Gathering

Always

Hard to believe this is the album that started it all

Review Score:

(10/10)
The Gathering's "Always..." is a unique work of dark, melodic Death Metal with a slight Doom Metal tinge to it at times. The music is quite original, and the best general description of this music I can give is that it resembles what a combination of Crematory's sound on "Just Dreaming..." mixed with the darker sections from Therion's "Symphony Masses/Ho Drakon Ho Megas" might sound like. This is not a heavy work of music by any means. The music is virtually always accompanied by keyboard and/or synthesizer, and these are used on occasion to produce some rather bizarre melodies. Most vocals are growled but are quite discernable. Female vocal accompaniment is used occasionally during the middle to latter tracks of this release however, and some somber, male clean vocals resembling those heard in Therion's "Symphony Masses/Ho Drakon Ho Megas" can be heard on a few occasions as well. A few tracks incorporate some clean/acoustic guitar. Track five, "Second Sunrise", ends with a nice interlude combining piano and flute. The following track, "Stonegarden", ends with the sound of crashing waves which continues directly into track seven, "Always...". This title track is a short but tranquil piece in which flute, keyboard strings, and female vocals overlap the sound of the ocean.

I personally find that there are aspects of The Gathering's "Always..." that I like and dislike. This release may appeal to Metal listeners who can appreciate heavy use of keyboard and female vocals in a unique Death/Doom Metal setting.

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