One of the greatest bands has visited our town for a 2day concert. Although I have attended them twice at Bradford in 98 and 99, I was curious to see them now after their district turn to more slow and progressive patterns. Personally up to their previous CD ("Judgement") I considered them as a top band, a real oasis to the British arid metal land. This doesn't mean that "Afine day to exit" is a bad release; simply don't like the slow (not to say melo tracks). Traditionally Anathema could combine Death Metal harshness with Progressive lyricism; but now they tipped dangerously the scale in favour of the latter.

Anyway on Saturday Rodon Club was satisfactory full (not packed), despite the fact that the previous day another important concert (Blaze/Savatage) took place and metal fans have to split. Anathema begun slightly delayed with Fragile Dreams. My initial inhibitions were shattered. The crowd wellcomed them in a moshing atmosphere. A real dynamic performance followed by Deep and Pitiless. Then a slow track from "A fine day..." and then a surprise from the first album "Sleepless" which the audience seemed to enjoy accordingly. The trunk of the band (Cavanagh brothers) lead the concert through sofisticated entertaining pathways. They were enthousiastic, vivid, expressive, and communicated with the audience.

Fast songs alternated by slow ones and Vincent did the same between his electric and acoustic guitar. The new pop look alike bassist seemed not to be coherent with the band style and image, namely he seems not to have much future with the band (sorry). Anyway although he remained throughout the concert almost immobile he played pretty well. The keyboarder was O.K but the revelation was the drummer, who was magnificent.

The playlist was besed merely on the 3 latest releases; hence they played intrinsically Angelica (sadly the only track from Eternity), Restless Oblivion (dedicated to the former bassist Patterson) in a panic atmosphere and A Dying Wish. The audience was excited especially by the fast tracks, while the slow ones "refuelled their batteries".

The band played a long encore finishing with an exstended guitaristic version of "Comfortably Numb", much better that the Floyd studio one.

In a few words the concert performance was at a high level, partially very vivid and if the slow tracks from "A fine day..." were ommitted or replaced by others from Eternity (I expected to hear Hope or Far Away) it would have been the excellent show.

Playing Time: 135 min !!! (and only this is an indication that Anathema respect their audience).

Playlist (pardon me don't ask me to remember the exact row of the tracks, let alone there might be a mistake in tracks): Fragile Dreams, Deep, Pitiless, Pressure, Sleepless, Forgotten Hopes, Panic, Empty, Lost Control, Release, Angelica, Restless Oblivion, A Dying Wish, Regret, One Last Goodbye, Judgment, Leave No Trace, A Fine Day To Exit, Comfortably Numb.

Many thanx to my friend Panayiotis Panousopoulos for having scanned the photos and his acurate remarks.