Judgement

Artist: Anathema
Label: Koch Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 099923822523
EAN: 0099923822523
ASIN: B000055X3U

Release Date: 2001-01-23

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Anathema: Best To Worst

Tracks:

Deep
Pitiless
Forgotten Hopes
Destiny Is Dead
Make It Right (F.F. S.)
One Last Goodbye
Parisienne Moonlight
Judgement
Don't Look Too Far
Emotional Winter
Wings Of God
Anyone, Anywhere
2000 & Gone

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Alternative 4
A Fine Day to Exit
A Natural Disaster
Second Life Syndrome
Out of Myself

Customer Reviews:

Emotional depth and impact.......2006-08-05

Along with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, Anathema were England's pioneers of doom-death, releasing a string of amazing albums before they realized it was time to expand and experiment. While My Dying Bride is still carrying the doom-death torch, pretty much any band from the early 90's, from Katatonia to Ulver to Tiamat to Moonspell, has changed, updating their sounds and dropping the growls in favour of crystal clean vocals.

Anathema's transition began with Eternity, the album after the amazing The Silent Enigma, and blossomed with Alternative 4, perhaps their finest work from their post-doom period. With Judgement, however, the band became a completely different act, with polished production and tight arrangements defining their compositions. The songs focus heavier on Vincent Cavanagh's vocals and melancholic lyrics, and while there is plenty of guitar work, the melodies are mostly guided by Cavanagh's harmonies along with John Doughlas' straightforward yet very fitting drumming. Danny Cavanagh, on the other hand, provides the album's intense instrumentation. This is some of his finest playing, not only acoustic guitars but also fierce electric leads and stunning synth textures that lend the pieces a more Floydian touch overall.

Judgement isn't as radical a change from Alternative 4 as Eternity was from The Silent Enigma. It is important, however, that a key member, bassist Duncan Patterson, parted ways with the band before they started writing this album. Patterson was an integral part of the Anathema sound, supplying the band's rock-solid rhythms along with long-time drummer John Douglas, who, ironically, would also leave after this disc. Patterson is replaced by Dave Pybus, another competent bass player. And while there isn't much room to showcase his talents, songs like "Pitiless" and "Wings of God" both feature his signature style. "Pitiless" is already a welcome change after the extremely dark and moving opener "Deep". It weaves heavier guitar work by the Cavanagh brothers, some spoken poetry and hummed harmonies, and a great lead solo drenched in sound effects. The band was still trying to inject new elements into their sound, as they had never released the same album twice. Whether you are a fan of the band or not, you have to give it to them that they always tried to break new ground without being afraid of putting their influences on display. Speaking of influences, traces of Radiohead can be heard in the intro and effect-laden guitars on "Don't Look Too Far", something which they would expand on in the future; and on the Floydian album finale "2000 & Gone", a strong piece to close the record on a somewhat psychedelic note. It is a beautiful instrumental that proudly boasts lush keyboard textures, spatial ambiances, and guitar feedback.

The best songs are scattered around on the disc. From the mood-setter "Deep" to the desperate "One Last Goodbye", with great soloing and powerful vocals, Judgement still manages to be as varied as its predecessors. On an emotional level, the way the beautiful female vocals (by drummer John Douglas' sister) over delicate piano on "Parisienne Moonlight" bleed into the moving title track, which boasts plaintive synths blanketing textured acoustic guitars is simply intense. This is one of their most well-crafted songs, especially the way the guitar riffs build to that killer crescendo amidst rapid-fire drumming. "Emotional Winter" also deserves a mention. Very melancholic in its essence, the keyboards and guitar effects establish a thick soundscape through its course, with mirage-like guitar lines heard ringing distantly, thus providing added atmosphere.

This album was dedicated to Helen Cavanagh, the Cavanagh brothers' mother, who passed away during the writing stages of these songs. I feel it's a very fitting release dedicated to her memory.

Berceuses for the bereaved.......2005-04-20

Musically, this one of England's greatest achievements - obviously a very bold statement.

