Anathema

The title for Anathema’s eleventh full-length would also serve well in describing the Liverpool sextet’s uncompromising dedication to fearless artistry since forming in 1990. They’ve continually evolved by placing hope in the future – from leaving the underground scene they were fundamental in establishing to continually mesmerising the world with stargazing post- progressive alternative rock that knows no borders. Led by brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and keyboardist/drummer Daniel Cardoso – this is a band that have forsaken all notion of expectation – highly evocative music simply pours out of them. And in a world of plastic conformists so desperately awaiting their moment of recognition, it’s a potent truth very much needed... “We’ve been honest with ourselves from the start in writing deeply personal music,” admits lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Vincent. “It’s just that in the earlier days, it was cloaked in heavier instrumentation. When you’re a teenager, it’s natural to want to go ‘all or nothing’. We had a 23-minute ambient piece, classical ideas, multi-layered guitar harmonies, acoustic folky stuff, reversed tape experiments, long psychedelic sections, spoken word... all of that. But we quickly learned that the best way to get to the core of emotion in music is to strip away the layers. Melody is everything, then lyrics, rhythm and bass. Is it meaningful? Does it move you? Start with that... if the answer is yes, then you can start to think about experimenting.”