GRAVITY

Gravity, released in 2003 saw Anekdoten continuing their trend of consistently excellent releases but by now the King Crimson comparisons are more or less left behind as the band have by now well and truly developed their own sound in a direction more than hinted at on From Within.

Anna Sofi Dahlberg's haunting Mellotron and organ still plays a key role in their sound providing a sweeping backdrop much of the time but the songs are now more succinct. There are less of the drawn out grooves, though What Should But Did Not Die continues that style occupying similar territory as Hole from the From Within album, but less expansive. The guitar riffs are less angular than the first 2 albums but that's not to say they lack power. This is clearly immediately apparent as album opener Monolith delivers an explosive riff on one of the highlights here. Title track Gravity, at over 8 minutes is the longest song and another incredibly powerful moment with the driving rhythm section of Jan Erik Liljeström and Peter Nordins keeping it simple but effective as the guitar of Nicklas Barker and well up front Mellotron of Anna Sofi Dahlberg provide the icing on the cake.

What has not changed is the vocals of Barker and Liljeström, not surprisingly still retaining that instantly recognisable melancholic quality.

The Games We Play and The War Is Over offer a new perspective and are 2 mellower acoustic driven moments and Seljak, a driving instrumental closes the album in fine style with its abrupt ending.

It's difficult to draw parallels between Anekdoten and other bands here as by now their sound is truly their own and while Gravity is the weakest of their first 4 albums it's only because of it being in such illustrious company that I'm able to say that. It's still an incredibly strong and consistent release and fans of the band should not be disappointed.