Post by thesoundmonitor on Oct 21, 2003 21:39:25 GMT -5
THE GATHERING
Souvenirs
(Psychonaut Recordings)
By Warren Wheeler
Long before Evanescence were parading their quasi-goth, nu-metal to the masses, a band from The Netherlands bucked the death metal trend they were then entrenched in and enlisted the services of vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. The angelic voice of van Giersbergen combined majestically with the spritely atmospheres the band had been hinting at on previous albums.
Following four successful albums and a live release on Century Media, the band again flew in the face of popular career choices and formed their own label, Psychonaut Recordings.
The first new release on this label was the Black Light District EP which managed to pick up the pieces that seemed to be falling from their final Century Media album, If_Then_Else.
This leads us to Souvenirs, an album so cohesive and brilliant in it’s own drama that is left wondering how come The Gathering have never gained the widespread acclaim as the aforementioned act.
That is not to say The Gathering are but Evanescence in a different form. Far from it. The Gathering are head and shoulders above them and any other neo-metal act using female vocals - though The 3rd and the Mortal would rate close.
So Souvenirs diverges from the dark rock trip a little and turn it into what has been coined trip-rock. Indeed the band sound as convincingly like Massive Attack as they do Cave In at times. It’s a combination that works extremely well when you have dedicated musicians bearing all in the approach and delivery of an album.
‘You Learn About It’ opens with van Giersbergen’s gentle serenade before a dub bass line chimes in and soft piano creates the mood. The songwriting in this track - and indeed most, if not all of the others is simply superb. Utilising memorable melodies, creative hooks, repetition, peaks and valleys…. The album has it all!
Most tracks are downbeat without being depressing. The Gathering’s ability to be introspective without being suicidal is an achievement in itself. Indeed Souvenirs reminds one of life’s beauties, in a gentle and subtle manner.
‘We Just Stopped Breathing’ picks up the pace with it’s pulsating electronics, repetitive bass line and typically powerful vocals.
The final track - ‘A Life All Mine’ regresses to early, early Gathering where female vocals combined with male. But not in some crappy, soppy ol’ love song duet Grease-style, rather in a creative trade off that sees the pair tripping over one another to make sense of the colliding words. The electronic beats combine with a sultry spaghetti-western melody beneath the atmosphere as the track peters off in a spectacular finale.
Souvenirs
(Psychonaut Recordings)
By Warren Wheeler
Long before Evanescence were parading their quasi-goth, nu-metal to the masses, a band from The Netherlands bucked the death metal trend they were then entrenched in and enlisted the services of vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. The angelic voice of van Giersbergen combined majestically with the spritely atmospheres the band had been hinting at on previous albums.
Following four successful albums and a live release on Century Media, the band again flew in the face of popular career choices and formed their own label, Psychonaut Recordings.
The first new release on this label was the Black Light District EP which managed to pick up the pieces that seemed to be falling from their final Century Media album, If_Then_Else.
This leads us to Souvenirs, an album so cohesive and brilliant in it’s own drama that is left wondering how come The Gathering have never gained the widespread acclaim as the aforementioned act.
That is not to say The Gathering are but Evanescence in a different form. Far from it. The Gathering are head and shoulders above them and any other neo-metal act using female vocals - though The 3rd and the Mortal would rate close.
So Souvenirs diverges from the dark rock trip a little and turn it into what has been coined trip-rock. Indeed the band sound as convincingly like Massive Attack as they do Cave In at times. It’s a combination that works extremely well when you have dedicated musicians bearing all in the approach and delivery of an album.
‘You Learn About It’ opens with van Giersbergen’s gentle serenade before a dub bass line chimes in and soft piano creates the mood. The songwriting in this track - and indeed most, if not all of the others is simply superb. Utilising memorable melodies, creative hooks, repetition, peaks and valleys…. The album has it all!
Most tracks are downbeat without being depressing. The Gathering’s ability to be introspective without being suicidal is an achievement in itself. Indeed Souvenirs reminds one of life’s beauties, in a gentle and subtle manner.
‘We Just Stopped Breathing’ picks up the pace with it’s pulsating electronics, repetitive bass line and typically powerful vocals.
The final track - ‘A Life All Mine’ regresses to early, early Gathering where female vocals combined with male. But not in some crappy, soppy ol’ love song duet Grease-style, rather in a creative trade off that sees the pair tripping over one another to make sense of the colliding words. The electronic beats combine with a sultry spaghetti-western melody beneath the atmosphere as the track peters off in a spectacular finale.