Band:	Anathema
Album:	Distant Satellites
Style:	Atmospheric rock
Release date:	June 06, 2014
Guest review by:	WayTooManyCDs

01. The Lost Song Part 1
02. The Lost Song Part 2
03. Dusk (Dark Is Descending)
04. Ariel
05. The Lost Song Part 3
06. Anathema
07. You're Not Alone
08. Firelight
09. Distant Satellites
10. Take Shelter

Tour Edition bonus tracks:
11. The Lost Song Part 1 [Acoustic in Session - Liverpool Parr Street Studios]
12. Ariel [Acoustic in Session - Liverpool Parr Street Studios]
13. The Lost Song Part 3 [Acoustic in Session - Liverpool Parr Street Studios]
14. Firelight [Acoustic in Session - Liverpool Parr Street Studios]
15. Anathema [Live at Liverpool Cathedral]

Anathema, Opeth, Mastodon, Ihsahn, and numerous other major artists are all moving out of the metal scene. Many of their newer works are receiving lower scores for not being "metal enough" and going too far outside of the acceptable boundaries of fans of their earlier work. Is the mixed reception for Distant Satellites another result of this phenomenon? In my opinion, yes.

Anathema isn't even pretending to be a metal band anymore; they even re-worked some of their older material (Falling Deeper) to make it work with their new, soothing, explicitly-not-metal style. Some older fans of Anathema have accepted this for what it is, others are still yearning for another Serenades because "it is the only time they were really metal". Ok, so that may be an over-exaggeration, not many people would want Serenades-era Anathema to return, but the point stands. Anathema is moving wherever their ideas are taking them and I think the "metal" tag may be holding them back more than it is helping them at this point.

Distant Satellites is a partly acoustic, partly electronic experiment that feels like a natural progression to the sound Anathema has been perfecting since A Fine Day To Exit. Highly emotional, deeply personal, and heavy in terms of the topics they cover rather than the sound of the music itself. Listening to Anathema is like floating on a cloud; sometimes it's sunny, sometimes it rains, yet you feel comfortable no matter what change comes about. There are occasional rock moments that flow smoothly in and out of the otherwise ethereal soundscape but this album is mostly about relaxing with your thoughts. This isn't supposed to be a progressive metal epic that blows your mind with sudden chord shifts; it is meant to be a cohesive, simply-paced, dare I say soothing experience.

What I find so amazing about Distant Satellites is that it can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter who they are. There simply isn't enough modern music that tries to bring people together. Back before the internet boom, and even before CDs, people used to gather around their record players and come together over music. Artists tried to reach as many people as possible; they didn't try to fit the rigid standards of a niche genre that excluded everyone but the most devoted fans, they wanted their music to be inclusive. Anathema has escaped an oppressive genre and broken out with a style that has a far broader appeal. If they were a new band they might be the hottest underground band of the day but because they are forever attached to the metal genre they may never get the acclaim they deserve.

= In Short = Anathema have mastered an emotional, atmospheric style that few will ever be able to match. While Anathema has many great albums in that style, I think that Distant Satellites may be the most consistently great album from beginning to end that the band has ever released. I would also place the title track as one of my favorite songs ever, which may just be a personal touch but is an indication of how powerful this album is. I have spent nearly two years visiting and revisiting Distant Satellites and it has only gotten better every time I hear it. This is perfect for a late night spent laying in bed, whether alone or with someone else.