Review | Weather Systems – Ocean Without A Shore

Music Theory Recordings

Some four to five years ago Anathema signed a new record deal with Music Theory Recordings. While already working on the songs for what supposed to be the new Anathema album main man Daniel Cavanagh decided to put the group on an indefinite hiatus. When it was announced that Daniel had started a new project called Weather Systems it left the fans of the group slightly confused.

UNCERTAIN

While the future of Anathema is uncertain it seems, fans do not have to despair as the Weather Systems album does have a lot of ingredients that you would expect to hear on an Anathema album. There are strong similarities, but according to Daniel Weather Systems is more direct, honest, spiritual, and straight from the heart. Working with drummer Daniel Cardoso and adding the singers Petter Carlsen and Soraia Silva to the fold, the band name Weather Systems points directly to the 2012 Anathema record ‘Weather Systems’, believed to be the favourite album of Daniel Cavanagh in the band catalogue.

ATMOSPHERIC ROCK

Anathema started out as a heavy band with doom metal as their preferred weapon. During the years the musical direction changed dramatically into a mix of atmospheric rock, a touch of psychedelic and lots of progressive influences. When you hear ‘Ocean Without A Shore’ it seems that at the end of the day not very much has changed as the music on this album has all these elements. Add to that an enormous intensity in the execution and the singing and I guess the fans of Anathema will dig this whole heartedly.

WEATHER SYSTEMS – THE CONCLUSION

Daniel Cavanagh and his friends have constructed a more modern sounding record. As always, the songs need a bit of time to work their magic but I think that followers of Anathema can and will appreciate tracks such as ,,Untouchable Part 3’’ or ,,Are You There Part 2’’. I am not saying that Weather Systems is just a logical continuation of where Anathema left of with their 2017 record ‘The Optimist’. But on the other hand, it is not that much different either. For people that like their progressive rock with a more sophisticated sound and production this record is just what they want to hear. Personally, I had hoped for a few heavier parts here and there….

Release date: 27 September 2024