When I heard that Duncan Patterson had quit Antimatter and Mick Moss was carrying on by himself and working on a new album I was quite thrilled. Patterson’s work with Antimatter always left me a little cold and it was the Moss penned songs like “Weight Of The World,” “Over Your Shoulder” and “Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man” that really left an impact on me. Needless to say expectation levels were running high.

So now that the new album, “Leaving Eden” is out and has been stuck to my player for the last 3 days what do I have to say about it ? Well, it’s the best album Antimatter has done so far and another terrific release in 2007. (So far, 2007 has blown the last year out of the water in term of quality releases but that topic is still a few months away.)

The one thing immediately apparent is that Mick Moss has grown tremendously as a vocalist. His voice dominates the songs and he sings so well that I don’t think anyone’s going to complain. He sounds a lot more confident with his voice and uses it superbly on this album. It's also interesting to note that Moss has no guest vocals on the albums. No chicks singing anywhere on the album. Its all Moss and Leaving Eden is better for it.

The music is mostly sparse almost ambient like rock. While the electronic elements are still there, Mick Moss does not use them as often as Patterson did and the effects are more often than not buried in the mix. Subtly enhancing the sound rather than distracting from it. Another thing that’s changed is the pop sensibilities and by that I mean the incredibly catchy vocal lines of previous releases has been replaced by a brooding and melancholic delivery style that is perfect for these songs. Mick Moss has without a doubt grown in leaps and bounds as a songwriter and the evolution in his style from Planetary Confinement in 2004 to Leaving Eden is nothing short of awe inspiring. The songs are all melancholic and haunting pieces where the stress is in making sure that each note is given enough space to breathe so that the entire impact of that note can be absorbed.

Danny Cavanagh (Anathema guitarist) steps in to play the solos on the album and yes, Leaving Eden boasts of more than a few of those, all tastefully executed and complementing the songs superbly. Anathema in fact share some similarities with the music of Antimatter. Leaving Eden is quite similar to Anathema’s Judgment in terms of atmosphere and dynamics although Moss’s vocals and his unique vocal lines and phrasing makes most comparisons superfluous.

Leaving Eden is without a doubt the best album Antimatter has released yet. The song writing, the singing and guitar playing on this album are perfect. Case in point being the incredible title song “Leaving Eden” where Moss’s vocals, the lyrics drenched in melancholy, the music which is dark laid back rock and Danny Cavanagh’s vintage British doom metal lead guitar part all come together to make a song that is nothing short of spectacular. And this is not the exception for this album but the rule.

Leaving Eden is one of the best albums I’ve heard so far this year. If you’re into anything from Pink Floyd to Anathema to even Nick Drake you will find something to like in this album. Super stuff.

Year Of Release: 2007

Label: Prophecy Productions

P.S. I‘m deducting half a point for the instrumental “Immaculate Misconception” when we could have had another song with Moss singing on it. That’s just me being a bitch and otherwise this album is a 5.