Alternative 4 (album)

Alternative 4
Studio album by Anathema
Released	22 June 1998
Recorded	January–February 1998
Studio	The Windings
Genre	Gothic metal alternative metal
Length	44:57
Label	Peaceville
Producer	Kit Woolven
Anathema chronology
Eternity (1996) Alternative 4 (1998) Judgement (1999)

Alternative 4 is the fourth album by the British rock band Anathema. It was released on 22 June 1998 through Peaceville Records. Like the band's third album Eternity , Alternative 4 is sung with clean vocals.

Background

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Sputnikmusic	[2]
Silencio Hungary	[3]

The album's title is derived from Leslie Watkins' book Alternative 3 . Bassist and co-principal songwriter 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. Patterson would later play in a band with the same title, with songs based on similar themes. In keeping with the theme of conspiracies, the album cover is a modified photo of American astronaut Buzz Aldrin (depicted as an angel) on the Moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission – this is in reference to the conspiracy of the Moon landings.^{[ citation needed ]}

It is the last with Patterson and the only album released without John Douglas. He was replaced by Shaun Steels in 1997 but returned in 1998.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Shroud of False"	Duncan Patterson	1:37
2.	"Fragile Dreams"	Daniel Cavanagh	5:32
3.	"Empty"	Patterson	3:00
4.	"Lost Control"	Patterson	5:50
5.	"Re-Connect"	Vincent Cavanagh	3:52
6.	"Inner Silence"	D. Cavanagh	3:08
7.	"Alternative 4"	Patterson	6:18
8.	"Regret"	D. Cavanagh	7:58
9.	"Feel"	Patterson	5:28
10.	"Destiny"	Patterson	2:14
Total length:			44:57

2003 re-release bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Your Possible Pasts" (Pink Floyd cover)	Roger Waters	4:28
12.	"One of the Few" (Pink Floyd cover)	Waters	1:50
13.	"Better Off Dead" (Bad Religion cover)	Brett Gurewitz	4:21
14.	"Goodbye Cruel World" (Pink Floyd cover)	Waters	1:39
Total length:			57:15

Personnel

Vincent Cavanagh – vocals, guitars Shaun Steels – drums Duncan Patterson – bass, keyboards, piano Danny Cavanagh – guitars, keyboards, piano Guest musicians Andy Duncan – drum loops on "Empty" George Rucci – violin Michelle Richfield (Dominion) – vocals on "Better Off Dead" [4]

Production Duncan Patterson – cover concept Tim Spear – cover art Noel Summerville – mastering Doug Cook – mixing assistant Simon Dawson – engineering assistant Kit Woolven – producer, mixing Lili Wilde – photography (band)

References

1. Alternative 4 - Anathema at AllMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
2. Altmer (6 January 2009). "Anathema - Alternative 4 (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
3. "Anathema - Alternative4 (1998) // Silencio". silencio.freeblog.hu. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
4. "CoC : Anathema : Interview : 7/8/1998". www.chroniclesofchaos.com.