The_Silent_Enigma
The Silent Enigma
1995 studio album by Anathema
The Silent Enigma is the second album by British rock band Anathema, released in 1995 through Peaceville Records.
| The Silent Enigma | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1995 | |||
| Recorded | May–June 1995 at Lynx Studios, Newcastle, except "...Alone" (recorded at M. A. Studios, Liverpool) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 54:37 | |||
| Label | Peaceville | |||
| Producer | Anathema, Kevin Ridley | |||
| Anathema chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Sputnikmusic |  [2] |
| Metal Storm |   [3] |
The Silent Enigma represents a turning point in Anathema's career (it is the first album to feature guitarist Vincent Cavanagh singing lead vocals, replacing Darren White) and sees the band incorporating more clean vocals and melodic elements, while still retaining the band's early death-doom style. The album was originally titled Rise Pantheon Dreams, a title later used by White for his post-Anathema project The Blood Divine.
Where Darren's vocals were more guttural, Vincent's newer style pushed the possibilities for Anathema onwards and upwards, with a scope and breath beyond his years. Lauded by the metal press, the album has since been described by Terrorizer magazine as "one of Anathema's best". The special edition of the album also features two bonus tracks.
Orchestral versions of "...Alone" and "Sunset of Age" were recorded for the 2011 compilation Falling Deeper.
All songs written by Anathema.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Restless Oblivion" | Duncan Patterson | Daniel Cavanagh, Patterson, Vincent Cavanagh | 8:03 |
| 2. | "Shroud of Frost" | V. Cavanagh, Derek Fullwood | D. Cavanagh | 7:31 |
| 3. | "...Alone" | D. Cavanagh | D. Cavanagh, Patterson | 4:24 |
| 4. | "Sunset of Age" | Vincent O'Connel | D. Cavanagh | 6:57 |
| 5. | "Nocturnal Emission" | Fullwood | Patterson, D. Cavanagh | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Cerulean Twilight" | John Douglas | Douglas | 7:05 |
| 7. | "The Silent Enigma" | O'Connel | D. Cavanagh | 4:25 |
| 8. | "A Dying Wish" | Patterson | Patterson, D. Cavanagh | 8:12 |
| 9. | "Black Orchid" | Patterson | Patterson | 3:40 |
| Total length: | 54:37 | |||
2003 Remastered Release
A remastered version of The Silent Enigma was released on 2003 by Peaceville Records. The 2-disc package features the entire The Silent Enigma album fully re-mastered on CD, along with a DVD featuring a live performance recorded in Kraków, Poland, in March 1996, as well as promotional videos for the tracks "Sweet Tears", "Mine Is Yours to Drown In (Ours Is the New Tribe)", "The Silent Enigma", and "Hope".
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "The Silent Enigma (Orchestral)" | -- | D. Cavanaugh | 4:12 |
| 11. | "Sleepless 96" | Darren White | D. Cavanaugh | 4:31 |
| Total length: | 63:20 | |||
DVD
- Promotional Videos
- "Sweet Tears"
- "Mine Is Yours"
- "The Silent Enigma"
- "Hope"
- Live (Krakow 1.3.96)
- "Intro"
- "Restless Oblivion"
- "Shroud of Frost"
- "We the Gods"
- "Sunset of Age"
- "Mine Is Yours"
- "Sleepless"
- "The Silent Enigma"
- "A Dying Wish"
|
|
- The Silent Enigma - Anathema at AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- Spencer, Trey (2011). "Anathema – The Silent Enigma (staff review) | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.