I saw some bad reviews here and on other forums so I was a bit hesitant about this album, but after I gave it just 2 full listens, I was super impressed. This album rocks, guys and girls! I am by no means a fan of 70's style prog (I can respect it, but the sound irks me sometimes) but this is a great album that flashes nostalgia while comming in fresh. Firstly, this could be the clinic on how to produce an album, everything is crisp sounding, clean, clear, beautiful and dynamic like no modern album seems to be anymore.
I can see why some might not like the album as there really isnt a stand-alone couple of songs you'll want to pull up now and again just to rock out to or thrash around with, so in this regard it differs from the last 2 Opeth albums which definitely had great signature "tracks". This album reminds me a lot like PT's "The Incident" where all the songs flow together, repeat melodies, and serve as small pieces to one large work of art, and of course, this work is as darkly melodic, mysterious, beautifully haunting, and just "cool" as only Opeth can make it.
Perhaps this is why I love the album so much as I have not listened to it other than in its entirety (around 6 full spins so far).