Search - Anathema :: Alternative 4

Alternative 4
Anathema
Alternative 4
Genres: Alternative Rock, Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Anathema
Title: Alternative 4
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Mayhem Records
Original Release Date: 8/11/1998
Release Date: 8/11/1998
Genres: Alternative Rock, Rock, Metal
Styles: Goth & Industrial, Death Metal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090861111229

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Member CD Reviews

Todd B. from PASCOAG, RI
Reviewed on 6/11/2007...
doom/prog

CD Reviews

Remnants of dying laughter, echoes of silent cries.
Lessing | 05/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many see "Judgement" as Anathema's best record, but I beg to differ. I have always liked this one more, due to the fact that I had it before Judgement. And of course, the brilliant songs on it.
Alternative 4 is considered (by me) to have one of the greatest openers ever. The whispered lyrics on "Shroud of False", accompanied by a beautiful piano tune, linger forever in the back of my mind. Here they are: "We are just a moment in time. A blink of an eye. A dream for the blind. Visions from a dying brain. I hope you don't understand." After having listened to it for a zillion times, they still cause goosebumps.
The lyrics are amazing, among the best I ever had the pleasure to read/listen to. Not only are they deeply sad and depressing, but also poetic and charismatic. There are true gems in this album, lyricwise and musicwise, with the fantastic first three tracks being the best example, which alone are much worth owning the whole record.
Apart from these, the slow and peaceful yet melancholy "Inner Silence" or "Regret" are good choices for a first listen. Heavier songs are f.e. "Empty" and "Fragile Dreams".
Anathema, starting as a doom metal band, soon developed to softer sounds, away from metal. In my opinion, that development was one of the best things that ever happened, because it provided me with great, great music. I don't need heavy guitars in particular, I want good music, and that's what Anathema did.
The amount of personal feelings of this record is amazing. It tells a history of despair and sorrow, far more sincere than any of the junk food lyrics the charts supply. This piece of music became special to me, and he who gives it a chance might experience the same."
Depressing Depressing DEPRESSING!
Noyce | Santa Cruz, Ca | 05/05/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anathema's album "Alternative 4" is simply one of the saddest, depressing albums I've ever heard. The whole album from track 1-12 is all tragic and mellonchollie. Even when they write dark songs or love songs the sorrow seeps through. Anathema have been for years considered one of the top doom metal bands in the world, but by this point they're no longer doom, or even metal. But that doesn't matter, genres don't sell albums, music does, and this album contains great music along the lines of a darker, heavier, Pink Floyd (although they're much more then a Floyd rip off, let me mak that clear).The album is solid start t finish. The album starts out with the hollow, piano led "Shroud of False" where vocalist Vincent tells us that were only a vision from a dying brain, and he hopes we don't understand. The lyrics are by lead songwriter/bassist/keyboardest, Duncan Patterson. That flows into the excellent violin rocker "Fragile Dreams" which is a piece by Daniel Cavanaugh. The instrumental begining is amazing. "Empty" is another violin-rocker, this time by Duncan. There is a great piano breakdown in the middle. The final line of the song is "I've a solution to this sad situation, nothing left but to kill myself again because I'm so empty". Then the album reaches its depressing peak with the dark "Lost Control", which is about alcohol addiction. With simple acoustic guitar, violin, and piano moments Duncan's pain is brought to life. "Re-Connect" is the only Vincent piece on this album and isn't up to the level of the other songs, although it is tolerable. "Inner Silence" is actually a love song but the sorrow does not leave. Between the wailing guitar and the orchistral keyboards emotion leaks off the track. Then there's the very gothic title track. The switches between hunting keyboards and almost dead sounding vocals to aggressive riffs and dark piano lines. The line "I'll dance with angels, to celebrate the holocaust" won't leave your head anytime soon. Then comes the best written song on here, "Regret". Starting out acoustic the song slowly builds up to the electric ending over seven beautiful minutes. The next song "Feel" is also great but lets be honest here, this goes being influenced by Pink Floyd, this is almost robbing them. The drum beat is the same as the bass rhythm in "Welcome to the Machine" and even uses a line from a Pink Floyd song, they changed "Your never gonna die" to "I thought I was never gonna die". Still I won't deny that it's a great song. The album closes with one more minor chord piano dirge called "Destiny". The song is just another painfuly touching peice.This album is great! The only reason I won't give them five stars is for the riff and lyric robbing on "Feel". Oh yeah, I think Shaun Steels' drumming is worth a mention. He uses a lot of brass parts (sorry I'm not a drummer, I don't know the lingo) to great effect. He realy has a unique style going on.Well this is a great album for a bad day. Whenever I'm depressed I toss this album in, however the music is good enough on its own that you can listen to it anytime. But man this is one of, if not THE most depressing album I've ever heard. I mean all three songwriters manage to mention being stabbed. But it's so real, and that's why I will continue to listen to and feel this album for years to come."