CoC : Anathema - A Natural Disaster : Review

Anathema - _A Natural Disaster_
(Music for Nations, 2003)
by: Pedro Azevedo (8 out of 10)

Hardly a surprise anymore: with this new album, Anathema have again gone softer and more mainstream than before. _A Natural Disaster_ is a very pleasant album to chill out after a hard day's work, but it does little to capture your attention. It features some really good tracks, flows quite well, but falls short of the mark when it comes to something written by such a talented band. In other words, overall it is a more acceptable album than its predecessor, but no more than half the return to form I had hoped for after the disappointing _A Fine Day to Exit_. Some tracks on _A Natural Disaster_ are quite good ("Harmonium", "Balance", "Flying"); there's one track where they seem to rekindle their old urgency but ends up sounding somewhat contrived ("Pulled Under at 2000 Metres a Second"); and others sound too close to certain mainstream acts for comfort ("Closer", "A Natural Disaster"). Anathema seem to be going through a lot of inner turmoil as to their musical direction, resulting in relatively indifferent albums comprised of some good material and a bunch of passable tracks. This guess may be totally off the mark, but either way they need to do better in the future if they are ever to fully regain their huge musical relevance.

Contact: http://www.anathema.ws

(article published 30/1/2004)

CHATS
8/12/2001	A Bromley	Anathema: Inner Resonance
7/8/1998	P Azevedo	Anathema: Delusions of Silence

ALBUMS
11/27/2012	P Azevedo	7	Anathema - Weather Systems
12/8/2010	P Azevedo	9.5	Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
9/17/2008	P Azevedo	9	Anathema - Hindsight
1/31/2005	P Azevedo	9	Anathema - Were You There?
7/3/2002	P Azevedo	9.5 / 9	My Dying Bride - For Darkest Eyes DVD Anathema - A Vision of a Dying Embrace DVD
10/19/2001	P Azevedo	7.5	Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit
8/12/2001	P Azevedo	9	Anathema - Resonance
7/7/1999	P Azevedo	9	Anathema - Judgement
7/8/1998	P Azevedo	9	Anathema - Alternative 4
2/4/1997	P Azevedo	8	Anathema - Eternity

GIGS
5/29/2009	P Azevedo	Anathema / Oblique Rain / Leafblade	Sunset of Age Is Still Far Away
1/14/2002	P Azevedo	Anathema	Their Special Friend Pinky
11/20/2000	P Azevedo	Mayhem / Anathema / Hatesphere / Bronco Busters	Judgement Night