On disc: The Gathering

 
 Mandylion
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
 Superheat
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
   


 
 Superheat
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Amity
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 If_Then_Else
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Souvenirs
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Sleepy Buildings
 
- Sandra Bucher -
 
 


 
 Home
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 The West Pole
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Disclosure
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Disclosure

(Psychonaut Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Disclosure is the second album with Silje Wergeland and The Gathering took their time to write / record Disclosure. As usual fans can expect changes, The Gathering never changed drastically, but if you take a look at their whole career you can see this change. They kick off with Paper Waves, a dreamy tune where Frank Boeijen's keyboard gets more space while the guitars partly take a step back - but what starts balladesque becomes a noisy pop rock tune. But with Meltdown they a new road, Frank Boeijen is doing lead vocals and the electronic sounds are more prominent. Later Silje Wergeland joins in. But again the song changes, it's a sonic journey of about 8 minutes. The long track Heroes For Ghosts is like a soundtrack for a short film - very atmospheric, partly dark and shows Silje Wergeland more of her talent. Sure, some will still miss Anneke van Giersbergen - and sometimes I do too -, but with Silje Wergeland they found a singer who is able to replace her. It seems like touring The West Pole helped the band to grow together and that Silje is now more confident about her part in The Gathering.



At Gemini I Silje sings with a darker timbre - at least partly - and it fits great to the soundscapes. Let them enchant you with this one! With about 3 1/2 minutes Missing Seasons is quite short, another dreamy tune - and one where nobody will miss Anneke. More then 9 minutes long is I Can See Four Miles, a quite heavy tune where Silje's dark vocals give the track a different feel. Another sonic journey which shows different facets of The Gathering's sound. They close this chapter with Gemini II, a track which slowly kicks off with keyboard and vocals. Somehow this track don't leave an impression on me, but well... It might be just me.



I'm looking forward to see The Gathering promoting Disclosure live. Check out the album and try to catch them live!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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The West Pole

(Psychonaut - 2009)



 
 

 

The Gathering are around of almost 20 years and their sound changed drastically through the years. Remember, they started as a death metal band! In 2007 their charismatic singer Anneke van Giersbergen left the band and even if the remaining members said they will continue, their future was uncertain. Now they are back with The West Pole and their new singer Silje Wergeland. The former Octavia Sperati singer has to face the task to fill in the vacant spot - and to be compared with Anneke. Not an easy task, and one many wouldn't have taken this challenge.

The Dutch outfit opens up with When Trust Becomes Sound, a lengthy instrumental which probably isn't the best way to kick off. But The Gathering never followed any guidelines and always did it their way. At Treasure Silje is joining in and right from the start she shows that she isn't a copycat and that she won't try to sound like Anneke. It's obvious that The Gathering are more rock now, but beautiful melodies are still there. They somehow combine the rock guitar with atmospheric sound and Silje's expressive vocals. At the title track The West Pole Silje reminds me a bit of Anneke, she has the same intensity and even if she sounds different, there are similarities. A beautiful atmospheric tune, one of my favorites. Capital Of Nowhere is another beautiful tune with Anne van den Hoogen singing, but somehow I have the inkling that the song would have a certain magic, if Anneke would sing it... Piano leads you into You Promised Me A Symphony, a piano-ballad ballad where Silje is doing very well! At Pale Traces Marcela Bovio takes over the microphone. This song is a bit heavier and more guitar-driven then the other tunes, but it might surprise you... Towards the end the songs get heavier, it's like the band wants to lead you away from the atmospheric sounds of their last albums and introduce their listeners to rock again...



It's not their best piece of work, but a very decent album. Other bands would have split up after the departure of a charismatic singer like Anneke, but they took the challenge and they do quite good. But only future can tell, if they can gain back their strength...

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Home

(Sanctuary Records - 2006)



 
 

 

This is the 8th studio album of the Dutch band The Gathering and they changed during the years. On Home you hear them a bit more rocking - at least sometimes -, but still their describtion as trip rock fits. The album opener is called Shortest Day and is a mid-tempo rock song. Singer Anneke van Giersbergen is what makes this band special, its her vocals, but without the band it wouldn't be the same. The combination of people, musicians is giving them the magic. On Alone they become less rock and more atmospheric. Enchanting. And filled with sadness, but not depressing. There is always a spark of hope. Great song! Another highlight is Forgotten where a piano accompanies Annekes vocals. A slow, sadden track. With Forgotten Reprise they added a different version at the end of the CD. Totally different is Solace which starts with some spoken Spanish words and then a marching rhythm - a real surprise. During the song they use the element of spoken  words several times., but not sticking to Spanish. Outstanding!



Another masterpiece of the Dutch quintet, even if they left behind their roots long ago and so many metal fans will have abandoned them. But everybody who can make without the typical metal sounds and likes some relaxing sounds, will love the beauty of their songs. A line off Your Troubles Are Over is "Both my arms are wrapped around this new experience" and in a way this expresses the feeling you get listening to this album. This and that you won't let go again.



