Hindsight, Anathema magic

Hindsight is one of the best albums of all times. Each of its songs are so superbly done that I find myself at a loss of words to describe it. The songs are very touching and I would be making a mockery of myself if I tried explaining any of it. Here's a review on the album:

It’s been five long years since Anathema graced us with an album. Five long years since the magnificent A Natural Disaster that sealed the deal for the bands movement away from all things metal. After that though, there’s just been the steady increase in anticipation levels among fans of the band for the new album. While it has been made public that the album will be called Horizons and Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson will be producing, a release date and a label to release the music is still not known.

So in the meantime almost like a piece of meat thrown at their rabid fan base comes Hindsight. A collection of songs previously released on various albums but now re-worked into a largely acoustic framework. The album opens with Fragile Dreams and the song has been transformed into a keyboard led gently melancholic refrain. It’s a stunning re-working of one the bands more popular songs and when the cello comes in instead of that opening guitar line you just know that this compilation is going to be a bit special. Leave No Trace from 2001s A Fine Day to Exit has a folk feel to it while the original version’s spacey feel is completely missing on this one. Inner Silence sounds even more morose and brooding than the original and seems to be the result of Danny Cavanagh’s time spent in Antimatter.

The centerpiece of the album though is the magnificent re-working of A Natural Disaster. The title song taken from the bands most recent album is essentially the same. It’s the subtle changes like the cello coming in for the original bass guitar and an absolutely stunning vocal performance from Lee Douglas really taking this song to a whole new level. Flying also from A Natural Disaster is another terrific song and while the original was a definite highpoint of that album, this re-working is absolutely essential stuff.

The album ends with Unchained (Tales of the Unexpected) which is another melancholic and brooding song that’s held together by a gentle acoustic guitar and some vaguely ominous sounding cello and keyboards parts. Terrific ending to the album and is good reason to check out Hindsight on its own. I suppose the only real downside to this collection is the exclusion of Forgotten Hopes and also the fact that this only focuses on material from Eternity onwards.

I think most fans of the band are going to love Hindsight. The songs are all essentially the same but have been tweaked just enough to give things a fresh perspective. I can’t wait for the new album to come out but till then, Hindsight will do very well.

Originally written for http://www.kvltsite.com

AYURVEDA

One of the most phenomenal bands in the genre at the moment, Ayurveda continues to remain unheard of, yet simply beautiful to hear. Here's the bands bio, quoted from their own website:

Let’s define the word first, before we define the band. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning “the knowledge (or wisdom, or science) of life.” It is an ancient system of philosophy and naturopathic health care rooted in the Hindu Vedas, applying in very individualized ways to the physical, mental, social and spiritual welfare of all who practice it.

Ayurveda, the band, is a five-member group based in Ithaca, New York. Their sound, as it exists on their debut album Being, is heavy rock music — the album was produced by Alex Perialas, known for his work with Anthrax, Testament and Bad Religion — with all the thunderous guitar riffs and freight-train rhythms one might expect given the 13-track set’s pedigree. But Ayurveda’s music has a delicacy, and an intelligent tonality; and singer Tom Burchinal’s lyrics, while not afraid of the darkness, explore a more positive, spiritual reality consistent with their namesake.

The story goes like this: Diwas and Shikhar met at a dinner Shikhar’s mother hosted for Nepalese exchange students at Ithaca College. Shikhar learned that Diwas was a fellow guitarist, and asked if he’d ever played a Les Paul. “No,” Diwas replied, and Shikhar brandished his axe — and was floored by Diwas’s playing. Diwas was asked to join the nascent Ayurveda, which already included Shikhar and Tom.

One night, after they finished rehearsal in the Bajracharyas’ basement, Dr. Bajracharya asked Tom why his lyrics were so angry, and she introduced him to the meaning of his band’s name. It was a revelation, and the genesis of Ayurveda’s collective sense of purpose.

The trio soon found likeminded allies in drummer Mike Parker, a session player at the studio where Ayurveda recorded their first EP; and bass player Dan Halperin, an early fan who was enlisted after their then-bassist left town for an internship shortly before the EP release party. From there, it was as if everything clicked; five became one, and Ayurveda as you hear it today was complete.

Great music: check. Dedicated, diverse cult following: check. Next step: conquer the world. Ayurveda is coming to you, the science of life delivered via Les Paul. And if you let it in, if you believe, then it just might transform you.

Source: Ayurveda official webpage