Distant Satellites
4 June 2014
Kscope
3.5 stars out of 5
In case you weren’t aware, there are still progressive rock
bands out there. You might have thought that Muse and The Mars Volta had killed
the genre for good, but some older, lower profile bands, such as Porcupine Tree
and Anathema, have been keeping things going in their own, more understated
way. (If you’d always believed that the words “progressive rock” and “understated”
could never—never in a million fucking
years—be found in mutual association, well there you have it. Your world
has been destroyed. Time to start from scratch, rebuilding everything I
destroyed just a couple of sentences ago. Your entire civilization. I recommend
going without religion, capitalism, and warfare this time.)
Anathema started out in Liverpool
as a doom metal band, but after a couple of albums began exploring goth metal.
Shortly after this they found the prog, and now, ten albums into their career, they
have three lead vocalists (including Lee Douglas, sister of drummer and John
Douglas) and an expansive symphonic sound. The remainder of the band is
comprised of the Brothers Cavanagh (Vincent on vocals and guitar, Daniel on
vocals and guitar, and Jamie on bass), and keyboardist Daniel Cardoso.
Built around the three parts of the majestic “The Lost Song,”
Distant Satellites is one grand
statement after another. While there’s nothing especially envelope-pushing or
challenging here, this is a very beautiful record, full of songs that require adjectives
such as “sweeping” and “epic.” It’s a record that would make a nice counter
point after having had to listen to something ridiculous like Frances the Mute.
reviewed by Richard Krueger
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