"A serious misconception / To choose a path that led to ruin" reminds me sometimes of how others see this phenomenal band. To a lot of people, 'Anathema' is seen as a 2nd subsitute for 'My Dying Bride'. I myself openly state that my favourite band is 'My Dying Bride', however, there are certain albums and songs which I totally prefer from 'Anathema'. They are definitely not a subsitute nor should they be in anyone's shadow.

At the time of 'Anathema's' debut on the music scene they were already in with the leagues of fellow English muso's like 'My Dying Bride' and 'Paradise Lost'. This perhaps emphasized and also underrated their true talent. These guys from Liverpool;England are a class act and should never be doubted on their contribution to Doom Metal.

Over the years the style of 'Anathema' songs and albums have changed. From the grunty death/doom style in the early 1990s, to the clean vocalized epic doom style from 1996-1999, to the now somewhat softer and *gasp* mainstreamed style of their latest album.

I'm in an Anathema mood today *being 3rd May 2003* as in my hot little hands, I have their A Vision of a Dying Embrace DVD. It's been repeating all afternoon. Apart from being superb Doom Metal, it makes me realize more that a lot of bands today are just Anathema and My Dying Bride copies. I still by music from those bands, but it just shows how much of a leading force in music that these bands are/were. *hence the re-written version of this page*

If you've already looked through the rest of my website *or you know me*, you'll find some songs on the ~*Lyrics*~ page from 'Anathema'. I personally love most of their lyrics - and especially those from the 1999 album called Judgement. This was a definining moment in the band's history. Their harsher death/doom style on albums like Serenades/Crestfallen, Pentecost III and The Silent Enigma was replaced with a highly emotional, sweeping epic doom version on Judgement. Although that style was somewhat emerging on Eternity and Alternative 4.

In terms of Anathema as a whole, I prefer their albums up to 1995. This means Serenades/Crestfallen, Pentecost III and The Silent Enigma. They had that harsh and heavy Death/Doom feel to them. Something which I feel greatly over-rules their newer ones. Key songs of those albums would have to be 'They Die', 'Sweet Tears', 'Sleepless', 'We the Gods', 'Shroud of Frost', 'Sunset of the Age', 'The Silent Enigma' and 'Mine is Yours To Drown In (Ours Is the New Tribe)'. *Although any song from those albums would be worthy of mention*.

The change of style could possibly be due to the departure of Darren White as vocalist. With albums of Eternity, Alternative 4 and Judgement they took somewhat of a softer and melodic approach. Out of those three I prefer Judgement. I cannot reccommend Judgement enough though. To me it has everything an album should have and more. The lyrics are superbly crafted and the music is just awe-inspiring. For me, I can relate to the album, and perhaps that is the reason why I love it as much as I do. *yes even more than some 'My Dying Bride' albums* It is the type of music that you can listen to and just float to some other astral plane and reflect, relax and enjoy the moment that you are in.

Other key songs from this 1996-1999 period are 'Fragile Dreams', 'Hope', 'Radience', 'Lost Control', 'One Last Goodbye', 'Anyone,Anywhere', and 'Make it Right'.

You might also notice that I have not got any lyrics from their new album'A Fine Day to Exit. There's a simple reason for that - I don't really like the new album at all. I like a couple perhaps *even that's stretching it a bit!*, but on the whole, I don't listen to the album *nor would I recommend it - only to those people who like Coldplay, The Hives, The Datsuns etc and any other brit pop/rock rubbish*

1992 - The Crestfallen 4/5
1993 - Serenades 4/5
1995 - Pentecost III 4/5
1995 - The Silent Enigma 4/5
1996 - Eternity 4/5
1998 - Alternative 4 4/5
1999 - Judgement 5/5 (Their absolute best album!)
2001 - A Fine Day to Exit 2/5
2002 - A Vision of a Dying Embrace DVD 5/5

If you'd like to listen to samples of their work, which I suggest you do...you can click on the following banners and you'll be transported to a place of wonder and amazement.....