MANDYLION

Superb album by this dutch band. First with Anneke van Giersbergen, and a big improvement over the previous 2. More symphonuc with stunning key passages. One of my fav albums from the '90. Whwn the album apear in 1995, Mandylion was quite a unique effort in its combination of heavy rock / metal and a female singer just singing, rather than screaming or growling, made this album very strong and even today is mention in many magazins ore among musicians and listners as one of the most important album in prog music and in the '90. Without doubt the best The Gathering album. All tracks are super but, the strange and very intristing piece named Mandylion is superb, with tambourines and flutes and keys made this track to sound beyond ear candy, and another one that must be mention is Sand and mercury the longest and with title track the best from here. So if you don't have this gem go and get it, 5 stars without hesitation. A masterpiece of prog metal, and music in general.