9. Opeth - Heritage
RoadrunnerHeritage is actually a pretty good albumchallenging, unpredictable and loaded with eccentric tracks totally contrary to anything currently deemed popular in any genre. The main reason Heritage is on this list is Opeth built a reputation and large following as a death metal band (mostly due to Mikael Akerfelts frequent use of cookie monster vocals), although the band has always explored metals more melodic and progressive side. Even the moody, mellotron-heavy 2003 release - Damnation - was seen as a one-shot departure from their usual sound and released almost simultaneously with their heaviest album Deliverance, so most fans werent too concerned. But not only was Heritage their first album in three years, it was devoid of Akerfelts death grunts (the guy actually has an incredible voice) and not a heavy metal album at all. The only track which comes close is Slither, a Ronnie Dames Dio tribute which sounds eerily like an early Rainbow song. Not only that, many of the songs were schizophrenically assembled, with jarring time-changes, passages so quiet it sometimes sounds like nothing is going on, and guest appearances by old jazz musicians. Though longtime fans have always accepted Opeths penchant for traveling back in time to the 70s, this organic-sounding, oddly-paced record was too much for many to swallow. While one must appreciate and respect Opeths uncompromising approach (long-time listeners whove been paying an iota of attention must admit this is the album theyd been threatening to make for years), its ironic that they would choose the very moment theyre on the verge of being regarded as the worlds premier death metal band to toss aside everything which put them on the radar in the first place.