Artist: ANATHEMA
Album: ALTERNATIVE 4 REISSUE (CD)

Release date: 1998/ 2010
EAN/UPS: 0801056707321
Media type: CD

Alternative 4 is an album by the British rock band Anathema. It was released on June 22, 1998 through Peaceville Records. Unlike previous Anathema albums, Alternative 4 is piano-driven and sung with clean vocals. Various reviews categorised this album as experimental, depressing and atmospheric. It is considered a shift from Anathema's original death/doom metal style, becoming a more soft side of doom metal.

The title of the album is derived from Leslie Watkins' book entitled Alternative 3. Bassist Duncan Patterson had read it a few years before they wrote the album. The book is about conspiracy theories, and most songs on "Alternative 4" are about trust. That is the reason they chose this title.

TRACKLIST:

"Shroud of False" – 1:37
"Fragile Dreams" – 5:32
"Empty" – 3:00
"Lost Control" – 5:50
"Re-Connect" – 3:52
"Inner Silence" – 3:09
"Alternative 4" – 6:18
"Regret" – 7:58
"Feel" – 5:28
"Destiny" – 2:14

Bonus tracks on 2003 reissue:

"Your Possible Pasts" - 4:28
"One of the Few" - 1:51
"Better Off Dead" - 4:22
"Goodbye Cruel World" - 1:40

Three of the bonus tracks are Pink Floyd covers, with the exception of the Bad Religion cover, 'Better Off Dead'.

LINE-UP:

Vincent Cavanagh — Vocals, guitar
Duncan Patterson — Bass guitar, piano
Daniel Cavanagh — Guitar, piano, keyboards
Shaun Steels — Drums
Martin Powell — Violin
Andy Duncan — Drum loops on "Empty"