ANATHEMA – Fine Days 1999-2004

Anathema-MFN-Remaster-Fine-DaysIn the twenty-first century, Anathema have often been mentioned in the same breath as Opeth and Porcupine Tree due to their increased movement towards thoughtful progressive rock structures.  It hasn’t always been that way, of course.  Like Opeth, the band began life as a totally different musical beast, playing in a melodic death metal style.  Shifting line-ups naturally resulted in shifting sounds, and by the time the band signed with the legendary Music For Nations label for their fifth album ‘Judgement’ in 1999, they’d settled on a rather tough but accessible blend of gothy and alternative rock.

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DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Upsidedown World

dorisDoris Brendel first appeared on the music scene as a member of The Violet Hour, a pop-rock band who achieved cult success and will be best remembered as the support band on Marillion’s ‘Holidays In Eden’ tour back in 1991.  Since those days, Brendel has worked on an extensive musical career, various solo projects covering many moods and styles, cultivating a cult audience along the way. Teaming up with multi-instrumentalist Lee Dunham for a second time, 2015’s ‘Upsidedown World’ is a mixed bag of treats, clearly designed for different ears to love different things within.  It is, however, quite unlikely that most people will like it all.

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LA MUERTE – La Muerte EP

la muerteThree songs, seven minutes, seven inches of black plastic.  That’s all that’s needed for you to work out that Colchester noisemakers La Muerte mean business.  On this debut EP, the tough musical trio blend garage rock, punk with a touch of metal for extra punch and come out sounding like a cross between Misfits, Killing Joke and Limb – a combination of gritty noise that’s guaranteed to leave an impression…one way or another.

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