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General => Reviews => Topic started by: Zantera on May 09, 2010, 02:59:25 PM
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Artist: Anathema
Album: We're here because we're here
Genre: Progressive/Atmospheric rock
Year: 2010
Tracklist:
1. "Thin Air" – 5:59
2. "Summernight Horizon" – 4:12
3. "Dreaming Light" – 5:47
4. "Everything" – 5:05
5. "Angels Walk Among Us" – 5:17
6. "Presence" – 2:58
7. "A Simple Mistake" – 8:14
8. "Get Off, Get Out" – 5:01
9. "Universal" – 7:19
10. "Hindsight" – 8:10
7 years ago back in 2003, Anathema released their 7th album 'A Natural Disaster'.
Back then they had released albums pretty frequently, with just a year or two between them, and nobody would've thought that it would take another 7 years to get album number 8.
During all these years there has been demo-versions of songs played live, some of them destined to end up on the album, others would be either scrapped completely, or saved for another release.
Obviously 7 years is a long time, and if expectations are high on a new album normally, in this case they were sky-high.
Another question-mark was what direction they would take sound wise, being a band that has evolved enormously during the years.
I knew demo & live versions of some songs had been circling on the web for a while, but i stayed away, because i didn't want it to spoil the experience, and i didn't want to start comparing demo-versions to the album-versions.
"Thin Air" starts the album off, and it's a very happy & uplifting song.
The Anathema-sound has been pushed to a completely new level, and it's noticeable here.
6 minutes long, it's one of the longer-tracks on the album, and it's one of their best openers, maybe even THE best.
Next comes "Summernight Horizon", which sounds like nothing they've done before.
A bit of a gothic-atmosphere with the piano, combined with epic harmonies from Vincent, this song is one of the absolute highlights for me.
Then the album kinda reaches a 'slow down' in pace, the following 3 songs are more ballad-structured, and it takes the word "emotional" to a whole new point, even by Anathema-standards.
After that, "Presence" comes on, which brings thoughts back to Eternity, and i instantly thought about "Hope".
Since the first play, it has really grown on me, the spoken words makes me really emotional, combined with gorgeous keyboards, beautiful guitars, and some of Lee's best vocals, it makes a strong song.
Life is eternal.
"A Simple Mistake" with its 8.14 minutes makes the longest song on the album, and it's def. a highlight.
Personally i prefer the second part of it, it has a haunting & gothic feeling to it, and it sounds like something from The Silent Enigma/Eternity/Alternative 4 that has been spiced up, wonderful with other words.
"Universal" stands out as being very epic, an atmospheric & progressive journey.
I think the name of the song suits it very well.
"Hindsight" closes the album, and what's better then closing an album with an instrumental?
Being a huge fan of "Violence" (on A Natural Disaster), i was shocked that they managed to make an even better instrumental, and "Hindsight" is like the soundtrack to a perfect day in life.
It's the perfect ending on a perfect album.
So, what are my thoughts overall?
I come across lots of albums that makes me think "this is really great" (normally followed by me digging through the discography), but this album made me go "WOW.".
After my first listen, i just sat in my chair silent for 5 minutes staring into the wall.
This album is brilliant, it's one of the best albums i've heard in a REALLY long time.
It stands out amongst the other Anathema-albums, for being more positive/uplifting, but apart from that i think it has songs that qualifies as the best songs they've done.
This is already a strong candidate for 'album of the year', maybe even 'album of the decade', and this is an album you just shouldn't miss.
Points: 5/5
Highlight: Universal
(https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/anthemahere.jpg)
Reviewed by: Jimmy O. (Zantera)
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Amazing album and I agree with you on every point. I would like to separately mention Dreaming Light though, seeing as it is fastly becoming one of the favorite songs of all time.
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It was my first venture into Anathema, and it blew me away.
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You Anathema fan-boys better be right and this album better deliver, or I will be very disappoint.
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You won't be disappoint. It really is that amazing.
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You won't be disappoint. It really is that amazing.
This. I just gave this album a listen, and it totally blew me away.
I absolutely love A Simple Mistake. :tup
Your review turned me on to these guys, thankyou very much!
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I tried to get into Anathema with Judgement a year or so, but it didn't really work out. Will definitely pick this one up considering the rating you gave it :omg: Will report back to this thread with my thoughts
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Holy **** this album is terrific! Early favourites are: Summer Night Horizon, Presence and Universal. But the whole experience is just so uplifting! I will need a few more listens to really soak everything in, but so far this is much better than I expected! :tup
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Awesome to hear all the great reactions to this album :D.
