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Antimatter: Leaving Eden

20/01/11 || Altmer

Bla bla bla, it’s not metal. Bla bla bla, it’s only scarcely related to a band that maybe was metal 20 years ago. Bla bla bla, it’s soft, moody, and gay. Bla bla bla, I don’t give a flying fuck about what any of you say. That’s how we do it here at Global Domination. I choose to review this album, bitch. And why would I choose to review something like this? Because I think it has a place in the world to be reviewed. Because I think all of you benefit from broadening horizons. And because, first and foremost, this album rules all kinds of shit. And that criterion beats anything else.

What is this, then? Pink Floyd’s depressive brother on whiskey. Lots of it. That’s what this is. It’s dark, it’s moody. It’s psychedelic. If you got drunk to this then the shards of the bottle you drank from and broke in a raging fit will end up cutting your wrists and leaving you bleeding on the floor. Is there any form of happiness or speed included on this album? No. According to this album, there’s no hope. We should all kill ourselves. We should all turn emo, wither, die. That’s all there is. And the best part is: you can do it. Every day.

Actual music? It’s not there as much as there’s a lot of atmosphere. You won’t find lots of killer riffs here. It’s not the point. There’s warm, lush production with lots of nice electronic feelings, slow drums, and moody keys. There are lots of good guitar solos strewn all across the album, mostly reminiscent of the God of Guitar Solos (Not Yngwie. David Gilmour). In fact, the solo on “Redemption” is the best single solo I’ve heard since the last time I played Anathema’s “One last goodbye”. Or Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably numb”. It doesn’t shred, but it’s played with feel. And feel is something a lot of guitar players lack. They know how to solo, they just don’t know when to solo or when to sound like what kind of soloist. Mick Moss knows who to hire: Danny Cavanagh. The genius behind Anathema is on this record too. And his solos are always a joy to behold.

The vocals sound like a rough man’s voice, drunk on too much whiskey. That is pretty much all there is to it. This is one guy, drunk at a bar, with his guitar. Someone decided to score his sorry, ragged life and that’s it. It’s probably raining outside the bloody pub. That’s what he sounds like. And given my penchant for this kind of stuff it is obvious I love every last part of it. The cello that pops up here and there gives it an even better touch. The cello is actually probably the instrument that I love the most for that evocative, weepy December tone. I love it. I love the evocative weepy December music. Yes, I’m an emo fuck. I don’t care. Good music is good music and this is amazing when the world just keeps on turning and raining. Side effect of living in a country renowned for frigidity and rain.

What should you be doing tomorrow? Apart from tying the noose, I mean? You should be buying this album. That’s all you should be doing. A glass of good whiskey, this album, and you are set if you ever have a lonely night. Just make sure to shrug off the hangover the next morning.

Looks like it’s gonna be another rainy day again…

Recommendation: Prozac.

Information
Released: 2007
Label: Prophecy Productions
Website: www.antimatteronline.com
Band
Mick Moss: vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, organ, electric piano
Danny Cavanagh: lead guitars, piano, additional synth on “Landlocked”
Ste Hughes: bass
Chris Phillips: drums
Rachel Brewster: violins
Gavin Attard: additional synth on “Another Face…”

Tracklist
01. Redemption
02. Another Face in a Window
03. Ghosts
04. The Freak Show
05. Landlocked
06. Conspire
07. Leaving Eden
08. The Immaculate Misconception
09. Fighting for a Lost Cause

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