Review by Adam M on November 5, 2025.

This was a solid album that had a more Radiohead vibe than earlier releases and has a number of solid and memorable tracks and a great atmosphere to it.  It is perhaps more commercial sounding than their earlier releases, but at the same time very catchy and worthwhile.  Songs like “Release” will stay in your memory for a long time and become part of your regular rotation.

In terms of musicianship, the album has a great production job and wonderful musical performances from the guitar work and singing of Cavanaugh in particular.  The guitars are somewhat Radiohead in nature, but even superior to that band’s work.  All in all the instruments come together to create an interesting and enjoyable work.

In terms of flaws, the album is not as memorable as the previous two and falls a bit short in comparison.  It is still excellent and one of the best albums in their discography because of an emphasis on the newer type of vision the band has.  People looking for an album to become entranced in will find this to their liking greatly as it has a very subdued vibe.

The album in general is a very exciting and melodic listen that is one of the premier albums in their catalogue.  It has a nice mixture of heaviness and more gentle moments to craft a very thoughtful and enjoyable experience.  There is nothing stopping the listener from enjoying this album as it has enough atmosphere to win you over.

Rating: 7.9 out of 10

Review by Krys on September 6, 2001.

So this day finally come... Anathema left their metal past behind. Of course this shouldn’t be a huge surprise for anyone that followed these Brits’ career. Although “Alternative 4” or “Judgement” had some sparks of their metal past, their new album, as the title would indicate, doesn’t leave any doubts in what direction they want to go.

If piano, classical guitar and beautiful clean vocals aren’t evil enough for you forget this album exists.
‘Pressure’, my pick as an instant classic, opens this masterpiece with its subtle use of instruments, remarkable melody and the delicate yet powerful voice of Vincent Cavanagh. The chorus lyric lines “I don’t care where you go, you won’t get away from me” will hold true because even if you try you won’t be able to forget it for weeks. ‘Release’, compared to the piano driven ‘Pressure’, lays on a classic guitar riff and outstanding soft blues solo whereas ‘Looking Outside Inside’ surprises us with all those elements but is given a psychedelic touch.

There is not a single track that can remind me of something I’ve heard before. Each of them is so unique and full of music that one song feels like a journey through the world of notes and the whole album might even overwhelm the first time listener with its genius. I don’t think there is another band that is in the same class right now and I don’t think I have enough words to describe it. Let the music speak for itself.

Anathema is a future hard rock hall-of-famer and “A Fine Day to Exit” is just a beginning in their quest... and that’s a scary thought. Why not 10 then? Simple, I don’t want to change the scale with their next release.

Bottom Line: Without disrespecting anyone, Anathema’s “A Fine Day to Exit” is for people who understand music, not just listen to it.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10