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Anathema are one of those bands that have hugely transformed themselves from album to album. Beginning in Liverpool in 1990, they were a doom metal band, complete with doom-y death growls from vocalist Darren White. Upon Darren’s departure from the band in 1995, guitarist, Vincent Cavanagh took over singing duties, lending Anathema a much cleaner sound and beginning the next chapter of the band’s sound—a sound that was firmly established by the time Judgement was released in 1999, on British metal label Music For Nations. Judgement also marked the first album on which Danny Cavanagh took over the bulk of the song-writing (after bassist Duncan Patterson left the band) and was at the peak of what I like to call Anathema’s particularly “dark & twisty” period — characterised by melancholy, depressing lyrics, with atmospheric and melodic (though still fairly heavy) music that was clearly drawing a lot of influence from Pink Floyd.

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“That was a big changing point, tuning up to Eternity. At the point, I think we found our voice. We were still very melancholic, extremely so, really. There are moments of real anger and intensity, and maybe even joy, but it’s very hard to find. Alternative 4, I think, was one of the darkest periods in the band - personally, musically, in every way.”

- Vincent Cavanagh, interview on Sea Of Tranquility

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I think ‘Deep’ is one of the real highlights from Judgement. It’s anthemic (every time they play this live, even now, the crowd sing every word), that little guitar riff is brilliant and Vincent’s voice sounds awesome. It also really shows off the melodic heart that was always present in their music (a concept they explored recently by revising their early material on Falling Deeper).

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These days, Anathema seem an altogether happier band, both personally and musically. 2011’s We’re Here Because We’re Here album marked yet another chapter in Anathema’s evolution and saw a kind of positivity replace the darkness of the previous albums. Looking back at songs like ‘Deep’ within the context of where the band are at now, it’s interesting to see just how raw and publicly they laid out their problems, but it’s also striking to notice how the beautiful melodies that weave themselves through the newer material were hiding just under the surface all along.

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sad Anathema…

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…happy(er) Anathema

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KS