Anathema (band)

This album took experimenting a bit further showing that their biggest source of inspiration is Pink Floyd. In March of 2003 he released Friends for Life, which featured more sharply political songs. But he came back to Anathema and in 2003 the band released A Natural Disaster and started an European Tour. Inna Heights (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience. In March of 2002, Daniel Cavanagh announced his departure from the band, joining Duncan Patterson's band Antimatter. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with excessively violent subject matter. He was replaced by touring bassist George Roberts and then by Jamie Cavanagh. It also included a single called "Murderer" which condemned the violence in Jamaican dancehall music, inspired by the murders of dancehall musicians Panhead and Dirtsman.

Shortly before the release of A Fine Day to Exit, Dave Pybus announced his departure from the band to join - ironically - Cradle of Filth. Till Shiloh (1995) was an influential album, using a studio band instead of synthesized music, and marked a shift away from dancehall towards roots reggae for Banton. On the same year, Martin Powell switched positions with Cradle of Filth's, keyboard player Les Smith, who became an integral member of Anathema. He began supporting AIDS education and released a song called "Willy (Don't Be Silly)" (1993; The Voice of Jamaica), promoting the use of condoms. However, the essence of the band was kept, as their songs continued to transpose a feeling of depression and more often than not desperation. Since this time, Banton has become more socially conscious, leaving behind his old style of singing songs of violence and promiscuity. This album marks Anathema's complete shift from the doom metal genre, focusing instead on slower and more experimental songs. Banton, who had just signed to Mercury Records, was forced by his label to issue a statement; he refused to apologize and cited his religion (Rastafarianism) as the basis for his beliefs.

In June of 1999, the album Judgement was released. He is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, having hit the charts there suddenly in 1992, with "Bogle" and "Love Me Browning/Love Black Woman", both massive hits in Jamaica and less so abroad. Soon afterwards, Banton released "Boom Boom Bye Bye", a controversial song that advocated violence and murder towards Jamaican homosexuals (called "batty boys"). Finally, John Douglas assumed (again) the drummer position. "Banton" is a Jamaican word referring to someone with a superior attitude, but was also the name of a local artist (Burro Banton) that Buju watched as a child. Martin Powell (who played keyboards in My Dying Bride previously) also joined the band. "Buju" is a common nickname for chubby children; it means "breadfruit". Bassist Duncan Patterson quit due to musical differences and was replaced by David Pybus, which was part of Duncan's side-band Dreambreed. He was born in a slum near Kingston called Salt Lane.

During this time the band underwent many line-up changes. Buju Banton (born Mark Myrie 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall and ragga singer. Alternative 4 was released in 1998. He was replaced by the ex-drummer of Solstice, Shaun Steels. The second member to leave the band was drummer John Douglas in the summer of 1997.

An European tour followed. 1996 saw the release of Eternity, which relied more on atmospheric sounds and started the migration to clean vocals, which would be consolidated in Judgement. Most diehard fans consider this album the beginning of Anathema's metaphorical downfall. The album incorporated changes in the vocal style and introduced much heavier goth elements.

Later that year, the band released The Silent Enigma, which was a turning point in their career. This new formation debuted by touring with Cathedral on an UK tour. Rather than recruiting a new vocalist, the band decided that guitarist Vincent Cavanagh would assume the vocals. In May of 1995, vocalist Darren White quit the band.

1994 was the year of Anathema's first European tour, which was closely followed by gigs in the Independent Rock Festival in Brazil. A music video derived from it - Sweet Tears - even managed to reach MTV's parade. Serenades, their debut LP, attracted a lot of mainstream attention. Their first release under the label was The Crestfallen EP in November 1992. With the material from that album the band toured with Cannibal Corpse.

The band drew a lot of attention to itself with the release of their second demo - entitled All Faith is Lost - which got Anathema a four-album deal with Peaceville Records. Their initial demo caught the attention of a couple of bands from the English metal scene and Anathema then proceeded to do gigs with bands of more expression, such as Bolt Thrower and Paradise Lost. The switching of names occurred on the beginning of 1991. In November of that year, the band recorded their first demo, entitled An Iliad of Woes.

Anathema was formed in the year of the 1990 under the name of Pagan Angel. Anathema is an English band from the city of Liverpool, which together with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride developed the doom metal genre. A Natural Disaster (2003). A Fine Day To Exit (2001).

Resonance (2001). Judgement (1999). Alternative 4 (1998). Eternity (1996).

The Silent Enigma (1995). Pentecost III (1995). Serenades (1993). The Crestfallen EP (1992).

Dave Pybus - Bass. Martin Powell - Keyboards. Shaun Steels - Drums. Duncan Patterson - Bass.

Darren White - Vocals. John Douglas - Drums. Les Smith - Keyboards. Jamie Cavanagh - Bass.

Vincent Cavanagh - Vocals and rhythm guitar. Daniel Cavanagh - Lead guitar.