Under A Veil (Of Black Lace)
Anathema · Serenades [1993]
A serenade I cry
Your silk lined coffin the lachrymatory
To hold a mourner's tears
Ethereal splendor
Pale skin and down cast eyes
Scent of paradise
Like her, forever remains unknown
Through tear stained eyes
My view is growing weaker
Please help my grief be vanquished
Thy bed of roses, funereal drapery
Impale my on your thorns
Celestial splendor
Pale skin and down cast eyes
Farewell autumn kisses
Like her, forever remains unknown
I loved her ... but now she's gone
(It's so hard to face)
Overcoming ... tender reckoning
If I too depart the earth
I harmony to (our) heaven we'll elope
Heavenly grace with which to ease
the virgin's tears
Under A Veil (Of Black Lace)
Under A Veil (Of Black Lace) stands as a defining track from Anathema's 1993 album Serenades, capturing the band during their formative shoegaze and gothic rock period. Recorded early in their career, the song showcases the atmospheric textures and melancholic melodies that would later evolve into their signature progressive sound. This recording highlights the group's ability to blend heavy guitar work with ethereal vocals, creating a dense, emotional soundscape characteristic of the early 1990s British alternative scene. As part of the Serenades catalogue, the track remains a vital song point for listeners exploring the band's transition from post-punk influences toward the expansive compositions found in their later discography. The song endures as a testament to Anathema's early creative vision and their enduring impact on the genre.