Album Review: Anathema - The Optimist

If 2014's Distant Satellites soared for the heavens with glorious melodies and orchestral arrangements, The Optimist is in many ways its polar opposite.

This is a record you could see being made by the light of a single bulb in a desolate room. It is sparse, dark and confronting. Although Leaving It Behind kicks off things with an up-tempo vibe, the lyrics still proclaim that the album's protagonist is "feeling dead inside". This approach is reinforced by a succession of sombre tunes including the piano/keyboard driven Endless Ways on which Lee Douglas effortlessly shines, and the hauntingly beautiful Springfield. The Optimist is yet another success for a band that refuses to stand still and remains determined to play by their own sonic rules.