Silent Sunday Pt. 82 Hey everybody… It’s grey and cold outside today, so let me go with a suitable 82nd edition of the Silent Sunday blog, this time spotlighting Britain’s own Anathema, https://facebook/anathemamusic Man, I used to love this band… A couple of demos, an initial 7”, the Peaceville debut “The Crestfallen EP” from 1992 as well as the first longplayer “Serenades” (“Sweet Tears” and “Sleepless” simply rule!) from 1993 had quickly established this young outfit from Liverpool as one of the leading UK doom/death bands back in the day, alongside Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride (that I both worshipped as well). Those early Anathema releases showed a quick and steady development as musicians, always heading into a more melodic and accessible direction. But then came the ultra-gloomy and (at least for me) tough to get into “Pentecost III” mini albumfrom 1995 and a split with their vocalist Darren J. White (who then went on to form the shortlived The Blood Divine outfit). That actually felt like the end of the Anathema’s first chapter and somehow surprisingly the same year 1995 already brough a full new longplayer entitled “The Silent Enigma”, which now presented guitarist Vincent Cavanagh (one of 3 brothers involved with the band throughout their career and at present) taking over their vocalist role. I remember that move had me slightly worried, but the album’s opening track “Restless Oblivion” completely floored me upon first play! Obviously Anathema were still in a state of stylistic morphing and maybe that’s what actually makes this album so special?! I absolutely love its cold and serene Celtic Frost vibe! Anathema continued to progress into a less and less metallic direction in the following years and after two a bit less impressing albums, they reached a total peak with their “Judgement” release in 1999. I consider this one of the best emotional rock/metal albums of all time and it still gives me shivers when I play it! From then onwards it almost felt like a third chapter of the band begun, seeing them further changing to become an atmospheric alternative rock band for future releases (with almost no resemblance to their early days or even mid-phase anymore) and to this day. Hmmm, this reminds me I haven’t even properly heard 2014’s “Distant Satelltes” album… A few Anathema online links: Website: anathema.ws Facebook: https://facebook/anathemamusic “Restless Oblivion” track: https://youtube/watch?v=CexBzf4DC4M “Restless Oblivion” live 1997: https://youtube/watch?v=UFtvB2Ea640 “The Silent Enigma” video: https://youtube/watch?&v=_iCDTMkTduE “The Silent Enigma” live 1997: https://youtube/watch?v=FPTtck4kbM0 “Sweet Tears” video: https://youtube/watch?v=tFK0fnHvcFE “Sleepless” track: https://youtube/watch?v=CxY1B8mdGuA “Sleepless” live 1997: https://youtube/watch?v=v-4tSW1zy3M “Deep” track: https://youtube/watch?v=16Vm9yb3hZ8 “Deep” from “Universal” concert film 2013:https://youtube/watch?v=zJpI5h8wlaQ “Untouchable (Part Two)” from “Universal” concert film 2013: https://youtube/watch?v=YRt0Ug5WweE Co-incidentally 2015 will see a handful of very special Anathema “Resonance” live-sets celebrating “the entire history of anathema music” on their 25th band anniversary, including guest appearances by former bassist/keyboardist Duncan Patterson and initial vocalist Darren White. Looking forward to seeing that one at the 20th edition of the awesome Roadburn festival / roadburn. Also, Anathema’s early albums were recently re-released by Peaceville on LP in a nice way and listening to those versions has actually inspired me to write this blog! Ah, times flies…so have a good Sunday! Leif & D-S
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 12:38:44 +0000
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