Anathema
Judgement

THE REVIEW

Skilled weavers of delicate emotions, the English band Anathema always know how to melt even the hardest of hearts, and this "Judgement" (1999) is not only proof of that but also (and above all) the episode that represents the group's deepest and most touching side in every aspect: the intimate lyrics and the fascinating, emblematic cover faithfully reflect the all-encompassing emotionality of thirteen tracks marked by a wistful atmospheric rock, very simple and homogeneous yet far from being tiresome.

Simplicity and effectiveness make “Judgement” a rounded work, light and overall accessible, while the task of enchanting the listener is entrusted to that dreamy and calm melancholy that hovers throughout the considerable length of the album, without, however, being too intrusive or ostentatious. Just listening to the first track, “Deep,” would be enough to get an idea: suggestive acoustic inserts, curious psychedelic feeling, rarefied atmosphere, and bitter introspection intertwine in an intriguing alchemy of colors, sensations, and memories.

This formula is skillfully managed track after track through undoubtedly classy songwriting, but after all, Anathema has accustomed us to these standards. The resigned and dragging “Pitiless,” the leaden and extended piano of “Parisienne Moonlight,” and the progressive and pressing accelerations of the poignant title track are excellent examples of creativity beyond the ordinary. The hallucinated “Don’t Look Too Far” is decidedly successful, showcasing elastic wah-wah and relaxing vocals by the ever-impeccable Vincent Cavanagh, and “Emotional Winter” in its dreamy and ethereal, almost hypnotic, progression. But the real key moment of the album lies in the unforgettable “One Last Goodbye”, dedicated to the deceased mother of the three Cavanagh brothers: endless shivers, pure emotion, impetuous pathos. Indescribable.

The rest of the album is no less; among powerful and foggy strums, sliding on broad strokes of synth, and exploring every nuance of “Judgement,” one will be literally magnetized by what at first glance I would vaguely define as a cosmic and disorienting languor, an expression surely not unfamiliar to the new Anathema standards, now light-years away from their doom/death metal roots. Here is what you find in this CD: a band first and foremost mature, secure in themselves but freed from any ambition, capable of shaping their personal, inimitable, and unmistakable dimension in today's rock scene.

Album recommended to everyone.
Rating: 4.5