1) Anathema wa… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with the name Anathema.
1) Anathema was a band from Liverpool, England, UK primarily known as one of the pioneering and leading death doom metal acts, incorporating growling, poetic lyrics and complex arrangements into the traditional doom riffage. Later in their career, beginning with "Eternity", they moved away from this sound into more melodic, atmospheric rock.
Anathema formed in 1990 as a doom metal band, initially under the name Pagan Angel. In November of that year, the band recorded their first demo, entitled "An Iliad of Woes". This demo caught the attention of several bands from the English metal scene, allowing Anathema to play gigs with bands like Bolt Thrower and Paradise Lost.
At the beginning of 1991, the band adopted its current name, and gained a lot of attention with the release of their second demo entitled "All Faith Is Lost", resulting in a four-album deal with Peaceville Records. Their first release under the label was "The Crestfallen EP" in November 1992. They took the material from that album on the road, touring with Cannibal Corpse.
"Serenades", Anathema's debut LP, attracted a lot of mainstream attention, propelling their "Sweet Tears" music video onto the MTV playlist. Anathema's first European tour was in 1994, and was closely followed by gigs at the Independent Rock Festival in Brazil.
In May 1995, vocalist Darren White parted with the band, eventually forming The Blood Divine. Rather than recruiting a new vocalist, the band decided that guitarist Vincent Cavanagh should assume White's role. This new formation debuted by touring with Cathedral in the United Kingdom.
The release of "Eternity" came in 1996, relying more on atmospheric sounds, and starting the transition to clean vocals; the album "Judgement" would later consolidate this style. A European tour followed the album's release.
The second member to leave the band was drummer John Douglas, who departed in the summer of 1997. He was replaced by Shaun Taylor-Steels, formerly of Solstice, who would also later play drums for My Dying Bride.
"Alternative 4" was released in 1998. During this time the band underwent many line-up changes. Bassist/songwriter Duncan Patterson quit due to musical differences and was replaced by Dave Pybus of Dreambreed, where Duncan had played bass for a short period. Martin Powell (who had played keyboards and violin for My Dying Bride previously) also joined the band. Finally, John Douglas returned to the drums.
In June 1999, the album "Judgement" was released, marking Anathema's complete shift from the doom metal genre, focusing instead on slower and more experimental songs. This new sound has been likened to artists such as Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, and to a lesser extent, Radiohead. However, the essence of the band remained the same. Their songs continued to express a feeling of depression and, more often than not, desperation.
During the same year Martin Powell switched positions with Cradle of Filth's keyboardist Les Smith, who came to be an integral member of Anathema.
Shortly before the release of A Fine Day to Exit, Dave Pybus announced his departure from the band and later joined Cradle of Filth. He was replaced by touring bassist George Roberts, and later by Jamie Cavanagh.
In March 2002, Daniel Cavanagh announced his departure from the band, joining Duncan Patterson's band Antimatter. However, he later rejoined Anathema in 2003 for the release of "A Natural Disaster", and started their European Tour. This accelerated the changes in Anathema's tone towards the atmospheric and progressive, as exhibited in album tracks "Flying" and "Violence".
Upon the closing of their label Music for Nations after its purchase by Sony BMG, Anathema found itself without a record label, despite having completed an extensive tour of the UK with popular Finnish rock band HIM in April 2006. During their search for a new label, the band have adopted a more 'DIY' approach to music release, embracing the internet and releasing songs via their own website, for which fans may donate a monetary sum of their own choice. Despite the obvious lack of label-based tour support, the band continues to play dates across Europe, guitarist Danny Cavanagh also playing the odd low-key acoustic concert.
The latest album and first in seven years, "We're Here Because We're Here", was released on May 31, 2010. The album was mixed by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, who has described it as “definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.”. The album was proclaimed "Prog Album of the Year" by Classic Rock magazine, describing it as "A flawless, life-affirming comeback and a gold-plated contender for album of the year". Ville Valo of the band HIM recorded vocals for the song "Angels Walk Among Us".
