Mandylion

The Gathering is, on all accounts, a highly influential band. So I have no regret in saying Mandylion, after 12 years, has stood the test of time and still floors me everytime I hear it, hence making it (at least in my book) a classic. Every CD they release is guaranteed to be drastically different from the previous and just as powerful. Even with their latest offering, 2006's Home, you look back at Mandylion or Nighttime Birds and just wonder how a band can stay so amazing and so prominent after so long.Mandylion is the first Gathering release featuring Anneke van Giersbergen. Her vocals were perfected in later releases but the raw, almost primal feel she gives off at times on here matches the heavy yet always experimental music the rest of the band has to offer.On a side note, I would buy anything with Anneke's name on it, she's just that good, but the band alone is worth the price of admission. Yes, when The Gathering is heavy they're great but it's on songs like In Motion #1, Leaves, and Mandylion that they really show what they can do. So for me to say that a band alone is worth buying a CD, I dunno, it just doesn't happen that often so I figure it means something.Song selection is spot on throughout. Strange Machines starts off with a bang that doesn't let up until the final notes are played. Eleanor follows in about the same vein as Strange Machines what with the heaviness, however the drums really catch your ear when you listen to them. In Motion #1 shows the group's more experimental side off well, seeing the entire band really play off of each other. Leaves is owned by Anneke even though the guitar riffs often sport an epic feel. Fear The Sea sees Anneke pull off some nifty vocals but it's the one song that doesn't really fit with the overall outcome. Make no mistake, it's a great song and serves The Gathering catalog justice but maybe it would've fit better on Nighttime Birds? Mandylion is the most experimental track included. From the very beginning you know it's gonna be an interesting listen and it fulfills that notion completely. Sand & Mercury starts off as a somber song but gains momentum to rival even the greatest tracks offered on the CD. And finally, rounding out the CD we are greeted with my personal favorite, In Motion #2. It basically takes the best aspects of the entire disc and combines them. You've got Anneke sounding perfect (you know, the norm), the band moves from light to heavy, and there's even some strings worked in the mix.As for the bonus disc, highly recommended. If there's one thing I've learned from hearing The Gathering over the years (and especially after hearing 2005's Accessories: Rarities & B-Sides) it's to expect the demos to have as much, if not more, passion than the original. Make no mistake, the originals usually shine brighter than the demos but hearing the rough versions makes you appreciate the final product that much more. Special mention goes to Solar Glider...amazing.My favorite songs are Strange Machines, In Motion #1 & 2, Leaves, and Sand & Mercury. For Anneke making such a strong vocal debut with the band on Mandylion it's hard to believe she only gets better with each passing CD. However, Mandylion is a fine start for any newcomer and without a doubt is sure to go down as a classic by any means.

When you first hear Anneke on the opening track "Strange Machines" it is such a beautiful sound that you can't imagine anything else on here could even compare, but as each song goes on and you get into the flow of the music, the continuation, and the changes that take place; you realize you are on a fantastic journey into a masterpiece of an album. You are not looking for a single with hooks and chorus that are played over and over on the radio day after day; you are looking for pieces of a puzzle that lead you to the complete picture of perfection and an underlying beauty that was there from the start.There are sounds on here I hear out of the blue during the day, as clear as day, and there is a haunting melody that has to be heard over and over till you are tired of such delightful sounds. This to me is really the final destination of the Gatherings ever evolving sound, it would hit it's pinnacle on Mandylion and Nighttime Birds which followed a couple years later.Very inspirational symphonic metal I guess it's referred to most often with female vocals featured throughout, done many years before it would become the norm, the formula has been tweaked and things have been added and taken away, but for me no one ever did it as good as the Gathering did it back in 1995-1997.

The Gathering's third album Mandylion is the first with singer Anneke Van Giersbergen. The album does not retain the growls from the first album, nor the more nasal male voice along with the ethereal female voice from  Almost A Dance . Instead we get consistent solid vocal work along with the already powerful instrumentation that was on the previous records. The music on this album works best as a whole, with the instruments taking a back seat allowing Anneke to be the focus. The guitars, bass, and drums are not overly difficult and they meld well with one another as well as Anneke. Mandylion was the first step in a long lasting relationship between the band and their new found siren.  Nighttime Birds (Deluxe Re-issue) continued this evolution of the band and built upon the foundation they created here. I highly recommend the album, The Gathering made powerful female fronted metal long ago that still holds up to this day.

