''We're Here Because We're Here'' is the eighth album by the British rock band

Anathema Anathema, in common usage, is something or someone detested or shunned. In its other main usage, it is a formal excommunication. The latter meaning, its ecclesiastical sense, is based on New Testament usage. In the Old Testament, anathema was a cr ...

. It was released on 31 May 2010. The working title of the album was ''Horizons''. The album was mixed by

Steven Wilson Steven John Wilson (born 3 November 1967) is an English musician. He is the founder, guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Porcupine Tree, as well as being a member of several other bands, including Blackfield, Storm Corrosio ...

Porcupine Tree Porcupine Tree are an English rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. During an initial career spanning more than twenty years, they earned critical acclaim from critics and fellow musicians, developed a cult following, and became ...

Background

Ville Valo Ville Hermanni Valo (; born 22 November 1976) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the gothic rock band HIM. Born and raised in Helsinki to a Hungarian mother and Finnish father, Valo began h ...

of the band HIM recorded backing vocals for the song "Angels Walk Among Us".Anathema Discusses New Album, "We’re Here Because We’re Here", and Reveals
''Metal-underground.com''. 20 March 2010. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. The title of the album is taken from a song of the same name that was sung in the Allied trenches of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

to the tune of "

Auld Lang Syne "Auld Lang Syne" (: note "s" rather than "z") is a popular song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extension, it is also often ...

". It is the last album to feature keyboardist

Les Smith Keith Leslie Smith is a former British keyboardist, once in the bands Anathema (1996, 2001–2011) and Cradle of Filth (1998–2000). Biography He was born in 1967 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England. Smith undertook session work on keyboar ...

, as well as the first to feature vocalist Lee Douglas as an official band member.

Reception

Response from the critics was universally positive. The album was awarded "Prog Album of the Year" by ''Classic Rock'' magazine, who described it as "a flawless, life-affirming comeback and a gold-plated contender for album of the year".

Track listing

All songs written by

Daniel Cavanagh Daniel Cavanagh (born 6 October 1972) is an English guitarist and singer who formed the British band Anathema in 1990 with his brother Vincent Cavanagh. He is the band's principal songwriter, a role he had previously shared with bassist Dunc ...

, except where noted. ;Special Edition Bonus DVD–Audio * The Entire Album in lossless 24/48 5.1 Surround and Stereo

Singles

; Dreaming Light Digital Single/EP # "Dreaming Light" # "Universal" (Engineers Remix) # "Dreaming Light" (Video) ; Everything Digital Single # Everything

Personnel

Vincent Cavanagh Vincent Cavanagh (born 29 August 1973 in Liverpool) is an English singer and guitarist best known as a co-founder (and the sole constant member) of British rock band Anathema. Vincent took over as Anathema's vocalist following the departure of ...

— vocals, guitar *

— guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals * Jamie Cavanagh — bass guitar * John Douglas — percussion, drums, keyboards, guitars * Lee Douglas — vocals *

Background

Reception

Track listing

Singles

Personnel

Charts

References

External links