For their 10th studio album, Sweden's favourite prog-metallers have dropped the metal and embraced the prog. The death growls of their early work are as distant a memory as the early 1970s, the era from which Pale Communion draws its inspiration. As ever, there's much to admire in the musicianship, compositional skills and production values of Opeth's founding genius and driving force, Mikael Åkerfeldt. No band has travelled the same musical journey with such accomplishment. Pale Communion has a few standout moments. Cusp of Eternity is a brilliantly crafted track with echoes of early Rush; the country-tinged River showcases Åkerfeldt's ability to draw inspiration from disparate genres. However, too many of the songs are too long and meander to no intent and purpose. Even a composer as extravagantly gifted as Åkerfeldt needs to know his limitations. opeth.com