This album has everything you would expect from Opeth, most notably high quality. If you liked Black Water Park then you will also like this.

There are certain bands or artists that belong in a certain musical genre that I despise yet actually like listening to the band as they "do it better than the others". Whether it's just songwriting, innovation or just a better understanding of how to make their songs work, it might not be your typical kind of music but there's always that exception. I for one can't stand that extreme kind of metal but I always liked Opeth. "Deliverance", their 6th outing and the more heavier one whereas "Damnation" was its softer brother, continues its sound of huge, punishing and progressive riffs, growling vocals seemingly coming straight from Hell mixed with acoustic sections and clean singing. While it's one of their heaviest, it's also one of their most uneven.

Wreath: The song starts with some fast, brutal drumming and a series of great riffs and barely any clean parts make this a heavy opener but the problem is that there really isn't that compelling aspect to the song and the riff piled upon riff makes it kind of same-y. 2nd solo's cool though. Still, it's worth checking out anyway. 8/10

Deliverance: Big heavy dissonant riffs start us off before it goes into clean vocals and acoustics for awhile. More riffs and growls before Mikael comes in with his clean vocals and really help the song a big way. Most of the riffs afterwards are kinda iffy before a huge chugging riff makes the whole thing awesome, quiet interlude than probably one of the best outros the band has. Sure some sections could be dropped but as a whole, this is my favorite song off the album. 9/10

A Fair Judgment: It's sort of like a Damnation song but with distorted parts and with not a single metal growl anywhere, this is as accessible as anything off the record despite the length. While the opening piano meanders a bit, everything from the vocals to use of fingerpicked acoustics and solos near the end are top notch. The outro works well but seems like the wrong song to put it on plus it goes on for about 2 minutes. Grr. Oh well. 8.5/10

For Absent Friends: A short interlude similar to "Patterns in the Ivy" and this one's just as gorgeous and worth learning but maybe too short for some. 9/10

Master's Apprentices: Cool crunchy guitar riff and quick drum beats come right off the bat and more of Akerfeldt's growling and occasional clean vocals which are kind of basic and somewhat uninteresting until the clean section with E-bow feedback notes, strummed acoustic chords and ethereal backing vocal melodies. The next heavy parts are alright to a certain extent but it's kind of a song that grows on you, even if some parts aren't as great. 8/10

By the Pain I See in Others: One of the more experimental tracks on the record with some saying it's the best track on the record while others, including Akerfeldt saying it's just really meh-inducing. The death vocals over acoustics don't work that well (even if they're more raspier than normal) and the strange circus-music part is...odd but aside from the occasional riff, it's kind of an uneven listen. 6.5/10

As evidenced by the making of on the "Lamentations" DVD, the recording of these 2 albums was marked with pains and stressful times and it's a testament to their ability to come away with 2 great albums. Well, Damnation is amazing, but Deliverance in a way is...great. Not amazing but let's face it, Opeth can't seem to do a bad album if they tried.

Not one of the strongest discs in their collection, in my opinion. The vocals are stretched pretty thin, the thrash moments are pretty benign, the mid-tempo soaring guitars are good not great. Still, it's experimental enough - as always Opeth is never afraid, never bowed.

Maybe buy this one later, to fill in your collection (and if you're doing that, why aren't you looking at the box set?) - and if you're new, take a look at Ghost Reveries and Damnation.

I am openly NOT an advocate of Death Metal,BUT when done in such a crafty
fashion as these guys one has to but stop and listen to know that they go beyond metal and prog. There are some beautiful melodies going on not to mention some fantastic playing. "Wreath" is not to my liking and that's why it gets 4 stars,otherwise this is an almost flawless cd.

This is what PROG. means: going beyond the "already done that" and not rehashing. Many prog bands are guilty of this,they just do what other bands have done and call themselves Neo-Prog...hogwash!!!That's musical plagarism.

Opeth sets the bar high for progressive bands, in general because nobody has done what they have. Opeth is the future of Prog Metal. Long live Metal. \o/

Sweden's Opeth, one of metal's finest artists of this generation unleashes one of their heaviest releases to date. Since the early 1990's, Opeth have mesmerized audiences with their fusion of progressive death metal. 2002 brought fans a metal onslaught mixed with beauty. Originally meant to be released as a double-disc with 2003's Damnation, Deliverance found itself to be another gem that Opeth has skillfully written and flawlessly recorded.

`Wreath' is a fast and heavy piece, one that immediately catches the attention of the listener with its ferocity and beautiful progressive breakdowns. Mikael Akerfeld's vocals continue to shine and his death metal growl is amongst the best in the entire genre. His clean vocals are also worthy of mention. The title track, `Deliverance,' is one of the best songs that Opeth have ever composed. This song is a fan favorite and is played on nearly every live set. `A Fair Judgement' is a beautiful track that contains one of my favorite solos that Opeth have ever done. `Master's Apprentices' is another song worth mention that has very memorable riffs along with poetic lyrics.

Do not be drawn away by six tracks total for this recording. All five songs (one of them is a short, instrumental song) are over 10 minutes long. Musically, Opeth are widely considered to be one of the most talented bands in the genre. Their live performance is also breathtaking. I have had the privilege to see them perform various times including their Chronology set in Los Angeles. Deliverance is a marvelous album to have in one's collection. I know people who do not even enjoy metal, but like pleasure in Opeth's music. These Swedish masters continue their sheer dominance with 2002's Deliverance.