ANATHEMA – The Optimist (2017)

It’s been three years since Anathema’s Distant Satellites proved to be yet another critical success for this unique British band. Anathema’s sound has steadily evolved under the guidance of the Cavanagh brothers, from early doom and gothic metal to atmospheric rock and finally to a surprisingly adept blend of electronic music with progressive pop. If a band continues to evolve with each release, most albums in their discography could be considered “transitional,” and Distant Satellites was no exception; the first half featured the epic balladry that won ...