Search - Gathering :: Souvenirs

A journey to be savored every step of the way

Staring Girl | Thornton, CO | 01/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm just at a loss for words. Wow...

I found this group from a recommendation on my Amazon friends list. I've never heard any of The Gatherings previous works other than a few songs that are featured on their page on MySpace (which are great songs). I went to a music store near me and was surprised to find that they were listed in the heavy metal section. The songs on MySpace and the clips of Souvenirs on Amazon gave me the impression this group was anything but a heavy metal band, but I was wrong. The music store didn't have Souvenirs, which is the album I was really interested in listening to. Instead, they had Manylion and Nighttime Birds. I liked what I heard from those albums, but they were indeed a lot more `heavy metal' than what I'd heard of Souvenirs so I opted in not buying them. I really wanted my first album by them to be Souvenirs because the sound was a little more in my general taste than their more metal stuff...then once I got a good feel for the Souvenirs album I would start exploring their other stuff.



So I just got Souvenirs and I must say I am blown away. The first song on the album, These Good People, packs a wallop and just immerses and captivates you. The song builds up with this sexy base beat, combined with eerie piano in the background, then the song sort of explodes with the guitars and backup vocals. Anneke Van Giersbergen, the main vocalist, is just truly amazing. There are good singers in this world that are very pleasurable to listen to due to their talent, but they lack that raw emotion that digs its way into your heart. Anneke is an extremely talented singer with amazing range, and then on top of that you hear her emotion in her voice. She sings from her heart and that makes all the difference.



Some of the tracks are a bit grim, starting with These Good People, but some of the songs are lighthearted with a ting of optimism, like You Learn About It. The whole album just takes you on an incredible journey that is to be savored every step of the way. I highly recommend this album and am extremely excited to explore their other works.

"

The gothic triangle

Epitaph | 06/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"its weird how people get to be so different when it comes to music,and how blind we are to things we dont understand.i rode reviews about this album.some said dont compare it to immature evanescence,and some said dont compare it to talented lacuna coil;but the case is;these three bands are not making the exact subtype style of music ; but it is sure that you can gather them all under one genre ; atmospheric ,dark music.And all of these three bands;no matter how different they are from each other;they all define the limits of the female gothic music. Evanescence;yea not an old and experianced band like the other two;is taking the easy listen part.Lacuna coil takes the "rock" side of the job ; and now ; gathering;

well i can say it is all about atmosphere.



Gathering doesnt have that heavy metal sounds anymore.that's fine cos this album is probably their biggest masterpiece,as you start listening you find yourself lost between all those long,brooding,dark tracks,sometimes soathing but mostly deeply disturbing,(in a good way:))melodies.Many times you'll feel yourself like you have lost your way in some neo-gothic city with sorrow and misery all around.

As the first words of "these good people" starts,you'll find yourself totally isolated from real world.everything will be the same but as you walk through streets with your discman on your ear;everything will look so different,more meaningfull,and dark..

the album has one track that is slightly different then others; "you learn about it" a great track reminding me other gathering songs;amity and saturnine.



The only bad thing i can say about this album is that some tracks have so long insturmental parts as their closure and it sometimes kinda bores you down.



in the end this is a masterpiece;and it should stand in a slelf proudly among evanescence/origin and lacuna coil/comailes.And, you should bless that slelf cos it will be holding the best pieces of female gothic music.































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