Tag Archives: anathema

APESHIT’s Top Metal Albums of 2012

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As another great year for heavy music comes to a close, APESHIT takes a look back at our favorite pieces of music of 2012. This year had some great comebacks in CRYPTOPSY and STRIFE. There were also some nice surprises in the new sheer quality of the new SIX FEET UNDER and brutality of the new SOULFLY.

We want to thank all our readers, friends in the industry, and all the amazing artists, big and small, that we get a chance to work with for a great 10th year of existence. As the music industry as a whole continues to take an economic hit, let us all remember: If you like a band or one of their releases, support it!

Here’s hoping for a great 2013!

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Duncan Patterson’s ALTERNATIVE 4 Signs with Prophecy Productions

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Duncan Patterson‘s latest project, ALTERNATIVE 4 has announced its signing with Prophecy Productions. With the band name derived from the ANATHEMA album from 1998, the musical and atmospheric direction of this band is given: a solid rock foundation enriched with painful piano and string arrangements, sometimes on the verge of ambient music, sometimes offering the big influence of the rather dark and abysmal side of PINK FLOYD. All this can already be witnessed on last year’s debut album The Brink.

Duncan Patterson is an icon of melancholic alternative rock music. With his crucial songwriting role on ANATHEMA‘s Eternity and Alternative 4 he freed the Liverpool doomsters of their tight metal corset, he founded the likewise renowned ANTIMATTER whose first albums he shaped significantly, and he explored ethereal melancholia on two ION albums thus far.

Duncan Patterson on the new cooperation: “It’s good to be back onboard a label who have always had respect for my work, regardless of how obscure or ‘uncommercial’ it often turns out. In todays musical climate it is difficult to find a decent label who are genuinely focused more on the artistic/innovative side than anything else. For me that is essential as I’ve no plans to start playing and writing fashionable music as a career move, not unless I do it accidentally that is.”

The upcoming album will be entitled The Obscurants and will probably be recorded in late 2012.

ANATHEMA to Release Weather Systems April 24th, 2012

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ANATHEMA will return in April with Weather Systems, their brand new studio album.

Weather Systems is the follow-up to 2010’s We’re Here Because We’re Here, which has been featured prominently in numerous end-of-year polls and the producer, Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE), has described it as ”definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.”

The bar for Weather Systems has been set pretty high, but Daniel Cavanagh from the band is certain that the album will exceed these lofty expectations, stating, “It feels like we are at a creative peak right now, and this album reflects that. Everything from the production to the writing to the performances are a step up from our last album.”

He continues, “This is not background music for parties. The music is written to deeply move the listener, to uplift or take the listener to the coldest depths of the soul.”

The album was recorded in Liverpool, North Wales and Oslo and was produced and mastered by five time Norwegian Grammy nominated Christer-André Cederberg (ANIMAL ALPHA, IN THE WOODS…, DRAWN), who Daniel has described as “a revelation. His calmness and brilliance has helped to bring about the greatest inter-band chemistry that ANATHEMA have experienced together in their career.”

Their best ever work? “Not yet” says Daniel, but he does believe that with Weather Systems they have surpassed previous glories; “we are pleased and proud of the record and we feel that, alongside the best moments of WHBWH, this record contains our very best work so far in what is becoming a long career.”

Weather Systems will be available on The End Records on April 24th 2012.

APESHIT’s Top Metal Albums of 2011

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2011 was a very productive and enjoyable year for extreme music, perhaps the best in years. Thus, it was not an easy task choosing what we enjoyed best since they were just so many. 2011 also gave us unforgettably bad albums by LOU REED and METALLICA, flops by THE HAUNTED as well as controversial ones by MORBID ANGEL.

We look forward to another strong year in 2012 in which we will celebrate our 10 years online. Cheers for all of your support in 2011! Radikult!!
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ANATHEMA Part Ways with Keyboardist Les Smith

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Liverpool’s ANATHEMA have announced that keyboardist Les Smith (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH) has left the band. Here is their official statement:

“It is with regret and sadness that Anathema announce they have parted company with keyboardist Les Smith due to creative and musical differences.

“All of us including Les tried our best to make the partnership work for many years through hard work together, but it was felt there was always a difficulty and the creative process was just not working. Sadly the split was inevitable.

“Great respect and thanks is due to Les for all his tireless work behind the scenes for the band. It has been a very difficult few months for everyone concerned as Les is a unique character and is still much loved by all in the band. You will have noticed that Daniel Cardoso has been performing in concerts over the festival season as a live player, but the writing and recording line up will remain the nucleus of the band as it always was.

“We all wish Les the very, very best for the future.”

ANATHEMA Post Preview of New Orchestral Album, Falling Deeper

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Liverpool, England’s ANATHEMA have posted a preview of their upcoming orchestral album, Falling Deeper, online. The release will be available September 5th in Europe. No North American release date has been announced yet.

