Opeth: In Cauda Venenum (Extended Edition)

In Cauda Venenum was the last studio album by Swedish progressive metal / technical metal / folk metal legends Opeth, released in 2019 to a very good critical acclaim and reception. In May 2022 they released an extended version including three bonus tracks, both in Swedish and English as they did with the original album.

I came on board with Sorceress, an album that grabbed me from the get-go and forced me to go back and start the post-Deliverance journey which is the musical era of the band that I favor the most. ICV is yet another step forward from its predecessor and even though there seems to be a more accessible pop-like angle here and there, the atmospheric darkness of their melodies is still there, sometimes even deeper. The Floydian nuances mixed with the SAP era of Cantrell’s tonality result in a hypnotic combination which is very present in these bonus tracks. “The Mob� kicks off with pristine acoustic guitars accompanied by the super tight rhythmic section, great vocals, and vocal harmonies with a highlight on Joakim’s keys with his beautiful and haunting melodic layers, very good song. “Width of a Circle� might be the heaviest of these bonus racks with a general soundscape more on the vein of Sorceress, a little more complex than "The Mob" with an outstanding guitar work by Åkesson and fantastic vocal performance by Åkerfeldt. Finally, “Freedom & Tyranny� is a slower and more atmospheric tune, with that peculiar characteristic of an “album closer� song, the kind of song that inevitably transmits that the trip is coming to an end… amazing guitars and keys and a very melodic and soft version of the band, perhaps preluding the path in which future works will continue to evolve? We’ll see. I truly think ICV is an even better album with the addition and recommend the extended version for both completions and newcomers to the band.

Track Listing:

1. The Mob (4:36)
2. Width of a Circle (5:31)
3. Freedom & Tyranny (4:35)
4. Pöbeln (4:36)
5. Cirkelns Riktning (5:31)
6. Frihet & Tyranni (4:35)

Added: July 9th 2022
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 620
Language: english

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