Track Listing
1. Rollercoaster 2. Shot to pieces 3. Amity 4. Bad movie scene 5. Colorado incident 6. Beautiful war 7. Analog park 8. Herbal movement 9. Saturnine 10. Morphia�s waltz 11. Pathfinder Year: 2000 Label: Century Media - Official Site |
The Gathering - 'If_then_else' - By C. Diamantis
The band from Netherlands finds itself having developed a totally personal sound which distinguishes them among the many other bands that followed a similar course to them through the years. If you ask someone to name a few of the most important bands in what we call atmospheric metal, surely The Gathering will be one of them. Albums like �Always�, �Mandylion� and �Nightime Birds� are considered monuments in this particular music genre. Nowadays, The Gathering have left behind them atmospheric metal, and to a very important degree metal generally, and developed a style that comes closer to being describes as rock or atmospheric rock if you like. This album is similar to the style of music with their previous record, �How To Measure A Planet?�, though not as experimental. Their music is based on quite simple melodies and riffs, which give ample space for their singer, Anneke Van Giersbergen, to add her beautiful vocal melodies. Anneke is considered, correctly, one of the best voices out there right now and her performance, especially in the slower, more sentimental songs, is amazing. Listen to her in Amity, Bad Movie Scene or Morphia�s Waltz and you�ll understand what I�m talking about. The other members� performance is also very good, something that is mostly noticed by the fact that though the music they create is simple in its structure, it�s not artless. Here is a band which managed to achieve perfectly what is described by the phrase �less is more�. Another point which leads me to really respect this band is that they �re not afraid to use technology (like programming or drumloops) in their music. This adds a few trip-hop elements in their music, something I think adds to the final result. The Gathering have been making their own personal way in music for many years now and the fact that many people respect them alone speaks for their worth. So if you like slow, emotional music this is a very good album to invest your precious money on. As for myself I�m eagerly waiting for their next album, where the almighty Garm is going to participate. Until then� Metal Obsessive Grade: 83% |