Anathema - Distant Satellites (2014)

Distant Satellites is Anathema's tenth studio album in a long career that has seen them evolve from doom metal to uplifting progressive rock with an ever present touch of melancholy. Whilst the previous two albums showed a considerable progression in their sound, Distant Satellites feels like a distillation of their sound since 2001's A Fine Day to Exit at the same time that it takes another bold step forward.

The band continues their journey into minimalism, something that's even more prevalent than in their previous two albums. The sound and arrangements have been stripped down and the structure of songs follows a driven crescendo more akin to post-rock music. The album opener is a prime example of this, The Lost Song Part I is a song that builds and builds in a clear progression until it completely explodes. It's very post-rock but it's also very much what Anathema has been doing for a while now. 

The album uses symphonic elements creating atmosphere and beautiful calm passages to great effect. Some of the guitar work harks back to A Fine Day to Exit, for example in Dusk (Dark is Descending), and some of the more ambient and electronic moments bring A Natural Disaster to mind, but Distant Satellites brings all these elements together with a more assertive, dressed down approach than ever and a more electronic sound that brings Radiohead to mind (something that was already present in parts of A Natural Disaster but it's more present than ever here).

Distant Satellites works best as an album. It's the whole experience rather than a collection of songs. Songs like Anathema and The Lost Song Part III are best experienced and understood in the context of what has come before. Having said that some highlights include the album opener The Lost Song Part I, a classic Anathema song that starts quietly, grows in power and explodes into an incredible wall of sound; the atmospheric and gentle Ariel and the darker shade that The Lost Song Part III (you can listen to the track below). 

But the last two songs in the album deserve a special mention. The title track, Distant Satellites, is an eight minute bold song that is jam packed with atmosphere, electronica and symphonic elements. It feels like this driven and fascinating song breaks with the past and presents a new Anathema. A feeling that continues with the closing track Take Shelter. It opens with a very quiet atmosphere and Vincent's fragile and hauntingly beautiful vocals then grows into an upbeat second half with electronic drums, leaving the listener with a powerful uplifting sensation. Both songs sound like Anathema but offer a new sound, a new side to the band, perhaps a sign of things to come, and they're my favourite songs.

The band has changed dramatically from their early years. Anathema has evolved from dark into light but there's still a strong sense of power, doom and melancholy even in their most uplifting moments. Distant Satellites is their tenth album and it successfully distills everything Anathema has been working on since A Fine Day to Exit at the same time that it takes a bold step forward. 

Perhaps some people will not be receptive to what Distant Satellites has to offer wanting the band to go back to what they were doing 15 to 20 years ago but that's their loss. I can't stop listening to this album and Anathema present once again what will surely be one of the best albums of the year.

Rating: Heavy Rotation

Please note, an interview to lead singer Vincent Cavanagh will be posted soon. This will be the very first interview for this blog, with many more to come - I hope!