NIGHTTIME BIRDS

The Gathering

Experimental/Post Metal

3.96 | 170 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4.5 stars. This is one of my favourite records from THE GATHERING. It's all about powerful, heavy riffs and of course Anneke's voice.

The album starts off with a very "Mandylion"-like song called "On Most Surfaces". It gets hard and heavy right away when out of the fire and smoke comes this voice that's too beautiful to be of this world. It settles some 2 minutes in as piano comes in but it's still heavy. Great song ! "Confusion" is a slow powerful song that reverberates with guitar. There are three guitarists on this record by the way. Everytime Anneke stops singing the sound gets more powerful. "The May Song" is another favourite, it's brighter and Anneke's voice is the focus. Some organ 2 minutes in. "The Earth Is My Witness" is a top four track for me. It has this nice heavy sound with vocals. The vocals are incredible after 3 1/2 minutes.

"New Moon, Different Day" is spacey to start with as a beat comes in with vocals. Some nice bass here and I like the organ before 2 1/2 minutes. A fuller sound follows. Anneke is amazing. It calms back down as contrasts continues. "Third Chance" has a good solid sound as vocals come in. The vocals are more passionate 2 minutes in. Good song. "Kevin's Telescope" is a top three song, it's just wondrous including the lyrics. Anneke's vocals are moving. "Nighttime Birds" has the best chorus on this disc, Anneke sings "When they fly through the night as beautiful nighttime birds". I love the atmosphere here and we get some excellent guitar before 4 1/2 minutes. "Shrink" opens with piano as vocals join in. Meaningful lyrics as well.

Overall a very strong release, and if you like lots of guitar and an amazing vocalist, you can't go wrong with "Nighttime Birds".

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 | 2006-9-27

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