On July 6, 2011, it was announced on the band's official page that their album of re-interpretations, "Falling Deeper", will be released on September 5, 2011. The album will be a follow-up to Hindsight and will contain new orchestral versions of songs from the past, as well as a version of "Everwake" featuring the vocals of Anneke van Giersbergen. On September 12th, Les Smith's departure due to "creative and musical differences" was announced on the band's website.
On 16 April 2012, the band's ninth studio album, Weather Systems, was released via Kscope. The album entered the UK album charts at No. 50 and the German album charts at No. 19.
On 8 November 2012, Daniel Cavanagh announces at Anathema's official homepage that Daniel Cardoso is joining the band as a full-time permanent basis as a key element of the band.[10]
On 2 December 2012, Anathema announced their first concert in India. Anathema has performed at IIT Madras as part of the Saarang Rock Show on 12 January 2013.
The band's recent live album, named Untouchable, was released as a double vinyl album on 24 June 2013. The album is a recording of a special one-off gig at the ancient Roman theatre of Philippopolis in 2012, where the band were joined by the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. The set was released on Blu-ray, DVD and CD under the name Universal, with an alternate track order, on 17 September 2013.
According to the bands official Facebook site they are currently recording their new album in Norway and it will be released in 2014.
On 28 March 2014, the band announced their upcoming studio album to be called Distant Satellites. The album came out on 9 June on the Kscope label, and is produced by Christer-André Cederberg in Oslo, Norway. Several tracks were mixed by Steven Wilson. Different from previous albums is the use of more electronica on this album. The album is released in 4 different versions, a cd, vinyl, Media Book, and a Deluxe version.[12] Tour dates have been announced starting 22 May in Istanbul, Turkey, then throughout Europe and 3 dates in August 2014 in Australia.
Following the success of their short Australian tour, an acoustic tour was announced for New Zealand and Australia in 2015. Daniel, Vincent and Lee performed these show without the other band members. Later that year, the band released an acoustic live album and video entitled A Sort of Homecoming, consisting in the record of a concert at the band's hometown Liverpool Cathedral.
Anathema went on their Resonance Tour through Europe in April 2015. These concerts served as live retrospective efforts, featuring songs throughout their catalog, including from their debut album Serenades. Former vocalist Darren "Daz" White and former bassist/keyboardist Duncan Patterson joined the band on stage for these concerts.
In 2017, the band released The Optimist, which won Album of the Year at the Progressive Music Awards.
At the end of August 2019, it was announced that Anathema would be leaving the Kscope record label and had signed a new deal with Mascot Label Group. Anathema planned to release their 12th studio album in 2020. However, Anathema announced an indefinite hiatus on 22 September 2020 due to hardship with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, the band management confirmed in the bands Facebook that the band had split up.
Members:
Current lineup
Vincent Cavanagh - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar (1990-2020)
Daniel Cavanagh - lead guitar, vocals (1990-2002, 2003-2020) (Lid, Antimatter, Leafblade)
Jamie Cavanagh - bass (1990-1991, 2001-2020)
John Douglas - drums (1990-1997, 1998-2020)
Lee Douglas - vocals (2000-2020)
Daniel Cardoso - keyboards (2012-2020)
Former members
Darren White - vocals (1990-1995) (The Blood Divine, Dead Men Dream, Serotonal)
Duncan Patterson - bass, keyboards (1991-1998) (ex-Antimatter, Dreambreed, Íon)
Shaun Taylor-Steels - drums (1997-1998) (ex-Solstice, ex-My Dying Bride)
Martin Powell - keyboards, violin (1998-2000) (ex-My Dying Bride, ex-Cradle of Filth, ex-Cryptal Darkness)
Dave Pybus - bass (1998-2001) (Dreambreed, Angtoria, Cradle of Filth, Darkened)
Les Smith - keyboards (2000-2011) (ex-Cradle of Filth, Antimatter, Ship of Fools)
2) Anathema was a British anarcho-punk band. They released two demos, "Shit You Choose to Take" and Make the Fighting Cease" in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
They also appeared on Mortarhate’s anarcho-punk compilation "Anti Capitalism" with a re-recording of the "Make the Fighting Cease" song “Your Ulster”, as well as appearing on the 1985 “Somewhere Over the Rainbow Theres a Better World” compilation tape and the second part of “Ha! Last Week I Saw This Fella With Your Tife” tape, also released in 1985.
