Anathema

Another exquisite package from Music Video Distributors the Anathema disc includes websites, logo, photo gallery, interview, bonus video and desktop images. The 14 concert tracks are displayed with the index so the Pink Floyd fans can jump right to the final track of "Comfortably Numb." As Floyd cover bands are proliferating, it's kind of nice to hear an actual group that is its own entity do a cover along with their other material. And they do a nice rock & roll job on it, not to mention the fact that their music runs a sort of parallel to big Pink. The four-page booklet doesn't add much, it's just a slick little extra. But the concert footage is wonderfully filmed and the sound is delightfully eerie. The main concert was recorded live in March of 2006 at the Metalmania Festival. There are additional tracks of "Sleepless," "Dying Wish," the Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac classic "Albatross," and "Fragile Dreams" from a 2004 Krakow concert. The lighting, sound and dynamics are par excellance! A real find and something that should garner the group a larger fan base. A bit more bombast than the group Arena's progressive rock DVD, Smoke & Mirrors, what both collections have in common is stunning packaging and performances that are splendid. That Anathema pick up on the Fleetwood Mac/"Albatross" and Pink Floyd '70s connection in sound is commendable. Bacchus String Quartet make a guest appearance here. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide