Metallic Nostalgia
We call "Metallic Nostalgia" those albums that are milestones in the history of Heavy Metal, discs that are must-haves, and you cannot stop listening to, and that will be remembered forever, becoming immortals for that reason.
Track listing:
1. Strange Machines
2. Eléanor
3. In Motion #1
4. Leaves
5. Fear the Sea
6. Mandylion
7. Sand and Mercury
8. In Motion #2
Mandylion – The Gathering (1995)
Mandylion, the third album of The Gathering, is a record that is a milestone in the history of the band for many reasons: it was the album that marked the beginning of their transformation, and it's also a transition from the Doom/Death from their roots to the excellent atmospheric rock that they are now, and the guttural or improvised voices disappeared.
The band had to rediscover itself, and in this quest for identity Mandylion is born, and it is definitely a great metal record, although their sound is unique and different from the music made by contemporary bands; the album is far from any stereotype and takes metal music to a new level.
The band experiments with new sounds and new ways of making music, highlighting a compositional complexity that is reflected, for example, in the handling of the keyboards -which gives depth and an atmospheric and progressive touch that is a characteristic of the record-; melancholy exists because there are still some remnants of the Doom sound, but it also has an incredible force given by the powerful distorted guitar riffs.
All wrapped up for the excellent and majestic voice of Anneke van Giersbergen that fits perfectly with this kind of music. It is not an operatic voice, but it reflects a lot of passion and projects us all the feeling that only she is capable of transmitting, and without a doubt, it defines what later would be the countless bands with female vocalists.
Mandylion is a masterpiece full of restless creativity. This album transcends any limitations of style and gave us 8 excellent and beautiful compositions on a disc that you can not stop listening to from beginning to end.