The definition of what a rock anthem is should be clear - but in fact it's not always. Sometimes rock anthem and rock ballad overlap. But the unmistakable thing about the rock anthem - the name says it all - is its hymnal, often solemn character. The bands are very bombastic here, be it in the chorus, which is often doubled vocally or sung in the choir; be it in the instrumentation, which is often characterized by the use of synthesizers or mellotrons or by powerful guitar lines - the musicians switch to full fat, so to speak, to achieve the desired effect: sometimes sensitive, sometimes pathetic, always highly emotional.
