SLEEPY BUILDINGS - A SEMI ACOUSTIC EVENING

I think I've been in love with The Gathering for the last three years, and now I can say it is one of those bands I regret I never see in concert, pity me. But well, every time I listen to them I am fed with emotions, memories and stories, something not so many bands produces on me. We all know that Anneke's years made this band bigger and unforgettable, she is without a doubt THE Gathering's voice (though I LOVE Silje), and every single record they released with her voice is a delight.

This live album is different, because it has a lot of acoustic passages and most of the songs (if not all) had new arrangements, I mean, they were re-worked songs for this special semi-acoustic evening. So the band surprised the audience and the album's listeners because it features great iconic and not that iconic songs from their repertoire with a softer sound that was magnificently complemented by Anneke's beautiful, powerful and emotional voice.

Of course when someone aims to listen to The Gathering, it is expected to find those metal roots and those experimental moments they created with their 90s albums, which is why listening to this live album might be a double- edged knife, because you either might feel that lack of power, or you might find the magic that surrounded this show. I love the band and I stay with the magic, but I cannot deny this is not my favorite live release.

The night and the concert were beautiful, the music makes you travel with those wonderful guitars and keyboards, but without a doubt the main magic lies on Van Giersbergen's vocals and charisma. The band seemed to be connected so everything flows naturally, so this is without a doubt a great concert, a nice experiment that a fan like me appreciates, but honestly I would not use this as an introductory album, I would not recommend it unless I know the person already knows and likes The Gathering.

My favorite moments are: "Amity", "Red is a Slow Color", "Eleanor" and of course, the mighty "Travel", a song that never fails. My final grade will be 3 stars.

Enjoy it!