''Anorexia'' is an album by the band
Showbread
Showbread ( he, לחם הפנים ''Leḥem haPānīm'', literally: "Bread of the Faces"), in the King James Version: shewbread, in a biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-de ...
. It was released on May 13, 2008 simultaneously with its companion album
Nervosa. Anorexia is the first of a two-CD collection entitled Anorexia Nervosa, which is an accompaniment to the short story ''Anorexia Nervosa'' which comes packaged with the records. The album acts as a soundtrack to a read-along story book that features a chapter for each track. As the reader follows the story, the album reacts to what happens within the text. Taking a drastic new direction from their second album
Age of Reptiles, which featured a more straightforward alternative rock sound, the band took "Anorexia" in a much darker,
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a fusion genre that fuses industrial music and rock music. It initially originated in the 1970s, and drew influence from early experimental and industrial acts such as Cromagnon, Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten a ...
tone.
Story
The album and included booklet tell the story of a woman named Anorexia who begins her story by opening a center for sick and dying children. Like her sister Nervosa, Anorexia's story takes place within two texts. The first section of each chapter tells Anorexia's story in a more stylized, fairy tale-esque and metaphorical manner. Within this text, Anorexia spends the story laboring to build a tower to
Heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...
which parallels her quest to be remembered for her children's hospital. The subsequent text in each chapter is narrated by Anorexia herself, and takes place in
real time in the actual world. While Anorexia's motives seem noble, we learn as the story continues that she is driven by a sinister, selfish desire to become immortalized and praised for her "good deeds". One night while treating a child with an unnamed illness (presumably the
HIV virus
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
), Anorexia is stabbed with a dirty
syringe
A syringe is a simple reciprocating pump consisting of a plunger (though in modern syringes, it is actually a piston) that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube called a barrel. The plunger can be linearly pulled and pushed along the inside ...
and infected with the same illness. As Anorexia is weakened by the disease, she becomes more infamous and her tower to Heaven becomes taller. But on her death bed she finds no solace and realizes that her great tower is merely a shallow bed of stones only feet from the ground. At this point in the story, the
real time narrative ceases and the remaining chapters are carried exclusively through metaphorical means. Anorexia, dying on her bed of stones, wakes in a sunlit field and finds that she has been carried to safety by a small
lamb
Lamb or The Lamb may refer to:
* A young sheep
* Lamb and mutton, the meat of sheep
Arts and media Film, television, and theatre
* ''The Lamb'' (1915 film), a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in his screen debut
* ''The Lamb'' (1918 ...
who died in the process of rescuing her. The lamb however, resurrects and explains that he had given his life to save Anorexia simply to fulfill his lifelong desire to be with her.
Track listing
All songs written by
Josh Dies
Joshua S. Porter, better known by his stage name Josh Dies (born June 12, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and novelist. Porter is widely known as the vocalist and songwriter for the band Showbread.
Music career
In 1997, Jo ...
.
# "The Journey" - 3:34
# "The Vulture" - 3:49
# "The Sky" - 3:18
# "The Sky (Alpha)" - 3:22
# "The Dirt" - 2:38
# "The Pig" - 4:58
# "The Flies" - 3:11
# "The Goat" - 3:43
# "The Death" - 4:15
# "The End" - 3:56 (featuring Ivory Mobley)
# "The End (Omega)" - 1:04
# "The Beginning" - 4:51
Personnel
*Josh Dies - Lead Vocals, Guitar, programming
*Patrick Porter - Bass
*Mike Jensen - Guitar
*Matt Davis - Guitar
*John Giddens - Synthesizer, programming
*Ricky Holbrook - Drums
Production
*
Randy Torres
Randy Torres is a guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and background vocalist from Seattle. He has previously played for the bands Project 86, a Christian rock group, and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter ...
- producer, engineering
*
Steven Dail
Steven Dail is a musician who is known for playing bass guitar in several Christian metal bands including Project 86 and White Lighter, and Christian punk band Crash Rickshaw. Other bands he has played in are Starflyer 59, Low & Behold, Inne ...
- engineering
*
Ulrich Wild
Ulrich Wild is an American record producer, engineer and mixer specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ulrich is now a naturalized citizen in the United States, living in Los Angeles, California. In a career th ...
- mixing, mastering
*
Ryan Clark (musician)
Ryan Clark (born June 23, 1979) is an American graphic designer and musician who also has performed under the stage name Maven. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the Christian metal band Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his broth ...
- design
Additional musicians
*Aaron Miasko - drum technical, percussion
*Lori Gerlach - string arrangements, piano
*Randy Torres - piano
References
External links
Anorexia Nervosa's Official WebsiteShowbread's Official Homepage
{{Authority control
Showbread (band) albums
2008 albums
Tooth & Nail Records albums