Anathema

The title for Anathema’s eleventh full-length would also serve well in describing the Liverpool sextet’s uncompromising dedication to fearless artistry since forming in 1990. They’ve continually evolved by placing hope in the future – from leaving the underground scene they were fundamental in establishing to continually mesmerising the world with stargazing post-progressive alternative rock that knows no borders.

Led by brothers Vincent and <a href="spotify:artist:5HAculFU4ScJVhfwXKK0hr" data-name="Daniel Cavanagh">Daniel Cavanagh</a>, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and keyboardist/drummer Daniel Cardoso – this is a band that has forsaken all notion of expectation – highly evocative music simply pours out of them.

Despite early records being hailed as classics, the band left their heavier roots and transcended into a more emotional heaviness that resonated deep within the heart of the listener. <a href="spotify:album:6c24vkpBpzh53InjV86cnK" data-name="Alternative 4">Alternative 4</a> (1998), <a href="spotify:album:4IZVVIN1eotOJhqDihuV3H" data-name="Judgement (Remastered)">Judgement (Remastered)</a> (1999), <a href="spotify:album:5Z9hJQpO6d7hD1eKVLoYdq" data-name="A Fine Day to Exit (Remastered)">A Fine Day to Exit (Remastered)</a> (2001) and <a href="spotify:album:2u9kFU66dEBxvvw23QPujf" data-name="A Natural Disaster (Remastered)">A Natural Disaster (Remastered)</a> (2003) marked an era of bold experimentation for the band – taking the notion of self-exploration to its furthest limits – before 2010’s <a href="spotify:album:2rCzLn7yA03XSOgoRdqQYC" data-name="We're Here Because We're Here">We're Here Because We're Here</a> truly cemented their stature as world-beating post-progressive kings. After 2012’s award-winning <a href="spotify:album:7uZ0Bk5U5AddZb1G0MQDgp" data-name="Weather Systems">Weather Systems</a> and 2014’s spellbinding <a href="spotify:album:0pr5Vm1p1d1MFepWiCfzkM" data-name="Distant Satellites">Distant Satellites</a>, the ambient rockers are back with their eleventh full-length, <a href="spotify:album:2MXZ5iBdwsSzzlZszRZoTY" data-name="The Optimist">The Optimist</a>.