Paradise Lost / Anathema
27 January 2006
Mean Fiddler, London
Anathema today are a very different band from the one I first saw opening at the Hull Adelphi in December 1991. Indeed, tonight`s set doesn`t dip back before 1998`s Alternative 4, from which the opening two tracks begin the show. Anathema have long since left their doomy early years behind and now sit more easily with the likes of Porcupine Tree than My Dying Bride. Some of us have stayed with them, but there`s a good few at the bar puzzled as to why they are playing.
As the short Shroud Of False draws to a close the crowd comes to life clapping through the introduction of Fragile Dreams. For a band whose music can be so achingly mournful, they can still be uplifting and induce an energetic crowd response.
Balance takes things into Radiohead territory, with delicate keyboards and the echoing "What would you do? What wouldn`t you do?" refrain providing a backing for Danny Cavanagh`s pained vocal. Following which, Danny takes a seat and adds second keyboard for the hypnotic Closer, with vocoded vocals.
As the crowd take over the singing on One Last Goodbye, Danny & Vincent Cavanagh glance at each other, looking touched by the response. The crowd then get to bounce up and down to the more energetic Empty, before Johan Douglas` sister joins the band to add a feminine touch to a Natural Disaster.
Afforded a full hour, Anathema`s set is certainly not a metal experience but is pure class and is concluded with a surprise cover of Nine Inch Nails` Hurt.
Anathema set list:
Shroud Of False / Fragile Dreams / Balance / Closer / One Last Goodbye / Empty / A Natural Disaster / Judgement / Panic / Flying / Hurt
Similarly Paradise Lost have been on a long journey since I first saw them numerous times back in 1988. With their last self titled album however they appear to be returning to heavier guitars and Don`t Belong and Grey from that album kick of the set. One thing that has never changed however is Nick Holmes` sarcasm and hence you don`t know whether to trust him when he announces what a pleasure it is to be playing in London. Mind you he had just been hit by an inflatable sheep!
Widow from 1993`s Icon is an early surprise inclusion which incites a sea of devil horns. Holmes does not try to recreate his early growling style and instead sings the songs clean, though as he`s been doing this for a good few years it is no longer surprising nor jarring.
As the early part of the set picks from the last two albums, there`s a slight niggle of not enough guitars coming through in the mix. This is however more than rectified when Aaron Aedy`s wah-wah guitar introduces Embers Fire which receives an ecstatic response from a crowd who spit up their first stage dancer for the colossal Hallowed Land. The latter is dedicated to old friends Anathema. "They`ve probably gone home anyway" quipped Holmes.
The band then go very obscure with Sweetness from Seals The Sense EP, pleasing the old-school fans. The newer material sits well within the set however, with For All You Leave Behind working particularly well.
We`re then hit with a trio of classics. As I Die`s morose message is broken by Holmes telling us he`s off to G-A-Y afterwards and would we like to join him. Enchantment sends shivers down the spine and brings back memories of the band`s very strong set at Bloodstock Open Air. True Belief from Icon completes the hat-trick.
A couple of new songs have contrasting responses from the audience. Forever After has everyone jumping up and down and could have been sold to The Sisters Of Mercy. Meanwhile Over The Madness gets a rather flat response, which was a shame as it`s a great song.
Wrapping things up are hits Say Just Words and The Last Time. During the latter the inflated sheep makes an appearance once more with Holmes reading from it "Not suitable for children" and commenting "Why? There`s no hole."
It was a bit of a last minute decision to attend this show but I`m thoroughly glad I did. Seeing Paradise Lost live is like visiting an old friend who you know will always leave you with fond memories.
Paradise Lost set list:
Don`t Belong / Grey / Widow / Erased / Redshift / Mystify / So Much Is Lost / Embers Fire / Hallowed Land / Sweetness / No Celebration / For All You Leave Behind / As I Die / Enchantment / True Belief / One Second / Forever After / Over The Madness / Say Just Words / Last Time
LINKS:
Paradise Lost
Anathema
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