THE MOUNTAIN

I felt obliged to get after the shower of 5 star ratings and people saying its one of the best albums ever. I've probably had my fill of heavy prog though. Anathema are a band I love and at times Haken try to imitate that particular band, but without the style , emotion and sheer joy. Of course Anathema have been around for 20 years and been developing their art and that is where this album falls badly short imo. They have no art at such and in a vein that is becomingly depressingly familiar just trudge out a load of cliches wandering between King Crimson and Gentle Giant like a drunken sailor trying to find his ship after a night out on the town. Undoubtedly talented musicians but whatever happened to having original ideas instead of borrowing from others? In truth the albums released this year by Riverside , Spocks Beard and the imperious Steven Wilson knock this into touch because they know where their boundaries are and what they are about.To sum up its well played but souless prog from a band that needs to go back to the drawing board and find their own voice.