Anathema
Weather Systems

You need to be prepared for emotions and make sure you have your heart wide open before putting this "Weather Systems" in the stereo. Yes, because now Anathema knows how to move us even with their melodies. It’s not really surprising anymore, considering that their previous album was also capable of stirring similar effects in the listener, but here we have confirmation of it.

Anathema has always been a band dedicated to emotions; there is no denying that, come rain or shine, but with the last two works, they have truly managed to open up the heart of the listener. The band’s past production was indeed characterized by decidedly dark and depressive tones: yes, they started from the dark doom metal of their beginnings to the atmospheric gothic rock/metal of masterpieces like "Eternity", "Alternative 4", and "Judgement". The emotions were always strong but took on sad tones that could serve as the soundtrack to moments of frustration, romantic disappointment and not, solitude, etc. The dark tones continued with "A Fine Day To Exit", leaning more towards alternative rock sounds and slightly with the more experimental "A Natural Disaster"… but in the last two releases, there has been an incredible melodic opening. Essentially, we could describe Anathema's career as a real journey starting from darkness, a darkness that at some point slowly dissolves until reaching the light. Like an individual who faces a series of disappointments but gradually manages to overcome them and reach greater serenity.

In "Weather Systems", the characteristics that surprised everyone in "We’re Here Because We’re Here" are pretty much maintained unchanged. So the bright tones remain but are at the same time veiled by a touch of melancholy. The guitars favor mid-high registers, just like the piano, increasingly present in the compositions’ structure. A lot of space is also given to the acoustic guitar, which is also rather bright in sound. The numerous orchestral arrangements present on the record are then of notable importance. Without them, something would probably be missing, lacking that touch that ultimately proves fundamental in giving the album the strongly melodic and melancholic imprint that characterizes it. And what would emotion be without the brilliant female voice of Lee Douglas? Certainly, it wouldn’t reach such levels! And then, on an emotional level, I believe that a fundamental role is played by the particular catchiness that characterizes the melodies. Catchiness and refinement: an absolutely winning combination! If the entire current pop scene sounded like this, then I think I’d listen to pop willingly! The fact remains that for making advances, or simply for a moment of joy with your girlfriend… I find this album very suitable. Therefore, I would always recommend having a copy in the car, because I feel like this album might appeal to girls, whether they are metalheads or usual listeners of Tiziano Ferro and Eros Ramazzotti. In both cases (especially in the second case), the girl will look at you astonished when you reveal to her that the band in the background started with dark and depressive metal! The girl of the first type will then be curious to go and listen to the band’s first albums, while it is certainly not recommended to have the second listen to "The Silent Enigma", with which it’s certainly not possible to make advances!

Personally, the tracks that move me the most are "Untouchables pt. 1", "Lightning Song", "Sunlight", and "Internal Landscape" while I see the low point in the slightly dull "The Beginning And The End", but I would say that the whole album manages to keep the heart open with the same intensity. We are certainly in front of one of those releases that will end up in the year’s best release list at the end of the year. Anathema confirms itself as an emotional and unpredictable band. Also excellently rendered live, where the songs from "Weather Systems" proved fully capable of engaging the audience. In any case, the album is recommended for those who use music as a stimulus for emotions, to travel with the mind, to think of beautiful moments now past that one would like to return, or that have never happened and one would want to happen... It is instead not recommended for those who see music as mere entertainment and do not let themselves be guided and carried away by it... but such a person can’t really be considered a music lover!