Having not seen the band for over a year I was pleasantly surprised tonight, the previous show at Doornroosje was a bit timid and mediocre perhaps. Tonights` performance made up for that for sure.

The first couple of songs were almost all new ones, the ones most ready to try `live on stage` as they have over 15 new songs in stock already. Some were pretty impressive, others may need some more work or details to define an own identity as some songs did sound alike in some ways.

An occasional `oldie` passed by of course, but the main focus was on the last couple of years with the climax surprisingly during `Amity` where the sold out venue was singing along massively.
And it has to be said, the `If_Then _Else` album, which this song is from, is a great album, to my taste probably their best ever.

Out on a limb? No, I really feel that way, the album where a lot of The Gatherings` identities merge into one. Catchy but heavy, melodic but expirimental at times and great arrangements, a wonderful album and still very often in my cd player.
The only little flaw of the evening was the sound unfortunately, at times the guitar of Rene Rutten was drawn to the background which thinned the sound.

As I later heard it was the guy’s (Zlaya) first time (will be engineering the next The Gathering album).
A pity because the band was on fire, Hans Rutten ecstasiticly behind his drumkit, Frank Boeijen concentrated at his keyboards, Hugo Prinsen-Geerligs laying down the bassed carpet on which singer Anneke van Giersbergen once again excelled.

Her stage presence has improved, seemingly more self confident. She still doesn`t say much in between the songs but her interacting with the appreciative audience during the songs made up for that.
So in almost every way; the show tonight was wonderful, the band also looked very pleased when they had to return for a second time. Anneke joked that she almost took her bicycle to go home!

Now that they are home to take a break from the cycle album-tour-album-tour I am more than curious how this period will work out for them as a band and their (new) music.
The Gathering is a special band that deserves more, they are positively stubborn, have their own ideas about evolving the band and they should be given that chance, they are still young and have a lot more for in store for us, musicfans.

This is the actual setlist of the night (thanks Hans!);
`Golden Grounds` (new) - `Even The Spirits Are Afraid` (new) - `Analog Park` - `Zion` (new) - `Broken Glass` (new) - `In Motion II` - `Illuminating` - `Red Is A Slow Colour` - `Marooned` - `Leaves` - `Saturnine` - `Souvenirs` (new) - `Amity` - `Travel` - `Sugar Horse` (new) / `Herbal Movement` (All new songs are working titles)

Winston Arntz

Frank `The Puppy` Alders accompanied me and this is what he had to say about the show;

The Gathering played lots of new material this evening so it took me some time to enjoy the concert like I have in the past. It took them a couple of yet unreleased songs before they got to the oldies and it was after the first classic that things really started in Doornroosje at Nijmegen, hometown of The Gathering.

The new songs are in the vein of the ‘How To Measure A Planet` album. They’re experimental, slow paced most of the time, but always building up to one or several heavier sections in the songs. They all sounded good to me, but the last new track they played was my favorite. (`Sugar Horse`)

Tonight’s show made it very obvious that The Gathering is doing what they want to do, they want to make progress the way they like it. It’s no surprise that they leave the past behind them and didn’t play a classic such as ‘Strange Machines’ from the heavy ‘Mandylion’ album.
That was an album that still attracts metal fans. Those metal fans didn’t get what they wanted after that classic album since The Gathering started experimenting, leading to a softer sound. The upcoming album seems to follow that direction once again and I think this is the definite goodbye to (the heavy) metal.

But is that a bad thing? Maybe if you’re a metal fan, but if you like diverse and experimental rock, this is (and will be) a band to keep your eyes open for. I have to compliment them on doing what they want, they believe in their own music and it shows during their performance.

Secure as they are, they didn’t have any problems bringing the new material to the strong fanbase that was present tonight. The crowd seemed to love every minute of the show as they kept screaming for more after the encore.
This went on for many minutes until vocalist Anneke came back on stage. Jokingly she said she was already outside, getting her bike to go back home. But after such a demand from the audience they all had to come back to do another encore and this was of course greatly appreciated.

The guys (and girl) were bowing to the crowd to show their appreciation as the loud cheers from the crowd made sure they were appreciated just the same, if not more… Great show!

Frank Alders

(Review: Winston Arntz
Pics: Marcia Gransbergen)