Track Listing
1. Pressure 2. Release 3. Looking outside inside 4. Leave no trace 5. Underworld 6. Barrier 7. Panic 8. A fine day to exit 9. Temporary peace Year: 2001 Label: Koch - Official Site |
Anathema - 'A fine day to exit' - By M. Freeman
Well this band has been through it all, their previous work all having their own defining moments, and this really is a change in direction in the extreme. The change was an expected one, unfortunately also a change which many long-time Anathema followers were not too impressed with. I beg to differ, sure, this album is a completely different concept in every instant, but the album works excellently. 'Pressure' begins with a piano played introduction which spans this track out in a very radio friendly style. Fortunately, the guitars use just enough distortion to keep it's head above the water and despite this being one of the lesser tracks of the album, it is allowed to fade welcomingly into the second track. After a few seconds of slowing down guitars from the album's opening track, more acoustic-laiden quality kicks in on 'Release'. The lyrics are typical Anathema, perfect from start to finish, 'Face down, I just break down when I see you cry...' is just a short example of the true class and writing ability on show. 'Release' is, for the most-part, a slow cut, but it doesn't seem to matter, the vocals are hypnotic and the harmonic expression all the way through the song are richly enchanted. 'Looking Outside Inside' begins lightly again, I have to say this is a track that starts off with very little to offer as far as I'm concerned. The advantage of many of the tracks being around the six minute mark is that you can live safe in the knowledge that something good will come of each of them. This theory is true of this track, approaching the three minute mark the tempo builds and the vocals resume their position of floating above the music in perfect contrast. Now here is perfection collectively layered together under five minutes in what must be one of the most inspiring pieces to be written by Anathema. The vocals on 'Leave No Trace' are entrancing, the lyrics use beautiful and scene-setting imagery and the layered guitars allow the mesmerising harmonies to stand at the forefront of a thought-provoking masterpiece. Underworld' picks up just where the listener hopes it would, more reflective and emotive class that flows through the track, albeit a slight step down from 'Leave No Trace'. The theme is similar to the previous track also. As a whole, this piece owns a slightly fuller sound, this is a positive point, of that there is no doubt. 'Barriers' is a different style yet again, this piece combines Vincent Cavanaugh's expert vocals with those of a female guest vocalist which compliment each other unimaginably well. The feel given to this is again an accomplished one which leads on to a complete surprise package on the album... Track seven, 'Panic', is a considerably different avenue of sounds to the rest of the disc, the whole feel is much changed. The tempo is constantly faster than that of the previous tracks, although it seems a strange addition to the album, it is a great track and was perhaps needed to give a welcome break to the more acoustic work which is on show. 'Panic' is just what you would think it is, a rushed piece, but the sounds are not blurred in anyway, a cry for help through a brilliant musical formula. The title track, 'A Fine Day To Exit', is truly an excellent imaginative piece once again. If the imagery on the previous tracks was good, then this is further proof that Anathema have a true ability to create true to life images in some style. The musical components have nothing new to show here but overall the track lives up to the title track duty well. 'Temporary Peace' is sheer emotion-inducing quality. The sea washing against the shore in the background creates an increasingly dreamy effect to the piece and the lyrics again are something to admire. The female vocals appear once more which add to the purely engaging beauty in a way only Anathema could do to such great effect. This album is a stellar production with immense creativity on show. There maybe one or two moments where there could be a little bit extra, but otherwise this disc is faultless. With lyrics that never fail to impress added to music which captures the listener, draws them in, and captivates them with the flooding emotion, this is an album to get lost in. Metal Obsessive Grade: 92% |