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This album is climbing up my top10 favorite albums of all time pretty fast. :D
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This album is climbing up my top10 favorite albums of all time pretty fast. :D
I'm pretty sure I would put it in my list as well. I cannot stop listening to it, even though I am trying to lessen my nr. of listens :p.
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I've heard so much about this album over the past week, but I have never listened to the band before. Is it really that good? What kind of music do they make?
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It's umm, atmospheric rock? But with great soaring vocals. Very uplifting :)
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I've heard so much about this album over the past week, but I have never listened to the band before. Is it really that good? What kind of music do they make?
Progressive/Atmospheric Rock, i think it's safe to say that they have some similarities with PT, and most people who likes Anathema, likes PT as well. :P
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It's umm, atmospheric rock? But with great soaring vocals. Very uplifting :)
This tells that you have only heard their latest album :p. Their earlier albums are as depressing as music gets.
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The lack of talk about 'Everything' in here is fail :tdwn
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The lack of talk about 'Everything' in here is fail :tdwn
The whole album is phenomenal. :D
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The only song I kinda dislike is 'Get off, Get out'
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I really like that one, maybe because it's a bit PT-ish.
Angels Walk Among Us is probably the song that stands out the least to me.
It's 'only' fantastic, in a blur of masterpieces. :biggrin:
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I really like that one, maybe because it's a bit PT-ish.
Angels Walk Among Us is probably the song that stands out the least to me.
It's 'only' fantastic, in a blur of masterpieces. :biggrin:
AWAU is one of the best tracks on the album! Along with "Everything"
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Great album! I think my favorite is "A Simple Mistake" right now but really the whole disc is phenomenal.
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It's good. I wasn't blown away like everyone else seems to be though.
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It's good. I wasn't blown away like everyone else seems to be though.
Then you clearly need to listen to it more times. ;)
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Probably. As I told sonata, my first impression was that I would like it more after a few listens.
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There was really nothing not great about it, but the atmosphere seemed confused. It was very post-rock, which I enjoyed. Steven really left his mark, though.
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This is interesting read. I agree with you.
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I just bought the record, but I haven't really gotten around spending more time with it. Because my brother is constantly stealing it from me, to play mostly 'Dreaming Light'. He doesn't know the band at all, but he can't get enough of that song. He's been getting into 'Everything' as well, because that's the next track.
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Almost a half year after i wrote this review, i still agree with most of it.
It certainly hasn't aged bad, and i do consider it the best Anathema-album.
Universal being the best song. ;)
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It really is a great album. Very consistent as well, although Presence and, to some extent, Hindsight can't quite live up to the other songs.
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It really is a great album. Very consistent as well, although Presence and, to some extent, Hindsight can't quite live up to the other songs.
I love those two actually, Presence because it's beautiful, and Hindsight for that awesome climatic ending, to a fantastic album. ;)
My least favorites would probably be Everything and Dreaming Light, but i still love them.
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Really good album, I enjoy it a lot. It's like a 180 turn after A Natural Disaster, especially lyric-wise, but I really like it.
A Simple Mistake is an absolutely amazing song, I also love Thin Air and Dreaming Light. The only song I don't really like is Everything, it's just way too sweet and cute for my taste.
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One of my fav albums of recent years. Amazing stuff.
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Really love that album. I have TheVoxyn to thank for telling me to listen to it :D
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Anathema were my favourite band before I discovered DT. Now they sit comfortably in second place. I've been into them for at least a dozen years, and Judgement is my favourite album, above any DT album or any album by anyone else. That said, WHBWH is not far off it, and at the complete opposite end of the emotional spectrum - I'm somewhat amazed that they could make such an uplifting and vibrant sounding album after years of listening to the rather overpoweringly depressing Alternative 4 & Judgement. I'd say there are 7 outstanding songs on WHBWH (Thin Air, Dreaming Light, Everything, Angels Walk Among Us, A Simple Mistake, Universal & Hindsight), and the other 3 are very good, just not my style as much. And as with all Anathema albums since Alternative 4 the entire album is a complete listening experience and greater than the sum of it's parts. Last but not least, I consider Dreaming Light the equal of any of their other songs. If you knew how much I love Deep, Regret, Fragile Dreams, Forgotten Hopes, Feel, One Last Goodbye, Temporary Peace & The Orchestral version of The Silent Enigma off of Resonance that's a massive rap.
The only negative thing I can say about Anathema is I'm probably going to have to travel to Europe if I ever want to see them live. :(
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Album of the year as far as i'm concerned.