First, I must say that I only started listening to goth metal in 2015, starting with Nightwish, moving on to Within Tempation, Delain, etc. I wanted to go back to the roots of Goth and based on the reviews, Mandylion seemed a good place to start. I was blown away!!!! There are several reasons that make Mandylion great, but topping the list is the haunting vocals of Anneke van Giersbergen . Her vocals work well with those long chords and send shivers up your spine. The mood on this album is definitely heavy and serious. There is definitely an "mature" rock sound, meaning that it harkens back beyond even early UK metal to classic arena rock and prog. Somehow you feel that they did their rock history homework, yet created a new sound which still holds up well 20 years later. What is really cool now, in retrospect, is how you can hear the influence on other later bands. Listen to Mandylion for two reasons. First, because it's a wonderful dive into dream/experimental/shoegaze that will swallow you and transport you while you do the dishes. Second, this is an influential album that people are calling classic for good reason.

I had much higher expectations for this album. While the album is decent, the songs all seem to blend together for me. To some extent, it sounds like the same song over and over again. It's OK.

Great album! This was some of the first of their music I had heard, and it was just a rabbit hole from there. Anneke is my favorite singer with the band.

I chose my rating because it is one of the greatest and most underrated albums of all time. It came out in 95 but still holds it own. The service was excellent and the product arrived early.

Good album

I have only just discovered The Gathering through hearing Anneke van Giersbergen on Addicted by Devin Townsend. I was amazed at how beautiful her voice was. So I just had to buy this. Her voice is amazing and even better the music is fantastic, great guitar sounds, extremely unique. I listen to alot of Nightwish and that sort of music, this is slightly more layed back, but still with great guitars, drums and singing. Not sure how I missed them first time round. I highly recomend this, plus you get a live cd as well. One of my best purchases ever.

This is one of my favourite albums by The Gathering! I already had a copy but I had to get the original!

Eine Rarität in top Zustand & Qualität . Bin sehr stolz darauf , diese Version ist nur selten zu bekommen !TOP VERKÄUFER "Dein Buster" , vielen Dank ! 1A !Die Soundqualität ist sehr gut , es sind 2 CD : 1x das ORIGINAL ALBUM und 1x die Demos ( welche selbstverständlich auch in entsprechender Demo Qualität sind . Das ist nur logisch und kein schlechter Sound ! )Große Klasse ! Meine Empfehlung !

Most fans of this amazing Dutch band will agree that Mandylion is their most brilliant and classic album. It is sort of a transition between their first 2 albums ("Always" and "Almost a Dance"), both of which were heavy, doom metal albums with growled male vocals, and their newer, accessible yet eccentric trip rock. It is definately quite a heavy album, with heavy, throbbing bass lines and several dramatic riffs ("Eleanor" and the beginning section of "Sand and Mercury" stand out), however the introduction of Anneke's fabulously powerful, intensely beautiful and now rather iconic vocals has changed their style somewhat.I would be inclined to agree with people who say that these days, the Gathering's music is somewhat defined by Anneke's stunning voice (a huge, huge pity, since she is now leaving the band), however Mandylion fully displays the musical talents of all the band members, with very very well written guitar and keyboard melodies in all the songs as well as a very unique style. The beautiful female vocals and melodic keyboards perfectly complement the heavy riffs and intense bass and drumming. Some songs such as "Eleanor" are really quite epic in scope and sound, and there is an impressive, eastern influenced instumental track ("Mandylion"). The album also features one of their most iconic and memorable songs "Strange Machines" which remains a staple of their live set.This "enhanced" edition also includes a bonus CD with demo versions of many of the songs from this album plus "Solar Glider"- an instrumental track and "Third Chance"- another song which is not included on the original album. These bonus tracks are worth hearing for fans of the band. It also features some interesting liner notes from the band, explaining the inspiration behind the songs and how they were written as well as a few anecdotes from the recording. It also comes in rather nice, shiny packaging. What more could you want?

This is a fabulous album of rock music with amazing vocals, if you like heavy rock, The Gathering is fronted by a female vocalist with a stunning voice, buy this album you won't be disappointed.