A VISION OF A DYING EMBRACE

Having witnessed Anathema play live twice just a few days ago (for those who didn't identify me as such yet, *I'm a fan*), this DVD from their old-and-gone doom metal days (pre-1997) comes across as highly amusing more than anything else.

I highly doubt whether the band would actually appreciate me drawing attention to this DVD - but as I'm one of those fans that thoroughly loves both their old AND their newer material, I'll not further think about that here, but just do my saying on this nice piece of work.

The DVD starts off with a collection of four highly psychedelic promo videos from mostly older material, the exception being the clip of the Roy Harper/David Gilmour- cover "Hope". The videos show Anathema as your archetypical gothic doom metal band, very cliché, but then again... amusing all the same. The majority of this DVD consists of a live recording of full concert Anathema gave as a support act for colleagues My Dying Bride in Krakow, Poland, back in 1996. Funnily enough, though this DVD's Anathema involves for 80% the same personnel as of today's band (yes, even though current keyboard player Les Smith isn't even mentioned on the cover, he's there alright), it's an entirely different sort of band we witness playing here. No sign of the latter day Radiohead-, Portishead-, Mogwai- and GY!BE-influences here yet - this is ultimate DOOM METAL which Anathema's playing here. As such, it may well not be to everyone's taste here - consider this a well-meant warning. However, within the doom metal genre, this recording is rightfully considered as nothing less than legendary.

Those who actually manage listening through Vincent Cavanagh's rough, untrained growling - I can hardly refer to his harsh vocal eruptions as 'singing' - , will certainly recognize the obvious Pink Floyd influences embedded in the ultra-heavy but, at the same time, very melodic material featured here. The band's abundancy of talent shines through clearly, especially through Daniel Cavanagh's excellent guitar playing - his slide solo at the closure of "Sunset of Age" is no less than brilliant, for instance. Also, Duncan Patterson's droning and haunting bass lines make no secret of the band being a true force to recon with. This is reflected well in the Polish audience's enthusiastic reaction to the band - which would remain to be there to stay until the day of today. Highlights for me are the already mentioned "Sunset of Age", "Restless Oblivion" and "Sleepless".

And oh, how merry to see this latter song appear on last week's Anathema performances' setlist. It's no secret - for those who have been with this band for over ten years, this old material is indeed legendary.

Giving the appropriate star rating is difficult for me. People who enjoy Anathema's older doom material will regard this DVD as a true highlight, but at the same time many others may well head for the emergency exit asap. For the sake of trying to remain objective, I guess a three star rating should be appropriate.

Anathema's debut video documentary, A Vision Of A Dying Embrace, was released in 1996 on VHS format, then re-released as DVD in 2002. The footage on both versions is identical, as there was no extra media or bonus material featured on the re-release. There are four promotional videos, each of which are low-budget affairs generally consisting of collages of images ranging from the band onstage to landscape scenery with a commotion of unclearly defined images moving in quick succession throughout. The exception is "The Silent Enigma", in which the band are shot performing in an open field, with occasional scenes of vocalist/guitarist Vincent Cavanagh walking through the ruins of a Gothic cathedral with a fair maiden, hand in hand. Overall, the videos don't do much to enhance the songs by presenting a visual dimension to them, and as a result, they are most likely to be taken in once or twice, after which there will be no particular reason to sit through them again. They are decent enough considering the band's early status, yet the low quality and largely unrealized visual conceptions render them nonessential following the initial viewing or two.

The second half of A Vision Of A Dying Embrace showcases the band live onstage in Krakow, Poland, in March 1996. The quality of professionalism with regards the camera operation, and clarity of visual and sonic representation, combined with the band's strong performance, make this section of the release quite engaging for the viewer. The majority of the material is taken from the band's second release, The Silent Enigma, which was the most recent release from the band during this time, as well as the Pentecost III EP, and only one song from the Serenades debut. This was the band's first tour after the departure of original vocalist Darren White, and as this material was written for White's manner of expression and delivery, Vincent struggles through much of the set. While Vincent made his vocal debut on The Silent Enigma, the songs were not suited to his vocal strengths, and though he does fine work on the album regardless, his replication of those vocals on this set are strained and lacking in the emotional conviction he so effectively produced on the album. Indeed, Vincent Cavanagh would soon discover his voice in Anathema's music and evolve into quite an engaging live vocalist, though here his discomfort is evident. Instrumentally, the performance is excellent.

Needless to say, despite the shortcomings of the videos and Cavangah's vocals on the live set, this is essential for Anathema fans, particularly of the earlier, doom/death era of the band.