ANATHEMA: We're Here Because We're Here (ALTERNATIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Ten years! It took ten years for Anathema to come up with a new studio album with unpublished content. The original title of this album is inspired by a rallying song that could be heard during the First World War to restore morale. Anathema wanted to make a parallel to indicate how tightly the band is close-knit. The mix was left to Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and the mastering to Jon Astley (The Who, Led Zep).

Since its inception, Anathema has constantly evolved its music by offering an ever less metal and ever more accessible content. This album is no exception to the rule and merges atmospheric and alternative rock with real success.

The atmospheric aspect is above all characterized by this famous harmonic research that has always been the strength of Anathema, a very round sound and by a certain purity and melancholy, especially on the introductions and conclusions, allowing the piano or the electro-acoustic guitar some strong emotions. It is on this frame that the alternative elements are added, giving a little more rhythm to tracks that could have been engulfed in a certain linearity or even a certain mawkishness (the beginning of "Angels Walk Among Us"). The guitar becomes more nervous ("Summernight Horizon"), the percussions give voice and a certain headlong rush is felt to the delight of our senses.

As usual, the technique - which is not the strong point of this band - is totally set aside, involving fairly small solos and fairly classic constructions based on regular power increases ("Thin Air", "Dreaming Light", etc.) interspersed with breaks. Once again Vincent Cavanagh's crystalline vocals, sometimes brilliantly doubled by a female voice ("Everything"), works wonders and illuminates the album with his class and sensitivity.

Besides the rather classic titles that could easily be found in a Pineapple Thief album from the "Tightly Unwood" period, some tracks are similar to other references such as "Get Off, Get Out" reminiscent of Blackfield, especially on the chorus, or the superb "Universal", with omnipresent strings, which is closer to a Portishead.

Once again the band continues on its way while evolving just what it takes not to get tired and not cut itself off from its fan base. The Cavanagh brothers have once again succeeded in creating a balanced, melodious work that is easily assimilated from the first listening and yet does not suffer from repeated listening... They took time but the result was worth it... - Official website

ANATHEMA

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE HERE

KSCOPE

ALTERNATIVE ROCK