The Gathering is one of the more interesting bands that I grew up with. Few bands have changed style as much as The Gathering and remained consistently good.
Home is the last Gathering album I sought out when I was actively following the band. It is also the last album with Anneke on vocals. That is not a coincidence.
Anneke's vocals are what brought me to this band, and when she left so did my interest in the band. This is nothing against Silje or any of the other members. Anneke was simply irreplaceable for me.
Home represents another step in the bands evolution as they move further away from their metal roots. Home is a conglomeration of electronic, ambient, pop, and rock - combined with Anneke's beautifully haunting vocals you have the recipe for something remarkable.
Anneke's voice is prominently featured in most songs. That said, the band creates music that compliments her voice perfectly, being just as emotionally charged as her voice. When the two come together for the emotional climaxes throughout the album it often results in goosebumps. \
Waking Hour shows the band at their best. It starts off weak and quiet with vocals being the singular focus. As the song progresses the band comes in and adds additional layers. The guitars and keys meld together to create a sombre atmosphere. The rhythm section fills out the bottom end of the song without ever taking away from the delicate atmosphere.
The song has several movements, each with a different tone. Despite all the changes and evolution the song goes through, it remains consistently good. Be it the rock influenced chorus, the piano lead outro, or the quiet vocal led verses. They all work - as does the rest of the album.
At this point in their careers The Gathering know how to make damn good music. No virtuosos, not one element dominating the music... just an excellent final product. Something I wish more bands would model themselves after.
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