Heritage is a tough listen. It certainly feels longer than 55 minutes, and I need to be in the right mood to listen to it, but all of that goes for most Opeth really; Blackwater Park is also a long listen. The great thing about Heritage is that every time I listen to it, I like it a little bit more. I begin to notice new things about it, and I might find a song that I like that I wasn't really into before. Listening to it is definitely a journey, and it sets a similar mood to other Opeth albums, but with a different style. It's moments of aggressiveness are so few that when they do happen, they hit hard. It tests the listener, and I like that, one year later it is still growing on me, and I look forward to it continuing to grow on me, and maybe it will jump even further in my rankings.
Now I would be disappointed if they never made a metal album again, but I can understand why if they don't. When I listen to Watershed, I hear a band that is burnt out on metal, there's much less growling, and softer parts really dominate the album. The growling parts seem forced, as if they are obligated to write death metal, with Heritage it becomes clear that they aren't. If they write another death metal album just because they feel like they have to, then it is probably going to suck, and I'd rather them make what they want to make, it'll end up being better. Also, as I said before, Ghost Reveries is the peak, they won't top that. I'd rather them try a new direction, although another Heritage would be too tedious.
Now I would be disappointed if they never made a metal album again, but I can understand why if they don't. When I listen to Watershed, I hear a band that is burnt out on metal, there's much less growling, and softer parts really dominate the album. The growling parts seem forced, as if they are obligated to write death metal, with Heritage it becomes clear that they aren't. If they write another death metal album just because they feel like they have to, then it is probably going to suck, and I'd rather them make what they want to make, it'll end up being better. Also, as I said before, Ghost Reveries is the peak, they won't top that. I'd rather them try a new direction, although another Heritage would be too tedious.
