In 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.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Upsidedown World
Doris 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.
LA MUERTE – La Muerte EP
Three 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.
SCIENCE CLUB – Day Job
At the tail end of 2013, US punks Science Club released their ‘Aging Punks’ EP, a mid-budget, fairly ragged affair that captured a great energy. Just over a year on, their ‘Day Job’ full length brings more of the same. While the eleven songs are culled from recordings made over a four year period, the album hangs together well. Even with an obviously DIY recording style and ragged production, the musical talents within the band are still obvious – particularly those of bassist Nick, whose busy approach provides the real heart of most of the material.
THE HANGABOUTS – Illustrated Bird
The Hangabouts are a retro-pop trio from Michigan, whose music conveys much love from the mid-late 60s, although often recycled on a smaller budget. Given they’ve got a similar musical mindset to so many great musicians – particularly the acoustic side of Fountains of Wayne and the woozy output of DIY outfit The Paul & John – their 2014 release ‘Illustrated Bird’ should be great. However, due to a limited budget that doesn’t always suit their chosen style, it sometimes falls short of the mark. That’s not to say, however, it doesn’t have some great bits.