Subject: Could advanced life forms evolve in reduced atmospere?

Many sci-fi writers write about extraterrestrial beings living in anaerobic 
environment. I know that there are some anareobic bacterial metabolisms known, 
but these are not ery energetic, and are sufficient only for very simple life.
But if there was planet with hydrogen/methane atmosphere, could some kind of 
multicellular hydrogen or methane breathers live there? For example some beings 
using something oxidized, such as nitrates or sulphates as food source, and 
breathing their reduced atmosphere? I mean wehther such atmosphere could 
support reactions energetic enough for advanced life.

Re: Could advanced life forms evolve in reduced atmospere?