Anathema Album: “We're Here Because We're Here”

This disc takes a few listens. Even for the seasoned Anathema fan like myself. Really like most of their stuff and really thought they ended on a high note with 'A Natural Disaster' which had some incredible moments. I was glad to know they had been working on something new after 'Hindsight', and god knows they took their time. But this disc really is a journey unto itself.

This release is years beyond that one (Natural Disaster). It sounds incredible! Excellently Produced (finally). The brothers producing and Steven Wilson mixing was definitely what this band needed after some not so well produced efforts of past releases. The excellent Vocals on this make it soothing. The female interaction is well done and not overdone. Just listening to tracks like 'Angels Walk Among Us' and 'Dreaming Light' are made whole by the vocal. Very well done. Vincent has come a long long way. Hard to believe this is the same 'Doom' metal band with the harsh vocals years ago. Night and day.

Also, the CD title is brilliant. Fitting. Makes total sense. We are here Because we are Here. No rhyme or reason. It is what we make of the experience. How we live this life and experience it.

It has a good flow to it, it does not bore the listener and is really easy to 'hear' but not to describe. Its best listened to in its entirety. It does have that feel. Its music is so haunting but has almost glimpses of sunlight throughout. Its uneasy but that is what makes you come back for more. It gets better and better the more you hear it. One of the best cd's I have ever experienced, not just heard. And I have been listening to all types of music for 35 years. It is so good you begin to get lost in it when you listen after a while. Its a brilliant, complete work.

Short Breakdown:

'Thin Air' opens and has a similar style as 'Closer' did on 'A Natural Disaster'. That steady, one paced drum beat. But a real punch and good higher pitched vocal. Starts the disc of intensely.

'Summernight Horizon' is a good driving track. Excellent vocals again with a thick Bass sound and Heavy/Light parts. Mystic Piano opening and segmented into the track. Sort of a mystic sound.

'Dreaming Light' is a great stripped down track with Piano / Vocals and light Orchestration. Kind of in the 'Electricity' mode, just smoother and a bit more 'Full' sounding. A really nicely done song. Beautifully sung and could be a major hit. Seriously. Its a beautiful song.

'Everything' is a pretty song with keyboards and slight offbeat drum pattern. The female vocals echoing the main vocal. Gives a nice trippy vibe to the song. Energetic yet rich. I guess it is the 'single' in the UK.

'Angels Walk Among Us' is well done and sounds like the most Floyd inspired tracks on the disc with its heavy closing. (you can almost hear Waters saying 'Mother can you hear me'). Good stuff and a great Vocal interaction and melodies. Very sincere.

'Presence' is just a voice over piece but is interesting and adds to the flow of the disc. Almost a transitional point to the next section. An interlude. The words found in the center of the booklet. Some Vocal passages at the end.

'A Simple Mistake' is a great great song. Light to Heavy that is 8 minutes but seems like 4. I really think this is the discs highest moment and what the band does best. A building song with a good heavier sound at the end. But lyrically it is incredible. Moving. Prog or Porcupine Tree fans should like this type. But its 100% Anathema. Has a super mix and incredible, emotional build up near the end of the track that is just great. The piano (reminiscent of the end of 'Hurt' by NIN) and explosions softly cascading in the background is intense. ....Its never too late....

'Get Off Get Out' is another Driving track with a haunting midsection and chorus. I say Driving because of its pace because it isn't really Heavy. This is not a Heavy Metal disc whatsoever. A bit progressive, but not Metal. Closer to Porcupine Tree than the band usually ventures. But its great, creepy track.

'Universal' has a strange paced, 'heart' beating sound that is truly mesmerizing. Its a great, droning track that is calm and hauntingly 'airy'.

'Hindsight' ends this with an epic, slow delivery. Great song after a few listens.Instrumental. I must admit it took me a couple to see its brilliance. Almost like the light on the 'other side'..

Obviously I could say more and give more detail as each song is unique, but that's just a taste of my view on this.

No doubt the bands best. After all this time they have hit it 100% on this. So far its the best of 2010 for me. I have waited for a long time and they have delivered. Good to have them back and good to know they have grown in this time.

