Alternative 4

Alternative 4
Studio album by Anathema
Publication (s)	June 22, 1998
admission	January – February 1998
Label (s)	Peaceville Records
Genre (s)	Alternative rock , progressive metal , doom metal
Title (number)	10
running time	44:58
occupation	Vincent Cavanagh - vocals Danny Cavanagh - guitar Duncan Patterson - bass Shaun Steels - drums
production	Kit Woolven
Studio (s)	The Windings, Lincolnshire , United Kingdom
chronology Eternity (1996) Alternative 4 Judgment (1999)

Alternative 4 is the fourth studio album by the British band Anathema . It was released on June 22, 1998 on Peaceville Records .

Origin and style

As on the predecessor Eternity , Alternative 4 was recorded with clean vocals. The recordings fell in a phase of upheaval in the band. The drums were played by Shaun Steels, who joined the band for John Douglas, who had recently left the band. Douglas returned, however, after the album recordings. At the same time, Alternative 4 was the last recording with bassist and songwriter Duncan Patterson , who left the band after the album was released and immediately founded Antimatter . Dave Pybus came for him. Anathema worked increasingly with piano and keyboards on Alternative 4 , which were recorded by Duncan Patterson and Danny Cavanagh. But a violin was also used, it was played by George Ricci. Andy Duncan programmed drum loops at Empty . At the end of Inner Silence , after a few heartbeats, there is a half-minute break.

reception

The Allmusic website awarded three out of five stars. Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann wrote in Rock Hard magazine that the album set standards. The "inner turmoil [sic!] And torments" seemed "always honest". After October Rust by Type O Negative , Alternative 4 is "the first superb heartbreak album in ages and is already one of the absolute highlights of this year". He awarded 9.5 out of ten points.

Track list

1. Shroud of False - 1:37
2. Fragile Dreams - 5:32
3. Empty - 3:00
4. Lost Control - 5:50
5. Re-Connect - 3:52
6. Inner Silence - 3:09
7. Alternative 4 - 6:18
8. Regret - 7:58
9. Feel - 5:28
10. Destiny - 2:14

Bonus pieces on the 2004 re-release:

1. Your Possible Pasts - 4:28
2. One of the Few - 1:51
3. Better Off Dead - 4:22
4. Goodbye Cruel World - 1:40

Three of the bonus tracks are cover tracks by Pink Floyd , Better Off Dead is by Bad Religion .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ www.laut.de: Biography Anathema
2. ↑ www.allmusic.com: Alternative 4
3. ↑ www.rockhard.de: Review Alternative 4 by Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann

Web links

• Alternative 4 at Allmusic (English)