Antimatter Planetary Confinement
The End Records TE059 July 26th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Those of us lucky enough to be accustomed to The Ends catalog know what were getting into with each subsequent release. As a matter of fact, groups such as Agalloch and Antimatter dont just lace their material with moroseness, they seem to thrive on it. Planetary Confinement, as any conjecture will tell you, is no different, and this excursion is a glorious look into beautiful, enticing despondency.
The Antimatter tag-team is no more, since Duncan Patterson (Ion, ex-Anathema) bowed out following this release. However, lamenters will be consoled upon learning that Mick Moss is in for the long haul. At any rate, individuals who favor continuity above all will be irked by Planetary Confinements structure. Patterson and Moss alternate, and there are idiosyncratic traits to be grouped with each. On the one hand, Pattersons opuses are littered with female vox while the scaffolding consists of keyboards and inconspicuous, acoustic guitars. On the other, Mosss compositions feature prominent, acoustic guitars melded with Mosss vocals, which make for enjoyable, somber numbers. Overall, I prefer Moss to Patterson; Legions, a downloadable track, is so sullen and brilliant that its overwhelming. Tissue anyone? Besides that, though, Antimatter really surpassed my expectations with this one.
To be fair, itd be a lie if I claimed that Planetary Confinement werent my introduction to the band. If the remainder of their discography is as alluring as this latest piece, then Im sure to seek it out. Agalloch fans will certainly been pacified during the aforementioneds full-length, dry spell. And come to think of it quite a few records from The End emanate majestic, sulky overtones; do they ever have an off year?
8.5/10
Official Antimatter Forum
Official Antimatter Website
Official The End Records Website
The End Records TE059 July 26th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Those of us lucky enough to be accustomed to The Ends catalog know what were getting into with each subsequent release. As a matter of fact, groups such as Agalloch and Antimatter dont just lace their material with moroseness, they seem to thrive on it. Planetary Confinement, as any conjecture will tell you, is no different, and this excursion is a glorious look into beautiful, enticing despondency.
The Antimatter tag-team is no more, since Duncan Patterson (Ion, ex-Anathema) bowed out following this release. However, lamenters will be consoled upon learning that Mick Moss is in for the long haul. At any rate, individuals who favor continuity above all will be irked by Planetary Confinements structure. Patterson and Moss alternate, and there are idiosyncratic traits to be grouped with each. On the one hand, Pattersons opuses are littered with female vox while the scaffolding consists of keyboards and inconspicuous, acoustic guitars. On the other, Mosss compositions feature prominent, acoustic guitars melded with Mosss vocals, which make for enjoyable, somber numbers. Overall, I prefer Moss to Patterson; Legions, a downloadable track, is so sullen and brilliant that its overwhelming. Tissue anyone? Besides that, though, Antimatter really surpassed my expectations with this one.
To be fair, itd be a lie if I claimed that Planetary Confinement werent my introduction to the band. If the remainder of their discography is as alluring as this latest piece, then Im sure to seek it out. Agalloch fans will certainly been pacified during the aforementioneds full-length, dry spell. And come to think of it quite a few records from The End emanate majestic, sulky overtones; do they ever have an off year?
8.5/10
Official Antimatter Forum
Official Antimatter Website
Official The End Records Website
