Eternity

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-02-20 rating:
Accessible melancholic metal
Anathema are one of the metal bands that have progressed from a fairly extreme form of music (in their case, Doom) to something altogether more sophisticated and accessible - this has been both the band's blessing and curse because while they continue to evolve, refusing to stagnate, they find themselves in the difficult position of not being able to please many of their earlier-era hardcore fans.

I'm open-minded enough to accept progression - if you want dark-as-hell (and admittedly brilliant) doom metal then Serenades will always be there - and Eternity serves as a bridge between the really heavy stuff and the more progressive era that followed. Vincent took over the vocals on the preceding album (Silent Enigma), continuing from where Darren left off with more of a death growl on that disc. Here he started to personalise the sound and it's very effective, one of Eternity's strong points and something that would help define and distinguish the band beyond that. His voice would get softer and develop more range as the albums went on but I really like what he did on this album.

The music is complex, pretty heavy (though not so much as Enigma, Serenades, etc.), melancholic, and very efficient. The guitar sound and execution is great. It was around this period that Anathema started to be seen as sort of a metal version of Pink Floyd and it is an acknowledgeable comparison with Eternity. The album feels very much a whole, with tracks seemingly gliding into and out of one another. It's a complete and beautiful experience. The melodies are thoughtful and there is rarely a moment that one could describe as disposable.

There are a couple of acoustic bonus tracks on some versions of the CD (Far Away and Eternity Part 3); these are nice renditions but I tend to prefer to listen to the album without them. If you can only get Eternity without these two bonus tracks it is no massive loss.

All said, this is a superb and unique piece of work. It may take a little effort on the part of the listener but it's a rewarding experience for the open-minded metal (or even rock) fan.


review by: arunsmith667 date: 2004-02-19 rating:
Simply amazing
I absolutely love this album, i cant stop listening to it. I assume that this is the album where they begin breaking away from traditional doom, to more Pink Floydian style sounds. Why should you buy this album. Because everything about this album is of the highest quality. This is an album that is made by themselfs for themselfs, this and there subsequent albums are not made to get them on radio as some might believe. Im always hearing comparisons to radiohead, i dont believe this band to be as accessible as radiohead. This band will never be a MAINSTREAM band. Ask yourself do you want them be. Dont you feel a great sense of achievement when you buy an album buy someone that seeming no one has heard of. Doesnt it feel great when that album is the most amazing thing you have heard. My favourite song on this album is Hope, its a cover. Ive never heard the original but i need to now. Do yourself a favour and buy this album.

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