My history with The Gathering is an odd one. I was 19 and exploring Europe by myself. It was an adventure that fundamentally changed me. The experiences and situations I was exposed to during this two month voyage altered and strengthened me for life. One such experience was hearing The Gathering being played in a bar while I was in The Netherlands. I was blown away that a metal band I considered “underground” was quite mainstream in their native country. Another such experience was attending Roskilde Festival in Roskilde Denmark in 1997. I witnessed many incredible performances during the week long festival. While one of the highlights was certainly “discovering” Saturnus, I was also moved by The Gathering. They performed in a large tent in front of tens of thousands of people. I remember smoke floating through the vast tent they were performing in. I remember being squished up against a seemingly endless hoard of people. I remember being intoxicated (as I was throughout the entire week). Overall I remember being moved by what I was seeing and hearing. Shortly after the festival, I picked up their latest CD at the time, “Nighttime Birds“.

Initially, I loved the album. I listened to it repeatedly on the remainder of my trip. Once I arrived back in the States, I found my interest in it somehow fading. I started noticing elements I really disliked. It wasn’t long before the album — and The Gathering altogether — disappeared from my radar.

In the years since those golden days, I have occasionally gone back to the album to discover there was something to my initial reaction. There were elements I undoubtedly enjoyed. However, it never sparked enough interest to thoroughly investigate subsequent releases. That is, until the release of 2003’s “Souvenirs“. I came across a song called “You Learn About It” and I was blown away. The Gathering had progressed so heavily since “Nighttime Birds” I could hardly recognize anything except Anneke Van Giersbergen’s lovely vocals. It’s almost as if The Gathering had magically progressed into my taste, six years later. I love nearly every track off this downer post-rock sound scape of an album. For me, it’s all there — beautiful washes of guitar creating a texture of melancholy, various effects of one sort or another which work to enhance this effect — and of course — Anneke’s vocals, sounding more moody than ever.

I picked a much less accessible track for todays contribution, as I also find it to be the darkest track on the record. It’s hidden near the end of the album and you might miss it if you’re not paying attention. But I was paying attention — and I didn’t miss it — and now here it is, waiting for you. This is a classy album. Re-check The Gathering if you haven’t done so in ages (like me).

Lastly, they released a wonderful live album entitled “Sleepy Buildings” in 2004. I usually hate live albums, but not this one. Ah, that is another ball of wax and for another today — today is for Jelena.

Jelena (Download)
The Gathering (Artist)
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