• Лейбъл: Kskope
• Издаден: 2012
• Aвтор: Nikola Shahpazov
• Оценка:

Unlike the rather rushed up and experimental 'Falling Deeper' (that saw ANATHEMA revamping old tracks into a rather bleak and unimpressive ambient/classical soundscape),  'Weather Systems' is an impressive affort from start to finish.

And as is often the case with such multi-layered pieces of music, each listen reveals another reason to name the album a true ANATHEMA classic.

'Weather Systems' is also a clear continuation of where the band left off with 'We’re Here Because We’re Here'. Not only because part of the riffs here are actually leftovers from the 2010 studio sessions but also because with their 2012 effort the Liverpool band strives even further into coherent and conceptual mix of British alternative, orchestral ambient, proggy sound with guitar and vocal harmonies that could be traced back to the albums of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

What’s more – together with this new, crystal clear self-assured direction that they took, ANATHEMA are becoming an undoubtedly sunny band.

This is evident even on visual level (note the blue coolur and sun rays on the covers of  'WHBWH', 'Falling Deeper' and 'Weather Systems') but also in the up-beat feel of the musical pieces and the very, very good lyrics.  And while in their previous studio album the “revelation song” was called 'Hindsight', here we find 'Internal Landscapes' – a sort of continuation of the death/light at the ens of the tunnel/eternal life theme.

Yup, ANATHEMA not only grew wiser but are not firmly on their way out of the restrictions that the notions of “rocknroll”, “progressive” or “alternative rock” bring along. And we can only be grateful for that.

The titles fit the songs perfectly. 'Sunlight' is downright optimistic and uplifting as a warm breeze from the south, while 'The Gathering of the Clouds' is filled with nervous anticipation and the prog piece 'The Storm Before The Calm' comes along – gloomy and windy as a summer storm.

Of course, this is by no means a meteorological forecast.

'Weather Systems' tells of and is inspired by dreams, love, pain, happiness. It tells of the sunny smiles, the autumn and winter of the human soul. And of the inevitable summer of the spirit. Just like the finer Anathema albums, this one’s personal, very personal. What’s more important – its sound is accessible but never shallow. I

t’s atmospheric and complex but never torturingly avant-garde. It’s Pinkfloydian and harmonic, just like we hoped it would be.

We can’t wait to hear how these tracks work in concert. We really can’t.