WERE YOU THERE LIVE

Anathema

Experimental/Post Metal

3.39 | 54 ratings

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pepato

Let's cut to the chase: this dvd is deadly cold and boring.

I saw Anathema live in 2007, and they are the opposite as shown in the DVD. I remember a band deep and emotional, enjoying every single second on stage, with the Cavanagh brothers always moving, headbanging, cheering the crowd, talking. Even in the most intimate moments, in the saddest tracks, the band was acting like at a joyful party. I remember Danny playing One Last Goodbye weaving his arms to the crowd, yelling "let's sing it altogether", while I was at the point of crying. I remember Vincent raw, shaking, nervous, headbanging from Closer (I mean, Closer!!!!) to Fragile Dreams! I had fun, and I cried. A crazy band.

I got this DVD hoping to live the experience again, and what did I find? A band scattered on a large stage, with no contact with the crowd. Silent, quiet, distant. Vincent very shy and moody, calm. Danny aside, focusing on guitar and keyboards. A static act.

The concert is well produced, the sound is great; but the paradox is that this beautiful technical release underlines the technical issues of the band. Vincent's voice is not famous for being perfectly tuned. But in a live situation you can feed with the feeling: here on dvd you just hear a terrible singer humiliating beautiful compositions like One Last Goodbye, or Temporary Peace. The great appearance of Lee Douglas on vocals in few tracks confirms the technical difference between the two singers.

The video and audio quality is very good, the performance itself is very good, but the result is something very far from the live experience that Anathema can give. It's like they were guests in a stranger's house, feeling unconfortable with the surroundings. They were not at home, to take off shoes with their fans and have a good time.

So this IS NOT an Anathema live, in my humble opinion.

pepato | 1/5 | 2009-8-12

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