This release is very 'rich' and should be appreciated more with repeated listens. Highly recommended for any open minded music listener who can spare an hour. And a bit of melancholy is good for the soul. Regular listeners wont get it.

I am sure in will fall under the radar in the US as we still cant seem to promote real music or real emotion in our music. Its a shame, but i hope this is received relatively well as it is an excellent piece of Art. The band should be proud of this release. Its quite an experience.

As for you? Buy it. And experience it.

(Edit 10/10 - Since writing this review and giving this disc literally hundreds of listens I am convinced that it should be heralded as a MAJOR 'release' moment in music. In the vein of classics like Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' or the Beatles' White Album. Its a majestic, haunting and beautiful piece of music. A Classic is what it truly is. Anathema really nailed it. Finally!

I am a 30 year music fan and 20 year Metal / Music consumer and know my music. This release has blown me away but in an entirely different way. It just flows with emotion. An hour journey that is void of words. Will make you smile and cry. Think and wander. Break your heart and tape it together again. Unfortunately this will not get its notoriety. Saddens me. It is THAT special! Especially to me. R.I.P. 'Z')

Upon listening, I found it immediately surprising how mellow and upbeat this album was. Sometimes, when an essential change happens (usually the lead singer "finding" God or the like), there exists some sense of disharmony in the music, as though the musical talent and innovation did not follow. In this case, the change seemed to be sparked by a major insight into life itself, and not a religious revelation: that death was not the opposite of life, not the major antagonist to life. Birth was the simple opposite, with life transcending the limits of birth and death. Death then loses its significance. Perhaps the insight is in the richness of living itself, and the will to life that underlies reality itself. I see Schopenhauer's insight and Nietzsche's embracing of it in this music, with the addition of love as perhaps the highest embracing of life. "Everything is energy, and energy is you and me". Throughout the album, you see a transformation, with a sense of unity with the insight and positive steps toward healing thanks to the insight. I'm probably reading too much into it, however the good point is that this new, upbeat sound seems to be their best, as though all of the suffering in the previous albums was leading to this end. You need to listen to yourself and decide; all I know is that this album is one of the very best I've come upon.

beautiful music.. what more can i say?

listen it at rainy day or night.

i am in trance...

i like this one better than Natural Disaster or Fine Day to Exit.

I never knew Anathema before Judgment and while I like aspects of the doom metal scene and I realize that Anathema was one of the forebears of the dm genre, I found them lacking. However, once they fully embraced a different musical ethos Anathema truely found themselves.

Meloncholy has always permiated their overall sound and both Judgment and A Fine Day to Exit represent the emotive focus on that particular aspect of human experience. However, it was about time the band gerw up a little (doesn't mean they have to abandon the heavier aspects of their sound entirely) and grow up they did. We're Here Because We're Here is not only the best sounding Anathema album (thanks to the wizardry of Wilson) but also the most mature effort as well. It's the culmination of many years of crafting their sound. This is an uplifting album and makes for a perfect bookend to both Judgment and A Fine Day to Exit as well as being a door to a future sound and I'd rank this album right next to Judgment in terms of lyrical quality. Give Judgment to someone who has recently lost a loved one or has had their heart broken. However, give We're Here Because We're Here to just about anyone else.

This release originally caught my attention on the Kscope website, so I decided to purchase the special 2 disc edition. Unfortunately, the first track is really the only song that offers much, in fact, it's pretty amazing. After 6 or 8 listens to the entire album, the rest of the songs just did nothing for me. I tried really hard to like this, but it just didn't happen. On top of this, I was really excited about hearing the 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson, as his are always top notch. The 5.1 mix for Thin Air was disappointing as it does not possess nearly as much clarity as the stereo mix. In many sections of the song, I heard an induced ringing sound, almost like that heard when a microphone feeds back. When listening to the stereo mix, those distortions are not there. What happened Steven? One of the home theater magazines I read actually gave this their "certified & recommended" seal of approval. I think they were listening to a different disc.