"Feel so close to everything now, strange how life makes sense in time"
Written: May 31 '09
Product Rating:
Pros: Outstanding musicianship; atmospheric, versatile, complex, sad; it will make you FEEL
Cons: Well, music this stirring and emotional can almost be too much for some (not me)...
The Bottom Line:
Yes, Anathema is well-known in metal circles due to their doom origins. But A Natural Disaster is psychedelic, soft, experimental rock. And it is mesmerizing.
blindsider's Full Review: A Natural Disaster * by Anathema
Anathema is best listened to in complete solitude or through headphones. Their music takes me away. The UK-based atmospheric rock band is really special in the sense that I can listen to them and all I hold in my mind seems to dissolve. The emotions and multiple sonic progressions that characterize Anathema seem to only intensify with time.
Of course, having such a diverse catalogue comes with a possibility of "hit-or-miss" once in a while. And while Anathema's seventh full-length album A Natural Disaster is not quite as consistently great as some other Anathema releases (like Alternative 4 and Judgement), I have come to understand that it's brilliant in its own right. I found it slightly lukewarm initially, but this is an album that really takes time to "get." It's not a fast album, but it is complex; jumping to easy conclusions with music this rich is never a good idea.
The Pink Floyd influence evident in Judgement and A Fine Day to Exit is still present here. A Natural Disaster has ten moody, trippy songs overflowing with a number of feelings. "Harmonium" begins softly, inducing listeners into a trance with lead vocalist Vincent Cavanagh's near-whispered repetitions of "It's too real" before the electric guitars and drums enter, culminating in a satisfying crescendo of a finale. "Balance" is slightly trippier, melting perfectly into the ethereal "Closer," which is a challenging journey of bizarre sound effects and spacey repetitions of "The dream world is a very scary place." Eventually, the drums pick up and the song becomes a bit of a chaotic, screaming freefall before dipping back down into a few soft piano notes then fading away.
One of the most recognizable Anathema songs of all, and surely one of my favorites from A Natural Disaster, is the chilling, tranquil "Are You There?" This song focuses on lead guitarist/backing vocalist and main Anathema songwriter Danny Cavanagh (for the record, three Cavanagh brothers are in Anathema; Vincent's twin Jamie is on bass. Cool, huh?). Danny's voice has a unique vulnerability, and though it may not be as beautifully resonant as Vincent's, it is lovely by its own merits. "Are You There?" has a fantastic melody, opening with a whisper and delicate, gorgeous acoustic guitar.
Since you've been gone I've been lost inside Tried and failed as we walked by the riverside Oh, I wish you could see the love in her eyes The best friend that eluded you, lost in time Burned alive in the heat of a grieving mind...
"Childhood Dream" is an eerie interlude with the sound of children's laughter, seguing right into the asphyxiating surprise that is "Pulled Under at 2000 Metres a Second," which opens with a rumbling bassline and is much more "in-your-face" than the rest of A Natural Disaster. Frenetic, fast-paced, bold guitar melodies are threaded into the Cavanaghs' loud cries of "Freedom is only a hallucination," and the result is pleasantly jarring. And the thickly radiant "Flying" has a DIVINE melody, exotic guitars, and Vincent's clearest, most impressive vocals on A Natural Disaster.
A Natural Disaster might not be the perfect starting point for those unfamiliar with Anathema, but it's a must-have for those who are well-acquainted with this band's interesting, progressive blend of atmospheric rock and occasionally doom rock/metal. I would like to recommend this especially to fans of Katatonia and The Gathering, and all experimental rock music that is so strongly laden with emotion.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.