Customer Reviews

Pentecost 3

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"Pentecost III", a landmark on Anathema's career, was somewhat of a crossing bridge to the type of sound they're exploring nowadays. We can notice their death metal roots fading away in each of the 5 songs displayed in this EP. In fact, the only song one can really describe as "death metal" (more like doom/death metal) is precisely the last one ("Memento Mori"), that pretty much stays on the same savage and fast-paced riff for about 8 minutes with a few subtle tempo and key changes, while an angry Darren White screams and growls in protest against the hopelessness of human condition. We're all doomed and Anathema tells you that, loud and clear.
Best song in the album IMO is opener "Kingdom", a hallucinatory trip of anguish and despair that grows into an energetic doom riff, before fading into obscurity again. We also have "Mine Is Yours To Drown In" (an atmospheric journey of experimental noise-rock) the grandiose epic "We, The Gods" (with undeniable classic Iron Maiden-esque influences) and the haunting, nerve-chilling instrumental title track.

Anathema is all about atmosphere and intensity. They stood apart from all their other cousin British doomdeath bands (Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride), who relied more on aggression and brutality. Anathema create mental paintings for you to interpretate in your own special way and this album was way ahead of its time, seeing that it almost foresaw this new breed of noise-metal bands (i.e. Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna). It's a shame that they evolved more than they should, turning into an uninteresting pseudo-Pink Floydian act. No point on keeping the search when they had already found their true identity, cemented by their ultimate opus "The Silent Enigma". After that, it was the downfall of the doom Gods...

This to me is the climax of Anathema's career. Everything is perfect about this album. Darrens vocals have changed to a sort of "heavy metal" type growl (still good though), the production is heavier than ever, and the songwriting is incredible. Despite the fact that this is supposed to serve as an EP, it could pass for a complete album. This is my favorite by Anathema. If you liked Serenades, get it.

Anathema's first release post 'Serenades' came as something of a minor disappointment to me. 'Pentecost III' is the sound of a band in transition, an EP upon which no song sits comfortably with more than one other. That's not a criticism but a sign of the internal intrigues affecting the band at the time with vocalist Darren White who would soon fly the nest.

Of the five tracks I'll start with the poorest & it's worth noting that whereas all the tracks on 'The Crestfallen EP' were specifically crafted 'Pentecost III' does sound a little rushed & thrown together at times. The title track is a forgettable instrumental whilst 'Memento Mori' a re-working of an old demo thrash-bash that relays the band's fascination with both death metal & dear old Iron Maiden.

The other three tracks are far better. Its also here that you start to notice the heavy Celtic Frost influences that are creeping into both the music & the vocals. 'We, the Gods' takes up where 'Serenades' left off & 'Mine Is Yours to Drown In' reminds me a lot of 'Sweet Tears' (also from 'Serenades'), albeit more upbeat, with a touch of mysticism & Duncan's clanging bassline that sythes through the mix.

Best of all is the opener 'Kingdom' with White mournfully wailing over a bleak, picked guitar line before launching into another grunting session behind a bludgeoning, climactic riff. It is also the only song that would offer any genuine hint as to the direction the band would be heading on 'The Silent Enigma' album & beyond. It's the clear high point on a reasonable release but you have to wonder what might have been if tensions inside the Liverpudlians' camp weren't running so high.