Ambivalence while I look

I was after the last album Heritage skeptical where I would already lead the journey with Pale Communion and stay honest back very ambivalent. On one hand, I find the present album - in itself - very good, although I in some places too much 'Gefrickel' and especially too much '70s organ' is present, but it is one MMN. accustomed since Ghost Reveries; On the other hand, I think that you have to see the album of course, within the overall context of the band / should. What became apparent with Heritage is now consistently continued with Pale Communion: a significantly higher weighting towards prog rock with MMN. appreciable smears in Metal.

It is this metal bonds that already failed me on Heritage, I am missing here. Where there is less to the (previously great) Growling I'm here, but a lot more about the loss of momentum and variance between the varieties and the vocal variance. Of course, this was long known in advance and this has not necessarily a criticism (see eg Damnation), but it would have the album MMN. good standing to face when it is precisely the - would have had elements Opeth typical death metal - so far. Surely there are many fans who no less than to give up the part of the bandwidth but for me / he is a substantial part of the character, which has awarded the band and I lack even after repeated listening - regardless of how well the album might be otherwise.
Another aspect of that struck me negatively, is a lack for me 'overall theme / -Theme' which holds together the album musically. Many of the other albums were such, just think of My Arms, Your Hearse, Still Life, Blackwater Park or Ghost Reveries - even at Heritage is one such recognizable. There were found for me a few ideas that have been voiced divers varied and combined into an overall concept. At current album I lack such consistency: it is because she is me be broken or worn items that basically me rather displeased (eg the 70 organ).

Of course, the album has here and there it's really great 'Opeth moments', be it for example in the opener, in Moon Above, Sun below or in the final 'Faith in Others' but these are not enough for me so that they long me will keep in the registry. Maybe I'm just not a fan Progressive enough as the current weighting would be happy to vote, on the other hand, I believe that it is because rather that Opeth perform as such this shift. Would it be a side project or any other band would disturb me this is probably significantly less.

Actually, I would have gladly given the album 3.5 stars, because these points - for me personally - weigh heavy. So certainly remains a really good prog album that had me as Opeth fan, the metal components are important / but unsatisfied leaves.

Since the album rock album certainly is beyond reproach as progressive, I give the album ultimately 4 of 5 stars.