Anathema

The Optimist

British progressive rock with cinematic flair

Picking up the narrative from their 2001 album, A Fine Day To Exit, the Liverpool band changed tact and decided to record as a live entity. It’s lent a darkness to the mood here, where even their orchestral side in Endless Ways gains an edge with the electric input of Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh. Tony Doogan’s work with Mogwai seems to have rubbed off on the post-rock tremolo picking of Springfield and it’s indicative of an album that demands to be approached as a front-to-back listen. The compelling industrial rock of Leaving It Behind is a frustrating one-off, but this album presents another compelling journey for fans. [DH] Standout track: Leaving It Behind For fans of: Steven Wilson, NIN, The Pineapple Thief