FROM WITHIN

From Within is the third studio album from Swedish progressive rock act Anekdoten. Anekdoten´s first two albums Vemod and Nucleus are excellent heavy progressive rock albums. They are both heavily influenced by the bass heavy King Crimson era ( Lark´s Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red) with dissonant guitar riffs, heavy bass and drums and an overall dark mood. From Within continues the dark style from the two previous albums but adds a more emotional dimension and generally leaves out the most dissonant and complex parts that were a dominant part of the first two albums.

The music on From Within is very dark and heavy ( not heavy metal though) and the melancholic melody lines are really emotional and adds greatly to the atmosphere. The music is drenced in great beautiful mellotron waves which gives it a symphonic approach as well.

This is not easy listening music and if you don´t like dark and melancholic music this is definitely not for you. Songs like From Within, the 11 minute long Hole or the instrumental The Sun Absolute are all black excursions into a dark andhopeless landscape. But really all songs are like that. I don´t hear any light on this album. The only other band present here on PA that I can think of who makes music this dark is Saviour Machine. The tension is never released and after you are finished listening to From Within your mood will not be light.

The musicianship is excellent and it´s hard not to be impressed by the prominant bass lines and the challenging drums. I also greatly enjoy the mellotron that is used to build up the songs. The guitar is probably the least important part of the album but it´s still great and does take the lead role a couple of times throughout the album ( most notable on Groundbound) . The vocals are an aquired taste for sure. It took me a while to appreciate the vocals but now I enjoy them.

The production is excellent. Dark and warm.

From Within is easily my favorite of the first three albums from Anekdoten. A dark and melancholic journey that I fully enjoy. 4 stars is well deserved for this black pearl of an album and I fully understand the reviewers who think this is a masterpiece.