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THE GATHERING
Disclosure

Psychonaut (2012)
Rating: 7/10

The Netherlands’ The Gathering don’t really hang around with metalheads anymore. While the band was once the best female-fronted doom group on the planet, it’s been a few years since they’ve offered a true metal release.

Bands change over time, and in the case of the Gathering, only two original members – brothers René and Hans Rutten – remain in the fold. Iconic vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen left in 2007, leaving a void many wondered if it would be possible to fill. With time comes maturity, and with that maturity The Gathering offer their tenth album, Disclosure.

If you’ve followed The Gathering in recent years, The Cure meets early U2 sound presented on Disclosure will come as no surprise. ‘Paper Waves’ opens this collection with echo drenched guitars that would bring a smile to Robert Smith’s (The Cure vocalist) pasty, white face. Frontwoman Silje Wergeland, formerly of Octavia Sperati, employs her stunning voice to create textures over atmospheric instrumentation. The odd mix of rock, jazz and ambient sounds on this track combine into a unique piece of music.

A similar tactic is used on ‘Meltdown’ with a dark dance groove and alternating male / female vocals. The result is a style that is almost impossible to assign to any particular genre, yet has become the standard fare for The Gathering.

The star of Disclosure is Weregeland, who is in fine form. Her voice carries ‘Paralyzed’. The band is simply a foundation for Weregeland to create harmonies over. The piano-driven ‘Missing Seasons’ is similarly a spotlight for the breathtaking vocal melodies. This track mixes jazz piano with a Pink Floyd experimental vibe.

‘Gemini II’ has sections that offer little sound at all beyond the stunning vocals of Weregeland, making this collection of songs sound a bit more like a solo album than a band venture. ‘Gemini I’ highlights more of the entire band, and sounds like something that would have fit well on The Cure’s The Top (1984). Bass and guitars are prominent on this song, giving it the most rock feel of any on Disclosure. Even so, Silje’s stunning voice shines like the sun.

It’s apparent The Gathering aren’t the band they were when they released Mandylion (1995), but neither have they stopped creating interesting music. With most of the heaviness of the band’s early years stripped away, what remains is angelic and deviant – very relaxing, yet full of unexpected twists. Silje Wergeland continues to prove that her voice is the right fit for The Gathering, and her creative melodies and harmonies make the album soar.

If you’re looking for another Nighttime Birds (1997) you won’t find it here, but taken for what it is Disclosure is a worthy release in The Gathering’s catalogue.

Jim McDonald

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