THE GATHERING: Home (ATMOSPHERIC ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After a live DVD released at the beginning of the year, The Gathering, now an essential figure on the atmospheric scene, is back with their new work "Home". It's not really a surprise, The Gathering continue here on their momentum by offering an album in the line of their previous opus "Souvenirs".

Home is not a questioning album. On the contrary, it confirms the tendency started since "souvenirs" which had seen the disappearance of slow and heavy riffs in favour of more acoustic and refined compositions.

If any metal aspect has voluntarily disappeared, it becomes more and more difficult to define the musical genre in which the band evolves. The rock coexists with electro with Trip-Hop incursions in muffled, often melancholic and sometimes dark ambiences.

The band's identity is still as present as ever. The piano or guitar sounds, the soft power rises or the arrangements are found quite naturally without giving an impression of already heard tracks.

But it is necessary to say that The Gathering would not have become what it is without the vocal of its frontwoman, Anneke. Once again, the singer of this band is doing wonders. Her precise and poignant interpretation illuminates every track on the album. There's no doubt that the writing work was done to showcase Anneke's vocal talent, so much so that one wonders whether the words of some of the choruses are not chosen expressly to make the listener crack.

"Home" therefore proves to be a worthy successor to "Memories". Fans will obviously be delighted, even if one can sometimes be annoyed by rhythms that are a bit too binary. As for those who don't know "The Gathering" yet, it's time to fill this gap and to take an interest in the discography of this band which is full of good musical moments.
- Official website

THE GATHERING

HOME

THE END

ATMOSPHERIC ROCK