1. alternative… Read Full Bio ↴There are several bands called The Gathering is an:
1. alternative rock / progressive rock formed in Oss, the Netherlands, in 1989. Similar to: Anathema (mid/late albums), Pink Floyd, The 3rd and the Mortal (late), Radiohead, Portishead, Piano Magic, Talk Talk (late), Motorpsycho. However, in their first albums they were more similar to Anathema (early), Paradise Lost, The 3rd and the Mortal (early), Type O Negative, Dead Can Dance, Theatre Of Tragedy (early), My Dying Bride, Tiamat.
Initially, at the start of their career, they were a gothic metal / doom metal band. Their most successfull album in this period is their 1995 release "Mandylion". However, they shifted towards their current form, incorporating many influences from atmospheric rock, trip hop, space rock, dream pop, post rock, pop rock, alternative rock, with their 1998 release "How to Measure a Planet?" . Their historical singer was Anneke Van Giersbergen , who joined in 1995 for the album "Mandylion" but left the band in 2007 after the album "Home". She was later replaced by Silje Wergeland , who debuted in the album "The West Pole".
The band announced a hiatus in 2014, which was later interrupted in 2022 with the release of "Beautiful Distortion". The current line-up consists of Silje Wergeland (lead vocals), René Rutten (guitars and flute), Frank Boeijen (keyboards), and Hans Rutten (drums). The band had some line-up changes during the years, the most notable being Silje Wergeland replacing in 2009 the former singer Anneke van Giersbergen (who was a member from 1994 to 2007).
Initially they were in the vein of bands like Paradise Lost, Anathema or The Third and the Mortal.
Their first two albums, Always... (1992) in the death metal/doom metal style of the era and Almost a Dance (1993) that, though always regarded as a failure, played a part in the formation of gothic metal, were recorded with four different vocalists. Their subsequent release, Mandylion (1995), on which Anneke van Giersbergen sang for the first time, was a dark, haunting, and emotional piece of music. It was also one of the first albums of its kind in respect to female fronted metal bands, and it is still considered a standard by many female fronted metal bands.
Nighttime Birds (1997) continued in the same vein.
How to Measure a Planet? (1998) signed a departure from their previous style, while adopting an atmospheric sound with roots in space rock, shoegaze, trip hop, progressive and alternative rock. Their following studio albums if_then_else (2000) and Souvenirs (2003) showed progress and maturation of the band.
There is also an electro-acoustic live album Sleepy Buildings: A Semi Acoustic Evening, which was released in 2004, and was followed by a similar semi-acoustic tour.
Their 8th studio album, Home, was released in April 2006. The Gathering has promoted this album with a tour and festivals for the rest of 2006-2007.
Last March 24th, in Santiago, Chile, the band recorded a live DVD entitled "A Noise Severe" more rock oriented, to complete the previously released DVD "A Sound Relief", which featured a more acoustic set. It was released with little delay at the end of November 2007, together with live 2CD from same place.
On June 5, 2007 it was announced that Anneke is going to leave The Gathering in August 2007 to focus on her new project, Agua de Annique and her family.
After van Giersbergen leaving, the band started working on new songs and finding new singers. With finding Silje Wergeland from Norway the band again completed the line up. Silje has been the singer of the Norwegian band Octavia Sperati for 8 years including several other projects. 9th album The West Pole also includes two very talented guest singers: the Dutch Anne van den Hoogen and Mexican Marcela Bovio (from Stream of Passion). The West Pole is a very vital, atmospheric and extravert rock orientated album, with all the quality and power the band is so famous for, also with many new elements. The sound is guitar driven, alive and urgent; a strong and beautifully coloured album with haunting female vocals. It’s produced by guitar player René Rutten and mixed & mastered by Zlaya Hadzich, who also did the production of Souvenirs.
10th full length Disclosure was released in September 2012.
They released Afterwords in 2013. ]Marjolein Kooijman (bass) left only a few months later.
http://www.gathering.nl
2. Gothic Rock band from Pretoria, South Africa, active in the second half of the 1980s. The Gathering released the 7inch single "Night and Day/Falling Crimson" and a handful of compilation tracks, e.g. "Perfect Souls" and "Wooden Walls" in 1988. The Gathering’s only full-length album, titled 'In the End", is a labour of love that’s taken the better part of 23 years to realise.
Colorado Incident
The Gathering Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whenever we float down from
The big plateau
We are here,
To let you know,
Our rear view mirror
Is full of meaning
Our endless trip is now in session
The twelve wheel drive
Is overfloating with great experience
You've heard,
Our rear view mirror
Is full of meaning
Heating up,
Coming down with the biggest flue
Our moves have set the evening
And we feel right, winding down
Hanging on to silence
While equipment is digesting
In the underbelly of our ride
We believe,
And let you know,
Our rear view mirror
Is full of meaning
Colorado Incident by The Gathering is a song that speaks to the transcendental experience of travelling in the United States of America. The lyrics make reference to the significant plateau of the Colorado Plateau, located in the south-western United States, as a place where one can experience a kind of magical feeling in the air. However, as the travelers descend from this high point, the feeling seems to dissipate, leaving them to reflect upon the meaning of their journey as they drive forward.
The rear view mirror, the song suggests, is an emblem of this reflective mood, as it contains a wealth of memories from the journey so far. The travelers are left to contemplate the rich experiences they have had along the way, represented by the twelve wheel drive that is mentioned in the lyrics. The song speaks to the deep sense of fulfillment that can come from a long journey, even as the trip continues to unfold.
Overall, Colorado Incident is a song about the joy of travel and the way that it can enrich our lives. The lyrics encourage us to take time to reflect on the path that we have taken, even as we continue to move forward, and to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
The magical air evaporates
The atmosphere that we find in Colorado disappears as we leave it behind.
Whenever we float down from
Every time we leave Colorado and go back to our daily lives,
The big plateau
Which is a reference to Colorado's high elevation and flat terrain.
We are here,
The Gathering is letting their audience know that they are present and ready to perform.
To let you know,
They want to inform their listeners about their experiences traveling through Colorado.
Our rear view mirror
They are reflecting on their journey and experiences.
Is full of meaning
They have gained important insights and knowledge from their trip to Colorado.
Our endless trip is now in session
Their journey continues onward and the experiences do not end.
The twelve wheel drive
This is a reference to the mode of transportation they used on their trip, which had twelve wheels.
Is overfloating with great experience
Their vehicle is overfilled with the incredible experiences they had on their trip.
You've heard,
They remind their listeners that they have previously mentioned their rear view mirror being full of meaning.
Heating up,
Their passion and excitement is increasing.
Coming down with the biggest flue
They are feeling the effects of their intense emotions, like a physical sickness.
Our moves have set the evening
They have set the tone for the performance and the rest of the evening.
And we feel right, winding down
They feel confident and at ease as the evening comes to a close.
Hanging on to silence
They are enjoying a moment of peace and quiet.
While equipment is digesting
The band's gear and equipment is being packed up and prepared for the next performance.
In the underbelly of our ride
Their equipment is stored in the lower compartment of their vehicle.
We believe,
The Gathering is confident in their experiences and the meaning they found in Colorado.
And let you know,
They want to share their insights with their audience.
Our rear view mirror
They are still reflecting on what they saw and learned on their trip.
Is full of meaning
Their experience in Colorado had a significant impact on them, and they found great meaning in it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW F. WILKES-KRIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind