compression. Instead, they sound like this because it seems like they are pushing the preamps almost to the very peak. This album oozes vintage warmth and begs to be heard on vinyl. Just listen to the last two minutes of Opeth and revel in the sublime, understated beauty.
The Final Word: As I said before, there are no death growls or evil, dissonant guitar tones on this album. As much as this might seem like a deviation for Opeth, the more I listen to Heritage, the more it seems like a perfectly natural progression. Do I miss heavy Opeth? Without a question. However, the surreal, haunting beauty of this album has won me over entirely.
The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.
The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”
The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.
Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”
The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).
The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.
The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.
As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.
Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.
You must be logged in to post a comment.