3) Anathema was an Italian heavy metal band from Milan, Lombardy, formed in 1986. They released a demo, "Salem Lunacy" in 1989.
4) Anathema was an Finnish death metal band from Iisalmi, formed in 1989. They released a promo and a demo in 1991.
5) Anathema was a thrash metal band from Colorado, United States, formed in 1987. They released two demos, "The Trauma Never Ends" in 1988 and "Knife and Gun Club" in 1990.
6) Anathema was a thrash metal band from Levittown, Pennsylvania, United States, formed in 1989. They released one demo, "Spiral of Hatred" in 1990.
Eternity
Anathema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where have all the flowers gone?
Just what went wrong?
Innocence, insanity, irony
Stone cold reality
Oh lord come and save me
I've been in tears
Hope has died in me
But now I'm here, I don't wish to leave
Trapped in time
A miracle of hope and change
A swirling mass, no mercy now
If the truth hurts prepare for pain
Do you think we're forever?
The unseen, the eternal river of understanding
Persevering, dying escape
Forever tempting fate
Take me back
A flood of tears bonding my soul with my mind
A dream of love, reality closing in behind
As I close my eyes, the vision dies
As I bid my last farewell to mankind
The unseen, the eternal...
Anathema's song Eternity is an emotive representation of the passing of time and the introspection that comes with it. In the opening lyrics of the song, the artist laments their former life and wonders where everything went wrong. They express their feelings of loss and confusion at the circumstances that led them to this point. The line "Where have all the flowers gone?" symbolizes the passage of time and the transience of life. The artist is questioning the impermanence of existence and the fleeting nature of time.
The song progresses to explore the concept of eternity, whether it truly exists and if it is something we can rely on. The artist expresses their doubts and insecurities, asking "Do you think we're forever?" They are looking for some glimmer of hope, some assurance that there is more to life than what they are currently experiencing.
As the song reaches its conclusion, the artist experiences a sense of closure and acceptance. They acknowledge that life is full of pain and challenges, but that there is also beauty and love. The line "Take me back" represents the artist's desire to return to a simpler time, but also their understanding that this is not possible. They must move forward, but they can do so with the knowledge that they have experienced both the good and the bad in life.
Line by Line Meaning
As I turn away from a life so gray
I'm leaving a dull and lifeless existence behind.
Where have all the flowers gone?
What happened to the beauty and happiness in life?
Just what went wrong?
What caused this misery and despair?
Innocence, insanity, irony
The contradictory emotions and experiences of life.
Stone cold reality
The harsh and unforgiving nature of the world.
Oh lord come and save me
A plea for divine intervention and assistance.
Do you think we're forever?
Is there such a thing as eternal life and love?
I've been in tears
I have been crying and suffering.
Hope has died in me
I have lost all optimism and faith in the future.
But now I'm here, I don't wish to leave
Despite the hardship, I don't want to give up or surrender.
Trapped in time
Stuck in a moment of pain and struggle.
A miracle of hope and change
The possibility of a positive transformation.
A swirling mass, no mercy now
Chaotic and destructive forces are at play.
If the truth hurts prepare for pain
The harsh reality of the situation will be difficult to handle.
The unseen, the eternal river of understanding
The mysterious and infinite flow of knowledge and wisdom.
Persevering, dying escape
Struggling to survive and break free from a dire situation.
Forever tempting fate
Constantly pushing the boundaries and risking it all.
Take me back
Yearning for a time of joy and peace.
A flood of tears bonding my soul with my mind
Emotional pain and mental anguish are intertwined.
A dream of love, reality closing in behind
A hope for romance and connection, but the present is bleak.
As I close my eyes, the vision dies
As I accept failure and defeat, my dream fades away.
As I bid my last farewell to mankind
Saying goodbye to the world and humanity.
The unseen, the eternal...
