Speculation has long been rife among Anathema fans about just why this extraordinarily consistent and powerful Liverpool band have yet to be embraced by the mainstream rock world: it seems bizarre that their soaring, emotionally overwhelming paeans to life, love and loss haven't elevated them to the arena circuit. A darker and more eccentric record than its predecessors, Distant Satellites may not be the album to change all that, but it's still another masterclass in supercharged emotional songwriting and fearless sonic curiosity. Vinnie Cavanagh and Lee Douglas's vocals combine and contrast exquisitely throughout, reaching an apex of tear-jerking majesty on The Lost Song Part 2 and the almost unbearably moving one-two of Anathema and You're Not Alone. Meanwhile, the title track's bold electronic mini-symphony and Take Shelter's seamless genre-hopping point intriguingly to this cherishable band's future.