English melodic rockers Anathema are live in the capital this time for theirUK exclusive date on the Resonance25th anniversary retrospective tour – a three hour show partitioned into three sets celebrating the entirety of the band's storied career. Having started in life as a doom death metal band, the Liverpudlians' musical trajectory saw them straying into adventurous, atmospheric and melancholic takes on rock in a variety of forms with a tide of musical influences.
Fifty minutes after the doors open, Anathema take the stage with their first set, aptly opening with 'Anathema' from their highly praised 'Distant Satellites' release. The sound of the venue is commendably crystal clear, with each instrument given the necessity to sound flawless. With the sets positioned in reverse chronological order, the first handles Anathema's most recent rock output with modern classics 'Untouchable' (restarted as guitarist Danny Cavanagh messed it, to which frontman Vincent Cavanagh says: “It's live music.”), Lee Douglas' vocally emotive 'A Natural Disaster' and the robotic 'Closer'. Many bands passing their 25th birthday are mere nostalgia acts with fans patiently waiting for the unbeatable earlier music to be performed however, some of Anathema's strongest material is at the tail end of their discography, something supported by the audience's vociferous reactions, some of which are the loudest of the night. 'One Last Goodbye', from 'Judgement' closes the set, a gorgeous piece which, the crowd is informed, was penned about the Cavanaghs' mother's passing.
After a ten minute interlude, Anathema return with original bassist Duncan Patterson joining them, launching into 'Shroud of False' from one of the band's strongest full-lengths 'Alternative 4'. Indeed, this release enjoys a substantial representation at the start of this set with 'Fragile Dreams', 'Empty' and 'Lost Control' making the cut and stirring the audience with its metallicvigour. This is followed by all three parts of the melodic doom metal 'Eternity', thick in dramatic gothic-tinged atmosphere and performed sublimely. The one-two closing punch of 'Sunset of Age' and 'A Dying Wish' from the second album 'Silent Enigma' plunge proceedings into even gloomier territory with pained dual guitar harmonies, more distortion and coarse vocals.
The final set sees original vocalist Darren White enthusiastically take to the stage to earth-shattering applause. White was with Anathema for five years and appeared on the band's first two albums 'Serenades' and 'The Silent Enigma'. 'Crestfallen', 'Under a Veil of Black Lace' and 'Lovelorn Rhapsody' are exquisite to hear, White's vocals not as brutal as their recorded counterparts but still loaded with the appropriate grit and his stage presence is sincere and captivating. Churning, sombre melodies are the order of the set and even manage to evoke some furious mosh pits – something that is certainly a rarity nowadays at an Anathema show. The curtain calling song 'They (Will Always) Die' concludes this set to a thunderous applause from the spectators demanding more after White thanks everyone passionately.
Of course, the band return for their encore with many fans already having guessed what it is, namely the anti-war track 'Sleepless' with its goth rock guitar melodies sandwiched between tumultuous metal passages, a punctuating way to wrap up their astonishing 26-song set. White thanks the audience for their support and how fantastic it has been touring with his former band mates.
Tonight was an overwhelming event that not only chronicled Anathema's entire lengthy career but also reunited old friends to recreate music never heard in the live realm any more, breathing life into the seemingly impossible wishes of Anathema's oldest fans. The band was emphatic by reminding the audience that this is such a rare opportunity to hear these old tracks performed with the original vocalist. The audience's reception was consistently strong throughout and undoubtedly everyone left with a smile on their face. It will be difficult for Anathema to top this tour.
FUTURE GIGS
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