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ANATHEMA 07.11.10

Nov. 16, 2010

ANATHEMA + PETTER CARLSEN + SLAMO

Sunday, November 7

Sala Salamandra, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)

By Xenia

ANATHEMA 07.11.10

That Anathema deserted their metalhead past is nothing new today. Those heavy sounds have not been found in their albums for years, rather they offer Rock with popery, atmospheric touches and some reference to jazz; and seeing the opening act for his Spanish tour, his rejection of the early days has just been confirmed.

The same day that the Pope filled the city of Barcelona with believers, Anathema presented their highly anticipated album 'We're Here Because We're Here'. The reason why the seven long years since the release of this one have been so long awaited and, consequently, the long awaited tour. Although during this time it has been possible to see a part of the Cavanagh brothers, it is not the same as seeing the whole group.

Servidora performed right at the end of the Slamo opening act, as she was enjoying a friendly protest-filled evening called Anti - Ratzinger Fest, in honor of the infamous visit of Benedict XVI, AKA Ratiznger. The interesting proposal to unite 14 groups from the extreme Catalan scene, with rotations every ten minutes, against the visit of the Ignominious Father was very well received. Too bad both events coincided, missing part of this one.

Forgetting Sala Salamandra, those from Liverpool started their concert, for a change, asking us not to smoke marijuana due to Daniel Cavanagh's health problem and, although some of them ignored the warning, at least it did not happen like in the Seville concert , where Daniel cornered angry during part of the performance. From there, the group's classics began: "Deep", "Pitiless", "Forgotten Hopes", "Destiny Is Dead", "Empty", "Lost Control", "Balance" and "Closer". In the latter there were problems with the vocoder and Vincent got pissed off like a little boy and, consequently, he ended up disconnecting the keyboard, effects pedal, ... and made a gesture of throwing it to the ground, all this accompanied by obscene gestures to the roadie. A rock star tantrum that, honestly, was left over.

We continue with the classics, this time with the beautiful voice of Lee Douglas, who since 2000 has been in charge of the female voices. “A Natural Disaster” sounded sublime and they followed with “Destiny”, “Judgment” and “Flying”.

When the first hour of the concert arrived, we all wondered if they would play something from their new album, that they came to present it for something. Said and done. The next hour was exclusive for the ten songs, in the same order, that make up “We're Here Because We're Here”. The idea itself is good but, personally, from the fourth it becomes somewhat heavy, knowing what the next song will be, and even more so, if the eternal samplers of “Presence” also sound. There are a thousand ways to present a new album and play it in its entirety, however, doing it one song after another, and more so with an album of this caliber, with all the musical silences, samples and instrumental songs that make it up, is something risky due to the danger of let the audience cool down. Actually that is what happened with the last four songs, but the desire to see the English again overcame the fatigue.

At this point of two hours of non-stop performance, the encores began. The first with Daniel Cavanagh on acoustics with a song that, for me, was unnecessary on the set-list but that people welcomed with open arms. After "Are You There?" They gave an end with the best taste in the mouth, such as the emotional “One Last Goodbye”, with tears from the audience included, and “Fragile Dreams” with the Sala Salamandra completely overturned with the group. The ending would have been perfect if part of the Slamo group hadn't joined the stage. That they jump and dance with Anathema seems great to me, but that they sing destroying such a beautiful song with the voice they have ... I hope their performance was not the same, for the good of all.

Of course, the sound of Sala Salamandra was excellent: all the songs sounded the same as the album. It's nice to go see concerts in a room with such good acoustics. The performance of the English was also excellent, leaving aside Vincent's tantrum. It may sound like a staunch fan of the group, speaking of perfection and adjectives like that, but it is the truth. The English tables cannot be denied, their delivery to the public neither, and the exquisiteness of their songs much less.

Let's hope they don't take another seven years to go back to editing a new work or, at least, to act again in our country. The final feeling is so gratifying that it leaves you wanting more.

Text and photographs by Xènia Senserrich

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