A FINE DAY TO EXIT

This is a somewhat odd album to describe the sound of. Those of you that are already familiar with the bands work will, of course, not be worried by this, it sounds very Anathema-y. For those that are approaching the band for the first time, we find a band continuing a transition away from their birth as a metal band, and producing, as a result, something that sounds a little like semi-acoustic piano-led doom metal. If that sounds odd to you, perhaps you will appreciate that this is a band with a fairly distinct sound, and one that is hard to fit into words.

Unlike some of their earlier, this album does contain key memorable tracks; notably, of course, album closer 'temporary peace', a song that is something of a live favourite, and a highlight of the band's discography to date. It is followed by a distinctly odd hidden bonus track, in which one of the Cavanagh brothers can be heard ranting about dogs, cats and chicks, over the top of another talking in a cross between awkwardly bitter poetry, and complaining about being lost. For the most part, however, this is a serious album, filled with the usual lyrical brilliance covering all bases of emotional negativity ? loss, isolation, pain, death, etc.

Despite this, the album does feel a little more uninvolving than previous releases. The stronger tracks (barriers, panic, temporary peace) are counter-balanced by some which seem to mistake sorrow for dreariness (leave no trace). There is enough good here that it doesn't matter so much; the dips in quality are only occasional and forgivable, and the moments in which they get it right, they create beautiful, moving music.

This isn't a bad album (even by Anathema's own high standards) but it's not their best either.

3/5