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Reviews
Anathema: Hindsight
28/08/08 || Euthanatos
Yes, yes, another of those bands that were once doom metal and then became flamboyant. I don’t care. Anathema is better than you. They’re better than your mother. Anathema is honey dripping from the sky. It’s the divine nectar. It’s God’s holy poop which we gratefully digest. Nothing is more heavenly than Anathema. Accept this now before the day of reckoning. Repent, black metal worshiper, repent!
Anyway, “Hindsight” isn’t a new album per se, it’s actually a compilation of previous songs, but, and it is a big but, all songs were re-recorded, mostly acoustic and with new arrangements. Now we’re talking, baby. Everything about this album is perfect, and it pleases me to tell you so. I was getting frustrated that 2008 was passing by and no album seemed to deserve that ultimate score for me, and I had given a 10 to something like 4 albums last year. What gives? Well, trust a non-metal album to do the trick, to tickle me in the nether parts, to make me hum. Probably the thing that appeals to me the most, believe it or not, is the astounding, inspirational, butt-fuckingly sweet cello playing by Dave Wesling. It’s just phenomenal, blends right in with the melodies. What a god damn talented prick. The vocals are also a big plus here. Lee Douglas’ vocals are very moving, delightful, adorable stuff. The male vocals provided by Vincent are awesome as well and he seems to be in his best shape.
Most tracks here were already mellow and semi-acoustic, so they didn’t suffer many changes, although the production is much more appealing on this record than in their previous offerings. Ironically enough, the band took the matters into their own hands, so even more props to them. “Fragile Dreams”, “One Last Goodbye”, “Are You There?”, “A Natural Disaster”, they all fucking kill me and are hauntingly beautiful. There’s also a new track, which makes everything even better, “Unchained (Tales Of The Unexpected)”. I can’t wait for “Horizons” to come out.
The good thing about this album also is that the band isn’t afraid to use a little electric guitar here and there to give just the right amount of highlight to certain parts of the songs. The aforementioned cello, tambourines and keyboards greatly enrich the sound as well. If you want to headbang, go listen to your Slayer collection. But if you want to relax, chill, have sex, take it in the butt or just watch the sunset/sunrise, put this on. It’s the soundtrack for a lifetime.
The cover: I really like simple photos with natural effect as covers, and the shadow of a microphone is just perfect for a compilation entitled “Hindsight”. Well, it could be a dildo on a stand as well, but that would be even better.
10 offerings to the gods out of 10.
- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Peaceville/Kscope
- Website: www.anathema.ws
- Band
- Lee Douglas: vocals
- Vincent Cavanagh: vocals, guitars
- Daniel Cavanagh: guitars
- Jamie Cavanagh: bass
- Les Smith: keyboards
- John Douglas: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Fragile Dreams
- 02. Leave No Trace
- 03. Inner Silence
- 04. One Last Goodbye
- 05. Are You There?
- 06. Angelica
- 07. A Natural Disaster
- 08. Temporary Peace
- 09. Flying
- 10. Unchained (Tales Of The Unexpected)
