Often when the media give a classification, or 'label', to an artist or group, it is something that sticks with them for a long time, whether the artist likes it or not. During the early days of Anathema, they were lumped in with other Doom Metal bands, and deservedly so. The first half dozen years of their existence produced some of the best albums of the genre- The Silent Enigma, Eternity and Pentacost III all come to mind.

I don't doubt that even today they are still a 'metal' band in the eyes of the music media. But since the release of Alternative 4 in 1998, the band have taken steps off the well-beaten path of their genre, exploring new grounds both lyrically and musically. Now the music began to fit the lyrics and not the other way around. A softer, more melodic approach has permeated their style, certainly not to say that they couldn't belt out heavy riffs when needed. Their vocals, handled mainly by Vinny Cavanagh since 1995's The Silent Enigma, has emerged slowly from the gruff growling of their early days to smoother harmonies and a broader range. Touches of the amazing Jeff Buckley can be heard in many a track.

I'm tempted to label them with a word that by dictionary definition works: Progressive (defined by Webster as: Moving forward or onward - Advancing.). I know, I know! That word is reserved for bands such as Yes, early Genesis, Transatlantic, Spock's Beard and an uncountable slew of others. So instead, let's veer away from the 'Progressive' genre label and instead say they are experiencing musical evolution first hand (Evolution as defined by Webster: A process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state.). To this reviewer's ears, a perfect description.

Anathema's latest effort, A Natural Disaster, is once again a sonic treat, musically and lyrically exploring the dark side of the human soul. The theme revolves around life, death and love with a brief glimpse of new birth. The first trio of songs ('Harmonium', 'Balance', 'Closer') introduce you to a life full of anxiety, of building guilt with a haunting realization of life's path chosen poorly. The lyric "I was floating in the water - something tried to pull me under" lingered with me. To counterbalance the rising distress of our lost soul are a few beautifully sung tracks, two by Danny Cavanagh ('Are You There?' and 'Electricity') and one by guest vocalist Lee Douglas. Danny's lilting voice, aching with emotion, is perfectly suited for these songs of lost love and regret. Amid this sadness is the promise of new life, as witnessed in the brief track 'Childhood Dream'. This one is a striking, yet sparse piece consisting of fine guitar and piano, with the sound of a child at blissful play. I caught myself flashing through images of my own childhood and of watching my own son at play: a treasure. Any joy brought by this piece is short lived as the journey continues into the raucous 'Pulled Under At 2000 Metres A Second'. Whatever it was under the water in 'Harmonium', catches up to this poor soul and thrashes him senseless. The band comes fully together here creating a thunderous torrent of sound, We are witness to Vinny's grinding vocals being tossed along for the violent ride. A shadowy nightmare of paranoia envelops our lost soul and takes him on a white knuckled trip to all the dark places in life. Lee handles the title track, lending her silky voice as the counterpart to 'Are You There?'. The sense of guilt is tangible here as her long-failed love continues to haunt her. Reparation is hopeless. 'Flying' is a another powerful track, bringing closure to our lost soul. With the line "Strange how life makes sense in time", the character seems to feel life again for the first time. It is as though the fog has lifted from his eyes and life's possibilities are laid before him. 'Electricity' follows, an epiphany for our man as he sees through his lost love's eyes and accepts the tragic events that befell them. The closing track is an instrumental of the band showing their range. They skillfully weave together a quiet introduction, building to a tumultuous crescendo, only to drift away into a long passage that could easily be the ending credits for some sci-fi flick. All in all a fantastic, emotional piece of music tied to the essence of what life is all about. Living with the inevitable pitfalls, loving the best way you can love and always looking towards your goals.

The cd cover art, by Travis Smith, with its creepy post-holocaust feel is the perfect accompaniment for the harsher bleak tracks on this release. Not so for the forlorn numbers. A Natural Disaster was one of my favs for 2003 and I now wait anxiously for the DVD being produced from a show that that took place in January in Krakow Poland.