I have less than 30 five star albums according to Rateyourmusic. That’s not very many. So I figured it would be cool to do a deep dive into what makes these albums so special. Hence, my Perfect Albums series. Enjoy!
About me – deathdoom.com, music and more
- Stefan Nordström
- Musician, songwriter, content creator, digital freelancer
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Bands: Desolator, Soliloquium, Ending Quest, Ashes of Life, Trees of Daymare, The Ashen Tree
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My long background with Antimatter
I’ve been a fan of Antimatter since my eyes were curious and my hangovers were light. Most bands tend to peak early on, or at least not after 20 years. In the case of Antimatter, I see “Black Market Enlightenment” (2018) as the masterpiece. It’s actually album number seven, after several eras and a main band member split.
Why “Black Market Enlightenment”?
Sure, the extreme melancholy of “Planetary Confinement” and “Leaving Eden” got the band most of its fanbase, including myself. I was heavily into Anathema‘s “Judgement” and Opeth‘s “Damnation” at the same time, so it was a natural step. And those albums are great, no doubt. But “Black Market Enlightenment” is way more deep and unique to me. It has personality and cuts right to the bone.
Mick Moss diving into his history with psychedelics feels both honest and unhinged. It’s very much another level of coming into his own. I feel like I was invited to a deeply personal place, and the sonics of the music relay it all so well. I had most of my own brushes with psychedelics around the time the album came out, which definitely made it hit harder.
The artwork is also absolutely wild, so is the music video for “The Third Arm”. There’s just so much depth to immerse yourself in.
Why is it a PERFECT album?
A perfect album also requires great tracks, the right flow, and a reasonable runtime. I think it perfectly delivers in all three areas, even with opener “The Third Arm” being my all-time favourite Antimatter track. It also feels like it becomes stronger with repeated listens, even almost 10 years later.
For me, I think the defining characteristic is how much soul and honesty this release has. It’s a real journey ranging from ecstacy to despair, no details spared. Mick obviously always wrote confessional, heart on sleeve music, but this one hits way harder for me than the old fan favorites.
It has more than enough in terms of sonics and songwriting too. The material perfectly straddles the line between metal, rock and electronics, once again capturing the themes very well. I really can’t think of anything I’d want to change about it.
Do you like my content? Give my music a shot
If you’re here reading about Antimatter, I assume you like your music dark and emotional. Why don’t you give my progressive death/doom metal band Soliloquium a shot?
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