The endless and inexplicable essence of existence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUNCAN JOHN PATTERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BFKC
00:00 Sentient
03:00 Angelica
08:51 The Beloved
14:27 Eternity Part I
17:39 Eternity Part II (Or still just the first?)
19:07 Hope (Roy Harper cover)
25:06 Suicide Veil
30:16 Radiance (I think this is actually Ascension )
33:41 Far Away (Not the normal version, but some shitty "unplugged" type version for some reason)
38:46 (It sounds like another shitty "unplugged" version of the previous song Far Away)
44:13 (Seems like another bonus song of old material)
48:26 Cries on the Wind (Eternity Part III was swallowed by the bonus crap? This is still good.)
53:27 Ascension (Nope! Another repetition of Far Away ?? At least seems normal for the first time... Radiance is missing, Ascension is in place of Radiance above.)
Listen to the album somewhere else or officially.
Jack Liar
1. Sentient
[Intro]
[Music: D.Cavanagh, Arranged: Les Smith]
2. Angelica
Where are you tonight?
Wild flower in starlit heaven
Still enchanted in flight
Obsessions lament to freedom
A timeless word, the meanings changed
But I'm still burning in your flames,
Incessant, lustral masquerade,
Unengaged, dim lit love didn't taste the same
And I still wonder if you ever wonder the same
And I wonder...
[Lyrics: D.Patterson, Music: D.Cavanagh]
3. The Beloved
Another day unfolds, still I exist
Never felt so cold, I never knew I was turning away
Though I can't explain, I only love you now that your missed
As I stand in the rain, just leave me to go through this
I don't think I could face another sleepless night
If only I could trace that elusive light
In a dreamland flight to your agonizing eyes
A never ending flight, my silent cries
Still I close my eyes and my mind becomes clear
Still I dream, and there you are...
How still you lie and how your eyes bring back the fear
Still I can't face what's going on in here...
Everything that I've ever felt has gone
At last my spirit breathes
I see no point in going on
So goodbye... It's time for me to leave
[Lyrics: V.Cavanagh, Music: D.Cavanagh]
4. Eternity Part I
As I turn away from a life so grey
Where have all the flowers gone?
Just what went wrong?
Innocence, insanity, irony
Stone cold reality
Oh lord come and save me
Do you think we're forever?
I've been in tears
Hope has died in me
But now I'm here, I don't wish to leave
Trapped in time
A mirage of hope and change
A swirling mass, no mercy now
If the truth hurts prepare for pain
Do you think we're forever?
The unseen, the eternal river of understanding
Persevering, dying escape
Forever tempting fate
Take me back
A flood of tears bonding my soul with my mind
A dream of love, reality closing in behind
As I close my eyes, the vision dies
As I bid my last farewell to mankind
The unseen, the eternal...
[Lyrics & Music: D.Patterson]
5. Eternity Part II
Destiny, Infinity, Eternity
[Lyrics & Music: D.Patterson]
6. Hope
"I was not put here by anyone in fear
I came alone as me
Just an idea in a long chain of discovery
Surrounded by the same you
Sometimes your tide pulls me out to sea
And I die in a thrashing curse
Sometimes we are kind
More often, I doze
So far up the beach that those who try to reach are burnt alive in the searing
heat of the desert of my dispassion
So far removed, I never hear the water
'Cept once or twice a month when I see a mirror
And I refuse to believe in some of the things that are said to be here
Let alone those that are not
I'm trying to change my direction
Ours is pathetic in my own humble estimation
I love the planet
The great benign she-wolf
Benefactor
Spinning gently on towards the red giant four aeons hence
When all the rose gardens are consumed in the flash-fire of flying time
She'll leave alone to you"
When you look at me
From your own century
I may seem to be
Strange archeology
But when the winds blow
From this direction
You may sense that I'm
In your reflection
I think I feel you
But I will never know
As the swallows leave
And the children grow
I wanted to live forever
The same as you will too
I wanted to live forever
And everybody knew
When I caught you there
In tomorrows mirror
I thought I felt you
Jump out of my skin
Throwing oil into
My blazing memories
Filling empty footsteps
I was standing in
I wanted to live forever
The same as you will too
I wanted to live forever
And everybody knew
As the falling rain
Of the northern jungle
Hanging droplets on the leaves
Bombards my brain
I hear you
Across the room
A sea of daffodils spring into bloom
You are the mist
The frost across my window pane
And again
She moves her body
And her whispers weave
And the world spins
And tells me that I'll never want to leave
As I think of you
From this dark century
I will always be
With generosity
That we both may share
The hope in hearing
That we're not just
Spirits disappearing
[Spoken word transcribed by Phil Morgan. These aren't a part of the original lyrics of "Hope"]
[Lyrics & Music: Harper/Gilmour]
7. Suicide Veil
A sacrifice in the flight of dawn
The beauty of twisted reality
In my heart, my dreams
A sacrifice for freedom
Alone in the grace of the dark
The pains of a failed generation
I longed for the death of the sun
Another glorious revelation
Destiny's plan for ruin
I danced with the shadows
In tranquil chaos, I lay naked in the rain
An interception of light
A disturbing memory
This suicide veil I wear in shame
[Lyrics: D.Patterson, Music: D.Patterson & D.Cavanagh]
8. Radiance
Inside...
