Taking a second look at ANACRUSIS

First time I heard this band was several years ago with Screams and whispers and I totally did not get it, probably mainly due to me being heavily into crossover and more raw, punk influenced thrash metal at the time. For some reason I revisited this band recently but decided to look into the first three albums I hadn't ever heard in chronological order. What an incredible band, I should have just checked out the earlier catalog, Anacrusis blended perfectly in my opinion prog and more technical type playing with a still raw thrash sound. Kenn Nardi has a great voice whether its screeching the F*ck out or as a clean melody. I still don't like Screams and whispers, but I consider this band to be one of the most underrated metal bands from the late 80s early 90s. Check em out if you are unfamiliar, there is an official website online with all of their recorded material for free download.

Anyways, thought I would bring up this band since I never really see em talked about much.

Great band. I think MI or S&W are their best ones.

I don't consider them technical though .... just progressive.

I like Suffering Hour but never could get into Screams and Whispers. Maybe I need to revisit it.Seemed like it was all over the place or whatever. It's been a few years and my tastes have changed somewhat.

Thrasher73 wrote:

I like Suffering Hour but never could get into Screams and Whispers. Maybe I need to revisit it.Seemed like it was all over the place or whatever. It's been a few years and my tastes have changed somewhat.

Yeah suffering hour is my favorite also, Reason and MI are good too but yeah, I think it's the synths on S and W that I'm not down with, maybe the vocals too. They seem cleaner and a lower key then the other albums but I'm listening to it now and I definitely can't say its an un listenable album.

I love Anacrusis, especially Screams and Whispers, which was my intro to the band. They are one of the few bands who, even today, have a totally unique sound. That's really rare in any genre. A fantastic band any way you slice it.

Shame they couldn't keep that reunion going. Oh well. Kenn's "solo" album is brilliant. Speaking of which, this is worth a skim, I think:

http://www.heartofmetal.net/t20861-anacrusis-kenn-nardi-dancing-with-the-past

On another board I post at, Kenn Nardi was working with one of the board poster's wife. She asked him about their music, and it turned out he was a big fan. That must have been pretty cool to find out.

Didn't Kenn become a born again Christian after Anacrusis split up?

I've always preferred Manic Impressions over Screams and Whispers, even though it's an emotionally taxing listen (similar to Dreaming Neon Black by Nevermore.)

The new Anacrusis double-album, released as a Kenn Nardi solo project, is a modern masterpiece. Of the 28 songs on the album, there isn't a bad one out of the bunch.

Sounds like I need to check out Cruel April and the new album

Eyesore wrote:

Shame they couldn't keep that reunion going. Oh well.

You will get a second chance at that. Anacrusis are going to play at Keep it True on April 2016 with the possibility to expand it to a short European tour.

Yeah his solo album is a great listen.

Screams and Whispers was the first thing I ever heard from them. Love that album to this day. Manic Impressions is probably my favorite though, with Reasons and S & W tied for second. Not a bad album in their catalog, in my opinion.

The only band that I think is similar to them is Depressive Age. Other than them, no one really did what Anacrusis did.

Awesome band. Just did a video giving them some props.

I have Suffering Hour and Manic Impressions and they are fine albums.

One of my favorite bands

Out of all their stuff, Id put Screams And Whispers at #1, and Manic Impressions at #2. Kenn's solo album from last year is awesome too.

I have about a dozen or so of their songs that I downloaded from their website and I find it quite good. I like the demo work they've done the most.

MI has to be one of the most profound albums of the 90's. I'm actually revisiting it right now--meant to listen to a portion but couldn't stop. It's unique and progressive without being dull or showy. The atmosphere created is rich with disturbed tension. Screams and Whispers has a similar effect, albeit in a different sense. Phenomenal band.