Reviewed by Nikolay Rachev
The first full-length album of ANATHEMA is a deep journey into emotions. We have ten songs lasting more than an hour and they can be really called serenades, even in a liquid meaning of the word. Some of them sound slow and heavy and even little disharmonic /Nr1,4,6,9/.Leading in them are the Death vocals and the rhythm guitar.'Sweet Tears' and 'Sleepless' are more dynamic and varied than vox and instruments playing.Also, there are some 'surprises' like Nr3/a light song with female voice/ and Nr5/a short track without any rhythm/.The last two pieces are instrumentals, the second one lasts more than 20 minutes.But if you hear the first 5, there is no need to listen to the end of the album - you'll miss nothing. 'Serenades' is so emotional release, that you have to be in a special mood to listen to it.'Guilty' of this is the English weather and the genius of the bands' members. So, enjoy the album!