Anathema

[Methem]

This was once a growling metal band. Now softer and more sophisticated, they play melodic, melancholic rock.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progress...p?band_id=1038

The early albums are largely just slowish metal, but Eternity (1996) and any newer stuff might appeal to some of the Moonies. Judgement (1999) may be easiest to start from.


-Methem

[mailotron]

yesterday, I read in the last issue of a belgian progzine that they were without any label.
Their new tracks are available as i-tunes and the band hopes to get enough money ( royalties and fans donations) to self-produce its next work.
From a strict personnal point of view, this kind of "harsh prog" is not my cup of tea.

[zvinki]

Although I listen and like Ananthema, I am not sure that they fit the AM sound.

[Methem]

Originally Posted by mailotron

From a strict personnal point of view, this kind of "harsh prog" is not my cup of tea.

It's not all that harsh. For example, A Fine Day to Exit, from what I remember (I don't have the album anymore), is pretty soft stuff: I wouldn't call it metal at all.

Originally Posted by zvinki

Although I listen and like Ananthema, I am not sure that they fit the AM sound.

You might be right.

Great stuff anyway. I digged it a lot a few years ago when I was briefly exploring the more metallic side of music...


-Methem

[zvinki]

Hey methem, which Anathema CD do you recommend? I have been listening to some MP3's until now and have just ordered Eternity because I felt that it was time to show my appreciation.

[Methem]

Originally Posted by zvinki

Hey methem, which Anathema CD do you recommend? I have been listening to some MP3's until now and have just ordered Eternity because I felt that it was time to show my appreciation.

Eternity is a good choice. It was the first Anathema album I ever heard, and it's definitely my favourite from the band. Dark and melancholic, but beautiful. Heavier moments and some very soft moments as well.

The Silent Enigma (1995) is pretty much pure metal, slow growling. I believe it resembles the early Paradise Lost quite a bit. I do like the album, but I'm not sure if I would recommend it.

Alternative 4 (1998): I used to have this in the past. I remember it had some interesting stuff on it, but eventually I didn't like it so much. These days I would probably love it, who knows. In any case, I distantly recall that it wasn't very heavy stuff...

Judgement (1999): As I wrote, this might be their easiest album to start from. It's melancholic rock, hardish but not necessarily metal. Well-done stuff, but perhaps somewhat straightforward.

A Fine Day to Exit (2001): Pretty soft, not much metal in sight. Most probably well-done stuff, but personally I was disappointed by this album when it came out. But again, that was a few years ago: perhaps things would be different these days...

That's about it. I cannot really say much on their other stuff. I used to have one of their very early albums, or an EP perhaps, and I remember that I wasn't very excited about it.

The newest studio album I'll most probably check some day.

Hope this helps, and makes some sense....


-Methem

[zvinki]

Thanks. I'll give you my opinion on Eternity once I listen to it.

[Methem]

If you like Anathema, then at least Katatonia (Sweden) and My Dying Bride (UK) might also be worth checking. Not that I know too much about them though. I used to have Katatonia's "Discouraged Ones" and MDB's "Like Gods Of The Sun". Especially the latter wasn't bad, but I definitely prefer Anathema.


-Methem

[rpmartino]

I discovered Anathema and Katatonia recently and I like them. Some interesting, creative and emotionally charged music with wider spread appeal than the "prog" genre I think. Hard to listen to these bands for long periods of time though, they tend to focus on the depressing side of the musical spectrum.

[mailotron]

... Ana Methem A ? :-)

[Methem]

Originally Posted by mailotron

... Ana Methem A ? :-)

Methem is just a nick I chose when I started playing MUDs (see the World of Warcraft thread). That was before I discovered the band.


-Methem

[rick_wakeman]

anathema is a pretty good band. They began with awfull hardcore stuff, but now they're here to stay. Some say they're close to Pink Floyd music. Check out the free album from the band "antimatter" on the net. full of b-side songs by a couple of guys from this band and unreleased live songs. I'm not sure, but i think antimatter cover a Sigur Ros song or maybe Sigur Ros does...

[rick_wakeman]

the free virtual album is not on-line anymore. but there are free stuff here http://antimatter.free.fr/uk/Site%20...meFrameset.htm

still talking about antimatter

[Methem]

Thanks for the link, rw. Will check the free downloads.

Some brief info on this band from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter_%28band%29:

"Antimatter is a band formed by Duncan Patterson, former bass player and songwriter of Anathema. As opposed to Anathema, this project steps away from the heavy metal genre and presents a more melancholic, ambient atmosphere. Placing focus on rhythm, melodic vocal lines, and dark electronic dubs, Antimatter balances on the borderline between goth and trip hop."


-Methem

[Methem]

The virtual album you're talking about, rw, seems to be available from

http://antimatter.rockmetal.art.pl/download.html


-Methem