the conductor's departure... what an album!!!

[paulrawnerve]

listened to it quite a few times so far since getting it for review.. fucking awesome work!!!
review will be up in the next day or so..
best anata work to date.
:hbang32en

[Antæos]

Agree. It's the best album of the year for me, possibly the best deathmetal album of this decade.

It's seriously perfection.

[sophist]

Greetings all.

First time poster here. Been lurking for a week or so, managed to read pretty much everything on this fairly new board, and decided that, since Anata are quite possibly the best thing in the death metal world since sliced bread (and because the band - okay, Mr. Drake - drops in quite regularly) I'd sign up.

To make a long story a bit shorter: Yes, the new ablum absolutely smokes! The older stuff was killer, but "Conductor" is even better than "Stone" and is, in the opinion of this old Bay Area thrasher, one for the ages.

I've been listening to all things heavy for the last 20 years or so, and Anata have, quite simply, put it all together. Great metal music/bands need 3 things to really be special for me, and Anata's got them all, in spades. The first is instrumental proficiency and musical technicality. Without these things, anyone who's paying any real attention to the music will be bored stiff after a song or two. Take any mallcore band as an example of this. Needless to say, I'm never bored with Anata.

The second thing is genuine emotion/aggresion. This is the second thing that we all hate about mallcore and corprate music: the total lack of any REAL anger or emotion of any kind. This is of course the result of making "music" which means nothing to the "band", but is rather the invention of a producer intent on selling as many shitty cds to as many mindless kids as possible. Anata are genuinely pissed off, the songs are well thought out, and the music they make/lyrics they write obviously mean a hell of a lot to them. This emotional investment comes through to the listener and makes us all care about the music. In other words, Anata are saying something important to them both lyrically and musically, and they want us to hear it. No whining about what a bitch the singer's last girlfriend was here, folks.

Finally, the last element a song needs to really kick my ass is melody. I don't mean over the top cheese (see: almost every powermetal band in existance - and embarrassments like In Flames and Soilwork). What I mean is just enough hooks, riffs and WELL THOUGHT OUT solos to connect with the listener. Basically, having been raised on thrash, I have this totally irrational need to bang my fucking head and throw the horns. If a song fails to make me want to do that, it's DOA. Technicality without melody can be mind-blowing, but it doesn't MEAN anything to me. I won't remember the music 5 minutes after it's over. The song has to STICK. It has to be recognizable as a SONG. And it's the riffs, hooks and solos that make that possible - when they're good. And Anata's are damn good.

Sorry for the long post (English major...), but this band deserves it. Thanks for making some of the best music in years, guys!

[SculptedCold]

What I mean is just enough hooks, riffs and WELL THOUGHT OUT solos to connect with the listener. Basically, having been raised on thrash, I have this totally irrational need to bang my fucking head and throw the horns.

Haven't you heard Soilwork's 2nd and 3rd albums? If you have and still stand by the above, you have some unusual standards...

[Dago]

TRuly a surprise for me. The 1st album i have listened from anata.

[DeadInMagazines]

Haven't you heard Soilwork's 2nd and 3rd albums? If you have and still stand by the above, you have some unusual standards...

Haha, yea, I think people really need to listen to more bands before they start talking shit about melodic dm bands and power metal.

Anyway, instead of a long winded post that no one cares about, I'll post my review on Metal InjectionI here pretty soon.

[sophist]

Yes, I'm into Soilwork's albums (up to NBC - the rest were too close to nu-metal in my opinion - even NBC gets on my nerves occasionally with those clean, sing-song choruses). Don't care much for In Flames: their music was a bit too sugar-coated from the beginning for my taste, and these days, no thanks. As for Soilwork's older stuff: yes, it's good, though it's pretty much straight At The Gates worship. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as it's done well (and yes, I'm aware of Anata's influences).

Early ATG is fantastic. "Slaughter" was dumbed down and commercialized, though still good, hence the much better album sales. And now, unfortunately, we have The Haunted...ugh...if that's thrash, I don't know what the world's coming to. If it's metal-core, it's weak, as well. God knows what it is, but I'll pass, thanks.

Suffice it to say I do like some melo-death and even power metal, as long as the cheese isn't too thick. Eucharist is great. So is recent Nevermore. So is EoS's "Crimson". Recycled Iron Maiden riffs, frilly keyboard solos, sing-along folk tunes and vocalists with their nuts in a vice don't make me want to run out and buy an album. However I can and do appreciate the amazing technical ability of some of the bands in those genres.

And at the end of the day, remember, it's just an opinion. It cool if you disagree. That's vital for music- for anything. Just keep an open mind and remember - if we all agree on music or anything else, the world would be pretty fucking boring. The "man, you suck!" comments one often hears among metalheads are worse than useless. If you think my opinion blows, you're certainly entitled to feel that way, but at least make an attempt to explain why.

[BZM]

It's a shame that some people can't appreciate Slaughter of the Soul. Dumbed down is the wrong way to put it - more like greasing the wheels and dropping any unnecessary baggage. The album wasn't about being technical or gr1m... only rocking your face off with infectious and razor-sharp songs wound tighter than a straight jacket and grooving all over the place. Some of the grooviest (for lack of a better word) riffing I've ever heard has come from Slaughter of the Soul... a lot of their other albums sound as though they're meandering and don't quite know the direction they want to take their sound. With Slaughter, they found it.

Just my two cents.

[Lichtbringer]

Yep, that's pretty much it. Unquestionably their best album with fuckin' excellent songwriting, riffing and adorable melodies.

[sophist]

This is more like it. I think SotS could probably have a thread of its own. I may not like it as much as ATG earlier work - though I do think it's good, just not their best - and there is no denying the importance of the album.

And I do like "groovy" melo-death: one of my guilty pleasures is anything from The Crown (particularly "Crowned in Terror"). I just don't expect that sort of compact, polished sound from ATG. Obviously, it's not everyone's taste, but I happen to like all that "meandering" :emot-head

[Fractal_Mortality]

It's a shame that some people can't appreciate Slaughter of the Soul. Dumbed down is the wrong way to put it - more like greasing the wheels and dropping any unnecessary baggage. The album wasn't about being technical or gr1m... only rocking your face off with infectious and razor-sharp songs wound tighter than a straight jacket and grooving all over the place. Some of the grooviest (for lack of a better word) riffing I've ever heard has come from Slaughter of the Soul... a lot of their other albums sound as though they're meandering and don't quite know the direction they want to take their sound. With Slaughter, they found it.

Just my two cents.

I agree... It seems like SotS goes through periods or ridiculous amounts of praise and then periods of being overly criticized. It's a great album... Maybe not one of the best ever, but great... And that's regardless of what the proponents from either "period" may say.

[BZM]

Even if it's not one of the best albums ever, it certainly is one of the most influential albums ever recorded.

[AnthonyB]

The Conductor's Departure is a genious album. Thanks for raising the bar Anata, bands like you make it more fun to be a metal musician.

[evanstueve]

holy hell, well said Sophist.

*bow*

[Mister_Willy]

Wow, is it really that good??

I've listened to it about 25 times and I still like under a stone better. The album sounds great... but I still like the older stuff better!

[Antæos]

You have to not expect brutality from this record, heh... you're missing the mark quite a bit. :)

[Sardonicus]

BZM's post from the reviews thread nailed it. Mind-blowing, ground-breaking, absolutely fantastic album in every respect. Instant classic.

[Cloaca]

I was a big fan of Dreams Of Death And Dismay, but I found UASWNI got a bit boring after not too long (with the exception of a couple of songs). However, this album is more than a return to form, it keeps growing on me with each listen. In fact, it kicks arse. Very interesting album indeed.

[Spew]

I love all their stuff. Always have and always will.

One thing though... turn the drums up higher in the mix!

[EchoesOfDecimation]

I need to actually pick this up. I love it. So original sounding. The way they harmonize is really fucking cool and the drums...holy shit.

[Phelps]

i like it a lot too, specially the great juggler, but i'm with Mister_Willy, I prefer to listen to UASWNI.

it is more melodic and interestingly structured, but yeah can't put my finger on it.

[thebluelizard]

yeah i pretty much agree. it is an awesome disc and one of the best of the year.

[ten_second_infinity]

it is more melodic and interestingly structured, but yeah can't put my finger on it.

Whaaat?
The Conductor's Departure is EXTREMELY melodic.....

[emperadorXXIV]

I'm a big fan of UASWNI, but I'm not sure I should get TCD because I've heard that the production is poor. I don't mean to sound superficial, but production is important for me. Any comments on the production of TCD?

[paulrawnerve]

my review of it is here
http://www.rawnervepromotions.co.uk/index.php?categoryid=23&p2_articleid=2437
i've not got a problem at all with the problem, i personally think it's a brilliant sound.

[facelessunknown]

Yeah Ten_Second_Infinity has it right.
The Conductor's Departure was incredibly melodic.

[Mortuary]

yeah killer album. totally suprised i had never heard them before........ keep it up fellas!

[Silence Is Deafening]

A very awesome album indeed... it's in my top 10 of the year.

I couldn't stop listening to it when I first bought it!

[emperadorXXIV]

just ordered TCD on earache.com.

I'll post my opinion when it comes. :)

[emperadorXXIV]

...under a stone better. The album sounds great... but I still like the older stuff better!

Same. I love Under a Stone as it was the first Anata album I bought. It's actually a signed copy, which is kinda nice. ;)

[Antæos]

I'm a big fan of UASWNI, but I'm not sure I should get TCD because I've heard that the production is poor. I don't mean to sound superficial, but production is important for me. Any comments on the production of TCD?

Flawless. One of the greatest drum sounds I've ever heard. Whoever said anything negative about the production was blowing smokerings out of his ass. TCD is an absolutely perfect album.

[emperadorXXIV]

Ok, got the new album... and love it! I'm really enjoying Complete Demise at the moment, and I'll need to listen to the rest of the album a few more times for it to sink in.

This is truly inspirational work.

and good to know you're not doing the 'follow the leader crap.' :)

[Drizzling Blur]

TCD is the first Anata CD i've ever heard.

Before getting into the music, no one in here seems to have appreciated the Cover Art / Inlay Art at all, the moment i saw it, i was totally blown away, forget CD of the decade/whenver/whatever, this is seriously the best art-work i've ever seen, everytime i play TCD on WMP, the artwork sits right there complementing the music thats being played. BRILLIANT.

Question : Who did the cover art for TCD ???

Secondly the disk, the first spin, the first song were enough to kill a part of my brain, this was like sheer perfection, infact i just listened to the cd (now playing : Aborted :) ), Downward Spiral Into Madness is truly madness when it comes to musicmanship and complete control of time and sense, amazing.

The only song i think is outta place or probably (dont take this too seriously) should've made onto an other Anata release is The Great Juggler, i wont say i enjoy this song as much as every other one on TCD, but somehow this song kinda gets my senses off the Anata environment that i've made for myself in my head, dont know if its just me or anyone else.

On the whole, a BRILLIANT CD :)

[Drizzling Blur]

Oh BTW im from India and this is the first time, im posting on Anata's forums, i check Sleep Terror forums regularly :)

[Cody]

I hope that they continue in this direction. I would love to see more stuff in the vein of Childrens Laughter as well. That song is beyond words.

[anata]

TCD is the first Anata CD i've ever heard.

Before getting into the music, no one in here seems to have appreciated the Cover Art / Inlay Art at all, the moment i saw it, i was totally blown away, forget CD of the decade/whenver/whatever, this is seriously the best art-work i've ever seen, everytime i play TCD on WMP, the artwork sits right there complementing the music thats being played. BRILLIANT.

Question : Who did the cover art for TCD ???

Secondly the disk, the first spin, the first song were enough to kill a part of my brain, this was like sheer perfection, infact i just listened to the cd (now playing : Aborted :) ), Downward Spiral Into Madness is truly madness when it comes to musicmanship and complete control of time and sense, amazing.

The only song i think is outta place or probably (dont take this too seriously) should've made onto an other Anata release is The Great Juggler, i wont say i enjoy this song as much as every other one on TCD, but somehow this song kinda gets my senses off the Anata environment that i've made for myself in my head, dont know if its just me or anyone else.

On the whole, a BRILLIANT CD :)

Thank you so much for listening to our music. And I know it have been split opinions about The Great Juggler. Some people don't like to song so much, and some think it's the best Anata song ever written. So no hard feelings from me. Wait til you hear from Fredrik :emot-look

And we are also really satisfied with the artwork. And to answer your question it was Grzegorz Kmin from Poland who did the art cover.
Take care/
Conny

[anata]

As a matter of fact The Great Juggler has been rated as the 3rd most popular song on The Conductor's Departure on our poll at www.anata.se.

/Henrik

[coloredCYANIDE]

This is one of the few death metal records I can still not get tired of after so long. Amazing.

[foreign10]

this album is AMAZING! seriously one of the best ever. my favorite song is "I Would Dream of Blood". but all of them rule!

[foreign10]

listening to it again right now. I'm still so impressed by it! wow.