ANATHEMA, Petter Carlsen
20.11.2010, Bulgaria Hall, Sofia - Bulgaria
words by Nikola Shapazov, photo: Elena Nenkova

Pretty much like the script for a great movie or better yet – like a real love story, the first Anathema gig in Sofia was the result of a decade of waiting, enchantment, disappointment and a gracious, heartfelt, grandiose finale.

For we first set our eyes on their albums and treated our souls with Anathema’s music around 1995-1996. Back in the day the Liverpool band was pioneering the doom/gothic metal mixture and were doing a fine job, so we listened – time and time again to  ‘A Dying Wish’ and ‘Sleepless’, not knowing that Anathema were to become something bigger, a lot bigger and different.

While their fellow Englishmen My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost continued exploring the dark side of metal and melody (trying just once to escape from it), it was with their fourth album, aptly named ‘Alternative 4’, that Anathema took a sharp turn for a definite Pink Floyd territory where atmosphere and heavy psychedelia met alternative rock without limitations.

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So we craved seeing them in all their newly acquired glorious style but as it usually goes – our wish was not to come true for quite some time.

Anathema continued releasing astonishing pieces of music and touring Europe but none of the local promoters had the guts or interest to invite them here.

It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that all this turned out to be quite a nice treat for us. In 2009 Danny Cavanagh was here twice (the second gig was actually a collaboration with the charming Anneke van Giersbergen) and six months ago Anathema released their first studio album in 7 years.

Brilliant in itself, ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ was reason enough for Tangra Mega Rock to book the band for their first ever concert in Bulgaria. From the very beginning we expected this gig to turn out just the way it did – exhaustingly beautiful, brilliant in every way.

And simply because it had to be one of a kind, the appointed venue had to be switched for the grand hall of the ‘Bulgaria’ complex – more known for classical concerts and certainly not for hosting rock events.

Just as expected by most and certainly unexpected for the ever unsatisfied ‘expert fans’, ‘Bulgaria’ hall just added to the greatness of the concert. Due to its perfect location in the old, and beautiful center of the city and because of its superb acoustics, this hall seemed just the place to welcome Anathema in.

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Fans started gathering two hours before doors opened and were absolutely, even unexpectedly understanding – while Vincent Cavanagh is backstage playing his favourite piano pieces, they start filling the venue, not for a second diverting from the strict rules of non-smoking and not bringing alcohol inside the hall (thanks, guys!).

The seats would prove useless for the energy that has been accumulated for a decade was sure to erupt and leave the audience standing, jumpring and clapping.

The special guest Anathema brought with them – Norwegian Petter Carlsen opens his set a little bit nervous because of the massive crowd but soon gains confidence and delivers a perfect, gently acoustic set. The fans applaud him and for a good reason.

And just before he waves us goodbye he is joined by most of Anathema for one last track – a perfect introduction to a dream gig.

And even though we would like to be exact and tell you the whole story, we simply can’t give an accurate description of the next two hours and forty minutes. 25 tracks of superb, melancholic, dreamy, cosmic rock and a flawless, utterly emotional Anathema.

And even though we’re used to rock heroes bombarding us with empty phrases like “you’re the best audience ever” and “you guys rock”, we’re more than likely to believe Danny and Vincent are being honest while complimenting us – for this concert was really something special for us and them both. The setlist for the night differs greatly from the ones in Zagreb, Vienna and Budapest – especially for their first appearance in Sofia the guys (and one girl) played stuff from pretty much all their albums, even older, doom/gothic tracks.

‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ sounded almost in its entirety, we heard ‘Release’ mainly because of its high rotation on Tangra Mega Rock and a involuntary hint from Vassil Varbanov to Danny some weeks ago; we headbanged during ‘Sleepless’, drifted in and out with ‘Temporary Peace’, lost ourselves in ‘Lost Control’ and pluned in the depths of ‘Deep’, than sand along while jumping up and down to ‘Fragile Dreams’.

Anathema seemed tireless – and played the whole 160 minutes without a pause, with any filler, sounding perfect, professional and with a great connection with the crowd.

Were you there? For if you missed it, you can always read that live report again but you can barely imagine what precious memories we carry inside.

GALLERY