The Gathering

[official web site]
Reviewed: Mandylion (1995) Nighttime Birds (1997)	Remarks: Country: The Netherlands. This band began inconspicuously, with two average-fare death metal albums. When the second (talentless) singer quit, the other members appointed the girlfriend of a common friend to the vocal department. It turned out that Anneke van Giersbergen (the girlfriend) had one of the most amazing voices put to tape or disk. The style can be described as doom metal without the male grunts, and has a readily identifiable quality, mainly because of the unique vocals. The band has recently moved on to bigger (but not better) things.

Reviewed:

Mandylion (1995)
Nighttime Birds (1997)

Remarks:

Country: The Netherlands. This band began inconspicuously, with two average-fare death metal albums. When the second (talentless) singer quit, the other members appointed the girlfriend of a common friend to the vocal department. It turned out that Anneke van Giersbergen (the girlfriend) had one of the most amazing voices put to tape or disk.

The style can be described as doom metal without the male grunts, and has a readily identifiable quality, mainly because of the unique vocals. The band has recently moved on to bigger (but not better) things.

Mandylion (1995, Century Media)

Quite simply, The Gathering is the ultimate doom band. I join the swelling rank of mindless admirers ('fans' just does not cut it) who revel in the warmness of the vocals. Unlike most run of the mill doom bands, this one does not mix clean vocals with death-style guttural "singing." And all for the best (thank Odin the band shed its early incarnations and moved on to its present style). Being competent musicians, The Gathering realized that anyone would sound wimpish and annoying next to Anneke. So, instead of detracting from her power, they bowed to it and went along. Great.

Slow, grinding metal with vocals that can fill a stadium. The production is excellent, the sound is modern and deep. I did not particularly care about the album's artwork (reminds me too much of native African art, which does not fit the mood at all).

There is no point in reviewing individual songs, but several do stand out from the rest, "Leaves" being case in point. Amazing control of emotion, as Anneke sings the simple (in a good way) lyrics. Every song has a Wagnerian quality to it: the melody phrase is long, somewhat contorted and fluid. Anneke is like an entire orchestra... oh well, I might as well say it, the band fades into providing the musical landscape for her explorations. Great. The first song, "Strange Machines," is also quite memorable, with a melody that you won't be able to get out of your head (it's a good thing, trust me). Another quality that I must mention is the abdication from teenage angst, pseudo-erotic vampiricism, inept Wiccan rituals, and pagan leanings that plague most of the bands in the genre. Great.

I saw the "Leaves" video and it turns out Anneke possesses not only the best voice in metal today, but also the prettiest face (the booklet photos don't do her justice). Man, I can't wait to see this band play live... even if it means travelling all the way to ye olde Europe. Stay away from The Gathering's first two albums, they are nothing like the Anneke period.

Nighttime Birds (1997, Century Media)

This is The Gathering's second album with the inimitable Anneke, who delivers yet another evocative performance. The band has progressed again (and I thought it would not be possible after Mandylion) and offers a better integration of the voice with the instrumentation. Musically, the band is a little lighter, less gloomy, and even optimistic, with lyrics having a pensive quality to them. Stylistically, The Gathering are beginning to form a unique sound of their own and are moving away from traditional doom metal. Slow, but not depressing, moody and heavy, the music creates a trance-like ambiance not punctured by customary (for this type of music) snarls of a male singer. I could not be happier with what The Gathering are doing, despite the complaints of some "purists" that their music is not metal anymore. So what? Does that detract from its quality? I think not, not even a tiny bit.

The artwork is another better fit compared to Mandylion, and the overall impression of the CD booklet matches the music. Anneke's lyrics are simple but powerful, with a terseness not characteristic of European poetry. The emotions you read about in her lyrics, you can hear in her voice. There is no doubt she is the best vocalist metal has today.

Again, don't throw yourself at the first two The Gathering albums, they don't have Anneke and therefore have little, if anything, to offer.