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.
Great Ocean Road
The Gathering Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The earth and the ocean
They contain the power
Of our lives
This beautiful city
That surrenders
To the nightfall
We walk upon
And the air
We all dare
To ride it somehow
Blue and black is the sky
While tumbling down
Trapped into the freedom
Of an aeroplane
Deprived of sleep
We jump into the deep
With no knowledge whatsoever
There is no place
On the face
Of this earth
Only silence
Is the sound
Of an angel
The first two lines of The Gathering's song "Great Ocean Road" speak of the power of nature, specifically the earth and the ocean. It speaks of how the forces of nature contain the essence of our lives, a powerful statement about the interconnectedness of all things. The following lines describe a city that surrenders to the nightfall and how the ground we walk upon is constantly being carved and molded. The air is another element that is mentioned, which people dare to ride somehow. These lines can be interpreted in different ways, such as people who love to play with the wind or those who dare to skydive, take hot air balloon rides, or fly planes.
The following section of "Great Ocean Road" talks about flying and the contrast between the blue and black sky with tumbling clouds. The lyrics describe being trapped in the freedom of an aeroplane, a paradox that is both beautiful and terrifying. Deprived of sleep, they jump into the deep with no knowledge whatsoever, which suggests the uncertainty and vulnerability of human existence. Finally, the last two lines speak of the silence being the only sound an angel makes, once again bringing a sense of peace and awe.
Line by Line Meaning
It is all there
The beauty and power of the earth and the ocean are ever present and all-encompassing.
The earth and the ocean
The natural forces of the world hold incredible power and significance.
They contain the power
The earth and ocean hold within them a force that gives life and meaning to all things.
Of our lives
Our existence is intrinsically connected to the natural world and its elements.
This beautiful city
The modern urban environment is a marvel of human engineering and design.
That surrenders
The city seems to yield to the forces of nature as night falls and darkness descends.
To the nightfall
The city appears to submit to the supremacy of night as it takes hold and envelopes the landscape.
Carving the grounds
The city is built upon the earth and leaves its mark on the land in a lasting, tangible way.
We walk upon
The ground is the foundation upon which our world is built and upon which we find our footing.
And the air
The atmosphere that surrounds us is an essential force of nature that plays a critical role in our lives.
We all dare
We must take chances and risks to fully embrace life and all it has to offer.
To ride it somehow
We must find ways to harness and use the forces of nature, even when they seem wild, unpredictable, and beyond our control.
Blue and black is the sky
The sky takes on an ominous tone as we travel through it, reminding us of the vastness and power of the natural world.
While tumbling down
As we fall through the sky, we are caught up in the power and momentum of gravity, feeling an intense sense of both exhilaration and fear.
Trapped into the freedom
Even when we are given the gift of freedom, we can still feel trapped and constrained by the forces of nature and the limits of our own bodies.
Of an aeroplane
Despite the wonder of human technology, we are always at the mercy of the natural forces that govern the world around us.
Deprived of sleep
When we are removed from our usual routines and surroundings, we can feel disoriented and off-balance, impacting our physical and emotional well-being.
We jump into the deep
We embrace new experiences and adventures even when we don't know what lies ahead, trusting in the power of the natural world to deliver us safely to our destination.
With no knowledge whatsoever
Even when we embark on new journeys, we can feel unprepared and uncertain of what lies ahead, relying on our intuition and instincts to guide us.
There is no place
Despite the vast diversity of the world around us, we can still feel disconnected and alone in our own experiences and struggles.
On the face
Despite the beauty and wonder of the earth and all its creatures, we can still feel lost and disconnected, especially when we are struggling with our own fears and doubts.
Of this earth
The natural world is a rich tapestry of life and energy, full of mysteries and wonders that defy our understanding and intuition.
Only silence
Sometimes the most profound truths and experiences can be found in the simple, haunting power of silence.
Is the sound
The natural world is a symphony of sound, full of music and rhythm that can evoke deep, primal emotions and feelings.
Of an angel
Amidst the grandeur and might of the natural world, we can find moments of beauty and divine grace that can take our breath away.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Anna Van Giersbergen, Franciscus Boeijen, Hendrikus G J Hans Rutten, Hugo Prinsen Geerlings, Rene C F J Rutten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind