This cd was "hyped" to me in various ways so I really didn't know exactly what to expect when it arrived last week. It is most accurately described as "doomy thrash". I was really hoping for a more modern doom sound along the lines of Theatre of Tragedy (with more clear vocals). There are very few clean vocals here, they go mostly for a gruff approach similar to that of Ian Arkley from Ashen Mortality. The vocals (in a few select areas) can take on quite an old-school death approach reminding me at times of the style used on songs like "Black Raven" by Deuteronomium and at other times even border on a hardcore vocal sound similar to bands like Mindrage (not saying they sound like them, just the "blurted" vocal style), but this band is far from being death metal or hardcore. Music-wise it's very much like Ashen Mortality with some apparent influence of his old band Seventh Angel. The guitar parts are a mix of thrash and doom so fans of Arkley's bands along with fans of Paramaecium and maybe even Black Sabbath will really like this. Way more thrash than I had anticipated and less doom than I wanted, but a good purchase that I don't regret nevertheless. There are some really beautiful guitar melodies that just jump out of the songs and grab you when least expected and even add "atmosphere" to this album. The lyrics are blatantly Christian and that alone gives this band an extra point in my book. It is nice to see a "doom" band that can sing about God without being all allegorical, abstract and poetic. It is a very hard cd to judge, maybe because the sound wasn't exactly what I expected, I don't know. It seems to grow on me more and more with each additional listen (another sign of a great album). If this band stuck more to the clean vocals and had a bit less "thrash" feel I would definitely have a more formulated (and better) opinion. I get kind of a mid-era Anathema vibe from most of this cd so if you are a fan of Anathema or any of the above named bands you will probably love this disc. It is the latest installment from Samuel Durling's "Endtimes Productions", the label that gave us Extol, so the production is nothing short of perfect. It just seems that there is some untapped potential here somewhere. I am anxious to hear the next release from these guys and see what direction the new millennium holds for Anaemia.
7.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #83Reviewed by David BixlerI have said it once before, and I will say it again. Scandinavians have their musical act together. And this disc, put out by Samuel Durling's heavy label Endtime Productions, is no exception to this. Plus, you just have to love the fancy, limited edition digi-pak that it is currently packaged in. Anaemia blends metal riffs, death vocals, superb musicianship, and incredible musical progressions…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestSome might call this skull-pounding metal. Well, when my skull pounds inside it means I've got a headache! But it's true, my mom gets a headache hearing this music! At least she says so. On The Second Incarnation Anaemia presents nine brutal metal tracks with skillful playing and screaming vocals. This is real metal fury. There is a variety of ideas within each song but these are still well…Similar sounding releases
1998DeuteronomiumStreet Corner Queen
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
1996EraseMental Overload
1998NecromanicideHate Regime
1995DeathSymbolic
2005Mercury SwitchTime to Shine
