OFFICIAL BOOTLEG - LIVE IN JAPAN

Anekdoten is a Swedish progressive rock band composed of guitarist Nicklas Barker, cellist/keyboardist Anna Sofi Dahlberg, bassist/vocalist Jan Erik Liljeström, and drummer Peter Nordins.

Anekdoten is one of those Swedish bands that sparked a kind of new wave of prog in the nineties alongside Änglagård, Pain of Salvation, The Flower Kings, and the metalheads of Opeth and Meshuggah. Those years were very prolific in terms of music and creativity.

But Anekdoten may have been the least popular, creating a unique, obscure, and incredibly original style? a mix of classic Mellotron sounds blended with heavy tones. They crafted a kind of early King Crimson vibe with elements of classical music and alternative modern rock.

By 1997, Anekdoten had released two records: Vemod (1993) and Nucleus (1995). Both are arguably their best studio albums, with music that was darker and more haunting compared to their later work.

The band was in a period of reorganization, and it seemed they might consider making music a secondary pursuit. However, after their success European tour in 1996, they received exciting news they were invited to tour Japan, where the band enjoyed surprising popularity. This opportunity breathed new life into the band, giving them a second wind and a chance for a potential breakthrough.

Anekdoten's Official Bootleg - Live in Japan captures the band at their rawest. Recorded in 1997 during their Japanese tour, this live album is an energetic, unpolished collection that showcases the band's intensity and atmosphere, even surpassing their studio sound in some ways.

The setlist is a blend of tracks from Vemod and Nucleus, leaning heavily on the darker, heavier side of their sound. From the crushing riffs and tortured Mellotron of "Nucleus" to the ominous, creeping tension of "The Old Man and the Sea," the band conjures a mood of brooding menace that fans of King Crimson's early '70s era will feel right at home with.

The album's rough, bootleg-quality sound won't win over audiophiles?it's raw, and the mix can feel chaotic. But in the end, the listening experience is more than interesting; the rawness suits Anekdoten's sound, emphasizing the band's urgent energy. You can feel the sweat and intensity of the performance, with the crowd's enthusiasm bleeding into the recording. It's an authentic snapshot of a band at full throttle.

Nicklas Barker's guitar work cuts through with angular, jagged riffs and piercing solos, while Jan Erik Liljeström's bass throbs and snarls, carrying a weight that drives the band's darkest moments. The Mellotron?arguably Anekdoten's signature sound?is a constant, droning presence, wrapping tracks like "Karelia" and "Wheel" in a haunting, oppressive atmosphere. Drummer Peter Nordins is a force of nature, propelling the band with a mix of precision and aggression.

The album is a great listening experience in my opinion, one of the best live records I've ever heard. This record was my entry point to Anekdoten, and even today, I find everything else I've heard from them different and less enjoyable than this album. Don't misunderstand me I think their entire discography is amazing, but the energy displayed on this record is hard to match. That's why this album is so incredible.

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