Highlights? Well, you can check in with every song, but I would recommend Alone, Solace, Waking Hours and Your Troubles Are Over.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Sleepy Buildings

(Century Media - 2004)



 
 

 

It's nothing new that The Gathering left their metal roots behind. Their latest album is a live recording of 2 semi acoustic shows they did last summer in Nijmegen. A kind of best of show, only Sleepy Buildings is a new track, the rest just appear in a different outlook. Soft melancholy rock which the enchanting voice of Anneke van Giersbergen. Songs like Saturnine, Travel, My Electricity and Amity always seemed to be perfect for an unplugged or acoustic version. Other songs they played are Shrink, Marooned and Red Is a Slow Colour. But I didn't expect that the Dutch put on their second live album - Superheat was a 'normal' live album - acoustic versions of Stonegarden, Like Fountains and The Mirror Waters, coz these songs were released on Always.... and Almost A Dance which were much heavier and recorded before Anneke joined the band. In the acoustic sound the beauty of the songs can shine. Perhaps that was what they had in mind... Anyway, another emotional and touching album of the Dutch band who had to fulfill their contract with Century Media with a Best-Of album. This is the Dutch way of handling that situation. Or more accurately The Gatherings way of doing a Best-Of album. Well, I wish I had witnessed this! Hopefully they recorded it for a DVD... Or do so on the coming semi acoustic tour.

 
 










Sandra Bucher
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Souvenirs

(Psychonaut Rec. - 2003)



 
 

 

The Dutch band changed dramatically through the years, left the metal behind. But for a few years - since the release of How To Measure A Planet? - they do what they call trip rock. Souvenirs starts with the intensive, emotional track These Good People. A beautiful track with a dark, gloomy sound. Like a soundtrack to life. Souvenirs are a kind of Anneke van Giersbergen's memories, life experiences. Partly a psychedelic movie soundtrack where organic and electronic sounds melt together into one. A song like Even The Spirits Are Afraid enchants you. The beautiful, the gloomy sound captives you. Music to slip out of the daily life's reality.



There are not enough words to describe the music on Souvenirs! Listen to The Gathering's latest opus. If you liked their last releases, then you will love this one! A tip for all fans of ambient, emotional music.



Check out: Souvenirs, Even The Spirits Are Afraid and Monsters.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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If_Then_Else

(Century Media - 2000)



 
 

 

The 2nd output of the Dutch quintet in the new millennium. If_Then_Else is the new studio album of Anneke van Giersbergen and her companions. Earlier this year they released a live album called Superheat, now they returned with a studio album which is heavier and rocks! This album is like a trip on a rollercoaster and the first song and single is called Rollercoaster! An emotional trip through the world of The Gathering. After How To Measure A Planet? I didn't expect an album like this..... Soon songs like Beautiful War and Saturnine make me addicted to this one! So be careful!!!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Amity

(Century Media - 2000)



 
 

 

There aren't that much single releases in the rock and metal genre and usually if there is a single release then the songs aren't very convincing. The Dutch band The Gathering released several singles in their history and now they released the single Amity before continuing their European tour for their new release If_Then_Else.



Again their motto is "Value for money!" But what get the fan for the money he spend? Well, first to mention the 6 different versions of the song including a live recording. Beside that they covered the Talk Talk song Life's What You Make It which is almost a cult hit... At least there is a video track about the studio recordings of the cover tune as a bonus! All that for the price of a single! Isn't that cool?

 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Superheat - A Live Album

(Century Media - 2000)



 
 

 

In the beginning The Gathering played a kind of gothic death metal, but with fe­male singer Anneke van Giersbergen the band discovered a more psychedelic and atmospheric music. With Mandylion, the first album with Anneke, the band won the heart of many metal fans. Tours with Moonspell, Seigmen and Lacuna Coil made the Dutch more and more popular. After Nighttime Birds the five-piece entered a new world of sounds with the double CD How To Measure A Planet? Now the time was right for a live album! During the HTMAP tour the band recorded Superheat. The album included songs like Nighttime Birds, Strange Machines and Liberty Bell which been recorded in February in Tilburg and in April in Amsterdam. Live the band shows a rougher sound and tries to present a unique event. Not playing each song note by note... Live they show their lives from the magic of the moment... This should be a video, coz the music gives just an idea about it!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Superheat - A Live Album

(Century Media - 2000)



 
 

 

The growing fan base of the sympathetic Dutch band awaited the release of a live album. After the release of 3 excellent albums from the era of Anneke van Giersbergen the band decided to record some concerts during the tour to release this live album.



Actually they chose to record 2 shows in their home country. They recorded the show at the Paradiso in Amsterdam and at the 013 in Tilburg. The CD offers more then one hour of live music and chose 10 songs for this release. The focus was put on the last release of the band How To Measure A Planet completed with the highlights from the other albums like Nighttime Birds and classic ones like Strange Machines which is a must for The Gathering and so had to be recorded for this album.

From the musical part of the CD there is nothing to complain, the chosen songs (even if focused on the latest release and that older ones are better live...) are okay and that an experienced band like the Dutch does well is no surprise. Only the live atmosphere they couldn't ban on tape re CD.



Fans of The Gathering will like the album and will have a complete collection, I guess and as I said before, musically there is nothing to complain about this album!

 
 






Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Mandylion

(Century Media - 1995)



 
 

 

It's amazing how a band can change from album to album. A good example for that is the Dutch band The Gathering. On their first 2 albums - Always... (1992) and Almost A Dance (1993) - a male singer fronted the band. And now? The new album is sung by a woman, by Anneke van Giersbergen. Does it work? Yes, it does! This is a highlight in the second half of 1995! Atmospheric sounds, melancholy and the angel-like voice of Anneke van Giersbergen make The Gathering's album Mandylion special. The classification 'metal' gets a new meaning, this is more gothic meets Pink Floyd meets Dead Can Dance. A league of their own!

 
 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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