The dark is fading away
I don't want to be alone anymore
Inside...
The light of dawn is here once more
The light...
Darkness is slipping away
Of dawn...
I don't want to be alone
Is here...
Won't you stay?
Not a word passed your lips
Just a golden kiss
As I whispered silently
"Help me through this"
[Lyrics & Music: D.Cavanagh]
9. Far Away
One common, subterranean destination
One life, another day
A vestal child unveiled by temptation
Innocence slips away
Far away
Been down so long
Too deep the water that I tread
Sometimes I feel myself going under
Sometimes I envy the dead
So take me far away
[Lyrics & Music: D.Patterson]
10. Eternity Part III
So little time
Your crystal eyes gaze into mine
A burning flame
Forever dreaming, dreaming a lie
Trapped inside internal eyes
Caressed by innocence, a sanctuary for your mind
Born alone beneath pale sardonic skies
One love, one life, one sorrow
I won't reproach myself this time
A condemned man, granted a sweet reprieve
A turn of fate, a genial twist of the knife
Undying affection for life
[Lyrics & Music: D.Patterson]
11. Cries On The Wind
Reaching out...
How things look different on the way down
Disillusioned, I've lost desire
Will I burn in the unforgiving fire?
From the flames, I walk away
I've found a way to erase the pain
An empty bottle, my receptacle
A guardian angel called escape
Don't dwell on the forthcoming
As I know it won't be happening
And you know, when I'm gone
You'll hear my cries on the wind
METALALL
video clip (by Metalall) of the new Medenera (atmoblack metal) single Aura I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ-oK-AQ7wI
Johan
One of the most important albums in my life.
Peter Laszlo
same here.
Bartek Bartek
Kocham Cie .Pamietam zapach tego albumu jak kupiłem 20 lat temu
Michael Vera
@Mariusz Polański I hate this album when it was released, I said " where is the sequel to SERENADES"?.... one month later was already on my top 3 of the best metal albums of times (until today). That important is to me.
Santiago Gonzalez
Agree.
ALFikStar
The Silent Enigma, for me :)
BFKC
00:00 Sentient
03:00 Angelica
08:51 The Beloved
14:27 Eternity Part I
17:39 Eternity Part II (Or still just the first?)
19:07 Hope (Roy Harper cover)
25:06 Suicide Veil
30:16 Radiance (I think this is actually Ascension )
33:41 Far Away (Not the normal version, but some shitty "unplugged" type version for some reason)
38:46 (It sounds like another shitty "unplugged" version of the previous song Far Away)
44:13 (Seems like another bonus song of old material)
48:26 Cries on the Wind (Eternity Part III was swallowed by the bonus crap? This is still good.)
53:27 Ascension (Nope! Another repetition of Far Away ?? At least seems normal for the first time... Radiance is missing, Ascension is in place of Radiance above.)
Listen to the album somewhere else or officially.
m k
Ofcourse this cd is in my collection 🤘
Sławomir Kuglarz
Sleepless rządzi!