The search function can be a bit temperamental at times. My own search turned up 69 posts with 'Anathema' in the topic title. Make sure you select 'All Forums' and 'Any Date' in the advanced search function.

The OP is a newbie, maybe he'll explore the site and find what he needs. 

Yes, Anneke Van Giersbergen 

&

Heike Langhans 

that's quite a bold statement... Christina Booth? Olivia Sparnenn-Josh? Hayley Griffiths? Rachel Jones? Anne-Marie Helder? Heather Findlay?

I entirely agree with richardh about Lee Douglas, absolutely superb but she has disapepared without trace unless anyone knows different. There was a rumour she was waitressing but Ive got no further from that. I do know that Danny when talking about his MH problems after the breakup tends not to mention Lee if he can possibly help it. You wonder if something has gone on.

Simone Simons, Floor Jansen

Yes, they are great too Mike... I think Lee also has a fine voice and wasn't denigrating her talents in any way, other than perhaps saying she was used as a backing or second singer quite a lot of the time. The UK Prog Rock scene has a number of very talented front women of whom the six I mentioned about are the tip of the iceberg and am not sure I could put Lee above any of them?

That is desperately sad from both perspectives and you wonder whether it had any bearing on Anathema's demise? Of course, it wouldn't be the first time.. the first incarnation of Karnataka imploded back in 2004 for the same reason...

Obviously they're all great, including Lee. 

I think that on that level, there isn't really a "better" or "worse" since they all have great technique and differ in style to such a degree that it is difficult to compare. IMHO the best anyone could do is to rank them in terms of personal preference.

The forum design is a bit outdated. I think it's been the same since the early 2000s.
 

I was hoping the other members would create something new along with Lee Douglas on vocals as she is simply amazing!

I would say they are definitely prog....The earlier albums are metal with harsh vocals, I don't listen to that era so not sure if it's prog-metal.

But the albums after that period to me are for sure prog. 

I love all of those singers but I've never heard of Lee Douglas. 

Agreed completely..  

None of those (that I know) are actually better in my opinion. I wasn't actually saying she was the best but that there is no one I would rank higher. I'm not a fan of Renaissance particularly ( I was expecting Annie Haslam to be chucked at me on a number of posts but surprisingly not so much). A Natural Disaster is simply stunning as a vocal performance and generally there is a level of 'soul' that I don't hear in possibly better technical vocalists (but that is entirely subjective of course). Most peoples objections to last years Weather Systems album Ocean WIthout A Shore seemed to stem mainly from Lee not being on it!

I don't think that was always true. A Natural Disaster as well as a Fine Day To Exit were the height of their 'alt rock' phase in the 00's coming off the earlier doom metal stuff. They then took a break before the more uplifting albums Weather Systems and We're Here Because We're Here albums came along showing a more uplifting and spiritual approach. They adopted some Post-rock stylings and that worked well. Unfortunately they eventually ran into a creative brick wall with The Optimist which perhaps was more of a return to that 'morose' style (perhaps).