Year: 2022
Total Time: 48:14
Label: Psychonaut Records
I begin this review by setting two “red” lines. The first is the fact that Anneke van Giersbergen left THE GATHERING in 2007 (it’s already been 15 years) and Silje Wergeland is hopefully turning 13, so any reference to the modern history of the Dutch from Nijmegen with their former singer should be avoided. The second is that THE GATHERING’s last album that contained some nuggets of metal was 2000’s “If_Then_Else”. From then on the Rutten brothers followed a more progressive path, evolving into something atmospheric and emotional.
“Beautiful Distortion” follows the ten-year-old “Dislocure” and finds THE GATHERING attempting to reintroduce us and remind us why we’ve loved them throughout their musical career. I would say that “Beautiful Distortion” is more solid with a more simplified structure, but with more atmospheric and travelling mood, not traveling in the sense of a road trip, but as a journey of the senses. The melodies are everywhere and the attempt to dramatize them is evident. It is also evident that the Dutch were not in a hurry at all, they took their time, took the necessary break, being affected, like everyone else, from the pandemic. This is exactly what the title suggests. Through a distortion something beautiful can appear, such as new ideas, fresh music and the opening of new perspectives.
Therefore, here we will find essential songs that speak directly to the heart, without prog stunts, although the compositions are a little longer than before, but without being far-fetched. Guitar-stomping songs such as “Grounded” and “Black Is Magnified” coexist with the more electronic, post moments of “Pulse Of Life” and the clean-cut “If_Then_Else-ish” single “We Rise” with distinct origins from shoegaze and more specifically SLOWDIVE. At the end, Silje shows that her break with motherhood has made her voice more mellow and sensuous, serving at the fullest most of the compositions with “On Delay” being one of the highlights.
THE GATHERING in no way pioneered or experimented here. They have just followed the path that they know in all those years. It’s like suddenly meeting a good friend that you had lost for a long period, knowing of his existence but not being able to communicate with him all this time for many reasons and you end up drinking together in some bar and having a good time. At least that’s how I felt with the return of THE GATHERING and, given the time, this group of musicians did not disappoint me, having only two words in mind: Quality and stability.
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: THE GATHERING – Official Page
