The Gathering, Mandylion (Century Media-1995)
After two albums with two different vocalists the Gathering decided to head in another direction. Enter Anneke van Giersbergen who not only provided vocals on the album but was the writer of all the songs.
The band were part of the gothic metal movement from the early 90s. And as slowly bands like Paradise Lost and Type O Negative gained popularity. This band seemed to struggle till this album.
Mandylion is more of a hybrid metal album. Gothic in feel but classic in sound. First track "Strange Machines" starts with a big guitar sound more like the big metal bands of the early 80s. Production wise it is crystal clear and makes the album sound very big. Drums feel loose but controlled and melt in well with the bass and guitar. Then it is Anneke van Giersbergen time to show why she got the job.
A big difference is she sings with clean operatic styled vocals so after such a heavy start it is a real surprise to get such a nice vocal lead. A nice touch is the guitar riffings seems to follow the vocals. Really makes it sound more epic and also at times heavy. Add in some galloping riffs much like a slowed down thrash band the first track alone gets you.
The album flows with song after song just engulfing you in its gothic brilliance. Second track "Eléanor" is so simple with some basic drum fills and a nifty little keyboard melodic riffs. Keyboard player Frank Boeijen takes a big credit in the sound of this album. His keyboards trades with the guitars and drums and make the album just sound so amazing.
I did call this a hybrid for a reason as it does mix two styles and comes out better in the end. "Leaves" adds in some acoustic guitars and has a feel of a ballad but retains the albums flow.
Track six "Mandylion" is an instrumental and the first track to move away from the guitar sound. It has a more celtic/folk sound to it. With flute and keyboards taking main stage. It has a great relaxed feel to it almost like a tape you have to get asleep.
"Sand & Mercury" continues the previous track but adds in some cool guitar riffs. The track shows how well the band can play together whilst playing very little. Speed and loudness are replaced with trying to play as little as possible. Clocking in at just under ten minutes it may be a little too much for many serious gothic fans.
It is nice to hear an album that lets you sit back and just dream, you can fill in areas with your imagination. The gothic sound at times can be very limited but this album really broke away from it.
I wonder if all the female fronted metal bands could have existed at all if this was not out in 95? Lacuna Coil, Evanescence, Nightwish and many more all used this album as a template and have done very well out of it.
Some bands went on to much success like Paradise Lost and Type O Negative. But I don't see why this was not picked up. Signed to Century Media they had a chance to sell CDs. Paradise Lost went on to sign with EMI and Type had platinum albums in America. The gathering seem to go the other way, falling out with there record company and going elsewhere.
Again another great album passes by, this time I think the blame is on the music fan. It was not hard to find or even hear due to the record company they had. Fans of gothic metal could easily read this and suggest I am wrong as the band were successful to them. I feel this album covers so many bases in metal music, regarded as gothic by some. Some Goths say its metal. I say if you like to hear something new give it a go.
Kids this is that good you can trade in all your Lacuna Coil albums for this and still be happy.
Mandylion is easily available from Amazon.
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