According to ANATHEMA’s website:

“Falling Deeper continues where Hindsight left off. The album features brand new arrangements of songs and haunting melodies from our earliest days. It’s a mesmerising blend of the orchestral – majestic and at times ethereal – with beautiful vocal arrangements and our unique ‘feedback’ lead guitars, all centred around a grand piano and a huge rhythm section. All the layers work together to convey the haunting internal landscapes ANATHEMA have become renowned for.

“This is an album which we hope will excite old and new ANATHEMA fans equally. A fresh musical and lyrical approach has transformed songs such as ‘Crestfallen,’ ‘Kingdom‘ and ‘Sunset Of Age.’ This record reveals how, even from the very start, the band wrote melodies which would always have a universal magic and emotional impact.

“Another highlight of the album, ‘Everwake,’ features the incredible voice of Anneke van Giersbergen and has brought a higher dimension to one of the band’s earliest and simplest acoustic pieces.

“The record has been produced by Daniel Cavanagh and was recorded and mixed by Andrea Wright at the legendary Parr St Studios, Liverpool. The orchestral arrangements are from Dave Stewart who worked so successfully with ANATHEMA on We’re Here Because We’re Here.

Anathema – Falling Deeper (Album Montage) by Kscope

ANATHEMA – We’re Here Because We’re Here

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It feels like it’s been a lifetime since the release of a new ANATHEMA album and the waiting has been taxing on fans. No doubt there have been various legitimate reasons for the length of time, including turmoil within the band and business issues. Now, onto the positive side of things…We’re Here Because We’re Here is absolutely fantastic.

The aura of positivity and hope is embodied in everything about the record, even on the more sublime songs. Just look at the cover artwork. Despite the fact that ANATHEMA has made a career of depressing and melancholic music, We’re Here Because We’re Here somehow fits perfectly into their catalogue. Even a song titled “Angels Walk Among Us” works. In the same manner in which their melancholic songs lifted one’s spirit, these songs do the same.

Stylistically, this is the further evolution of their unique style of atmospheric, emotional prog. The music is lush and rich without sounding overpowering or overdone. The song arrangements are dynamic and nearly flawless. Every member of the band can clearly be heard and lend their collective voices to create the synergy that can be heard. Subtle traces of their doom metal roots can be heard here and there.

No disrespect to ANATHEMA‘s previous two albums, A Natural Disaster and A Fine Day to Exit, but We’re Here Because We’re Here is the band’s strongest effort since Judgment. The latter is just so complete, full, and solid.

The bottom line is one of the best bands in the scene is back and the world is a better place for it. Welcome back, ANATHEMA. We missed you. (The End Records)

Anathema – Everything by TomosBlack

ANTIMATTER – Alternative Matter

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Music is such a powerful form of expression, one that can blow your mind and speak to the soul. ANTIMATTER is one such band that operates at the deepest levels. It’s a given that the band’s releases have all been winners and this anniversary compilation is no different. Band mastermind Mick Moss combed through the archives to include demos, alternative versions, live versions, and remixes of the band’s music pre-Leaving Eden, many of which include the work of former bandmate, Duncan Patterson. Even their excellent cover of DEAD CAN DANCE‘s “Black Sun” made it and is the compilation’s opening track. Alternative Matter traverses the sonic palette of the band, which includes acoustic guitar/bass, female vocals, male vocals, synthesizers/programming, and violins. The songs are just as sublime, melancholic, and atmospheric as they always were.

Though ANTIMATTER fans have heard most of these songs in their original or live forms, they somehow stay fresh and vibrant in their alternate forms here. When it comes down to it, that is really a compliment to the quality of the songwriting. There are no stand out tracks as they are all fantastic. Fans will each have their favorites. With 22 tracks on the digipack double CD version, there is more than enough content to enjoy for quite some time. The premium artbook version has more than 100 pages, three CDs and one DVD. Wow.

Due to Alternative Matter‘s career spanning content, it is a great representation of ANTIMATTER‘s earlier years. Thus, a fine compilation for old and new fans of the band that will leave a lasting impression. It is also celebration of one of the underground’s best and criminally underrated bands. (Prophecy Productions)

ANATHEMA’s We’re Here Because We’re Here to Finally Receive North American Release

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Legendary doom/prog band ANATHEMA are set to release the highly anticipated We’re Here Because We’re Here on June 7th on The End Records. The album’s release coincides with the band’s first ever North American tour. Dates in support of BLACKFIELD kick off on May 18th in Washington, DC.

We’re Here Because We’re Here perfectly blends alternative, rock, and prog, and marks the 8th studio album from a band with such a natural sense of melody, seething power and lyrics that they enlighten and inspire.

A special, limited edition deluxe edition will include three bonus tracks, 7 inch with two unreleased tracks, and a DVD 5.1 surround version of the album, along with the stereo version, both mixed by Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE.

Tour dates can be found here.