Simply put, this album is a gift from God to the bereaved as consolation. The coexistence of opposing soundscapes speaks to us in ways we had hoped to find in our nightly prayers, but somehow they were never tangible enough...

Distorted guitars, a blend of gently-metallic riffs and tactful guitar feedback, act as flare for serene acoustic strumming and ambient keyboards while vocalist Vincent Cavanagh petitions the empty sky with his wistful woes and drummer John Douglas guides the melody like the bow of a boat engulfed in darkness.

As mentioned here by other reviewers, "One Last Goodbye" is one of the most harrowing songs I've ever heard. I love Vince's stretching pleas. He sounds so magnificently pitiful, driving guitarist Danny [Cavanagh] and company to create such brooding tension. AH!!! It's all so painful.

Other stand-out tracks are the somber "Parisienne Moonlight," a piano-driven duet featuring drummer John Douglas's sister, Lee, as guest vocalist; and the stark "Emotional Winter," perhaps my all-time favorite Anathema song.

Seriously, I own an ass-load of CDs and this is in the TOP 10. This is THE most poignant album ever.

Moving.......2004-08-21

Anathema, and this album in particular, were recommended to me in a random conversation in a chatroom about a month ago. I was told, based on my muscial tastes, that this was an album I simply had to own and that it "even brings metalheads to tears." This I had to see. I ordered the CD that night and got it in the mail a few days later. I have to confess that my resistance to the idea of an album that could make metalheads weep like sissies probably contributed to my relative indifference to this CD at first. While I thought the melodies and overall musicianship were good for a nice mellow drive in the mountains, I have to say that there was nothing on this album that would make me sob like a girl.

I own over 800 CD's from all different genres. I've come to a point where I rarely pay attention to the lyrics in a song unless it's really catchy. Such was the case with Judgement. Nothing had really caught my ear. About a week after buying "Judgement," I was driving home from work when "One Last Goodbye" played. I felt a little spark. By the end of "Parisienne Moonlight," I had to pull over. For one reason or another, I'd actually listened to the lyrics, and it brought back a flood of memories. Every girl I'd ever loved and lost, every girl I'd loved and never told. All the things I should have said or done came flooding back like a maelstrom of pain and sorrow. No song or album has ever done that.

Since then, I've paid more attention to the album in its entirety. While I still think the aforementioned tracks are still my favorites, the emotional depth and impact of this album is undeniable. This is music with which everyone on earth can identify. The mood each song sets, the feelings described in the lyrics, and the emotions ellicited by the album overall are universal and undeniable; we've all felt them. I don't think it matters what genre of music you like. It would be a mistake not to check out this album.

Perfection.......2004-07-27

This is without a doubt, my favorite 'mellow' album I own. You can really tell Anathema puts all of their heart into the music they create, and it shows on Judgement. (I also own The Silent Enigma, Eternity, Alternative 4, A Fine Day To Exit, and A Natural Disaster. I would highly recommend those also). But Judgement is definately my favorite Anathema album at the time. There are many other reviewers that have already talked about the album being atmospheric, emotional, depressing, etc., so I won't go on and on. Just buy the album, or at least take a listen, and decide for yourself. Though if you don't buy this album, you will definitely be missing out on a great musical experience.

Is there something wrong with me???.......2004-02-05

I don't really care for this CD. Don't know why, I just don't. I was fairly impressed when I heard the song "Deep" as a sample, and I like that song a lot, but nothing else on the album really struck me. There's no really crappy songs on it; nothing that makes me want to vomit after hearing it, it's just that I can't really get into it. Everything is at about the same pace, same tempo, same everything. Normally, that doesn't bother me too much, but this time it did. I'm reading a lot of good reviews, and thinking to myself, 'I should be giving this five stars too, but I don't like it.' Well, I've always been accused of having bad taste in women, could that be filtering over to my taste in music??? I hope not. Anyway, I advise taking my review for what it's worth, but concentrate on the other reviewers' comments.

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