It’s hard to believe that a brilliant band such as Antimatter has yet to acquire the unanimous recognition it rightfully deserves. After some years of silence, the latest release “Fear Of A Unique Identity” confirms the extraordinary talent of songwriter and mastermind Mick Moss. It’s useless to try to categorize the music style of a versatile band such as Antimatter, therefore it would be better to enjoy listening to “Fear Of A Unique Identity” without any prejudice.
“Paranova” has a slow pace mixed to a groovy rhythm with an addictive chorus. The highlight of this track is represented by the poetic keyboards arrangement that create a quite emotional uplifting mood.
“Monochrome” has a well balanced trip hop/ambient musical core. The overall atmosphere is very gloomy and sorrowful, yet there is a captivating catchiness embedded in the main melody and chorus.
The title track has an introvert approach with soft vocals and delicate piano melodies. The vocal duet adds romantic melancholic undertones while the guitar work brings a dynamic twist in alternative rock fashion. The same guitar style is very dominant on the musically multifaceted “Uniformed And Black”.
“Firewalking” is a melancholic anthem with an obvious psychedelic core, bittersweet distorted guitar licks, a heartfelt vocal performance and an experimental keyboards arrangement. Despite the length and the overwhelming misery, this song tends to get stuck in your head easily.
“Here Come The Men” could be mistaken for a simplistic song, but it is the highlight of the album as it definitely holds a great musical depth. The harmonious arpeggios and the extremely passionate vocals feel like a tender lullaby while the overall atmosphere tends to be darkly nostalgic.
“A Place In The Sun” is a delicate sad song that relies on a grief-stricken sequence of arpeggios adorned by peaceful sounds of nature. The addition of soothing violins creates the atmosphere of a desolate landscape.
In the end, “Fear Of A Unique Identity” is a consistently fascinating effort, not as depressing as it might appear at the very first listening, and it truly shines for the exquisite attention for details both in terms of songwriting and execution.