Perhaps the best record of The Gathering!

"Mandylion" is the 3rd album by the band The Gathering from the Netherlands and also the first with the singer Anneke van Giersbergen. This should, as it turned out, representing an absolute stroke of luck for the band. Your beautiful voice perfectly matches the both dark, but also very warm music. Gone are the days when The Gathering with death metal growls (Always) and pathetic bad singing (almost a dance) are experimented.
Musically has in fact changed little. The style is like its predecessor "Almost a Dance" still strongly oriented towards gothic metal, although the music but already contains some cheerful, rock and romantic elements. It has almost always in a good mood while listening and listening to the band on even the fun of making music together. Often this album and the band itself is seen as an initiator for the Pop Metal, the day bands like Nightwish, Evanescence or Within Temptation playing, and can also agree confidently.
But now times to the songs:
The opening track "Strange Machines" was also the first single and also quite rightly. The song is very fast, lively and inspired by the voice of Anneke. To the song you can determine good dancing in a Metal Disco / bang in the 90s. A great song and not for nothing a classic.
As such a may also be referred to "Eleanor". The song is also after many years still often in the setlist. He is also a rather more cheerful song, but which is designed more interesting than the Opener.So there are some very nice change of pace. This song can inspire me very much.
The same applies also to the sad and then slower "In Motion # 1". Also in the song fascinated again the voice of Anneke and has a very strong especially in the chorus. The guitars harmonize very well with her voice.
And the great song do not stop, because the 2nd single "Leaves" is just great. Although the voice is sometimes a little crooked in the song that gives the song not detract from, but looks more human and sympathetic. This song is rather sad and acts primarily on the guitar at the start but harder than the other songs on the album. At first I think even very slightly (melodic) Death Metal riffs, but the song but rather develops at a very good Gothic Metal song.
The first slight drop comes but then with "Fear the Sea" .The song can indeed points towards the end with distorted guitars and synth sounds, never comes for me but really to the point.
Equal applies to the instrumental title track. Here bugs me the electronic intro even very, even if the song then still is quite neat atmosphere. Nevertheless, no comparison to the beginning of the album.
Also "Sand and Mercury" can not keep up with the beginning, but an increase to the songs before. The song is very atmospheric, but is unfortunately too long. At times I feel reminds me of Within Temptation, Anneke singing sounds here in places like Sharon den Adel (neither positive nor negative values ​​to).
But it still is not worth it to switch off after Song 4, because at least my personal highlight follows the last song with "In Motion # 2". This is a sad gothic metal song, but rather cheerful comes across mainly by brisk guitars. Especially the voice of Anneke is here simply again ingeniously. I love this song, because everything is just right!

Conclusion: "Mandylion" was the expected breakthrough of the Dutch. With strong songs and a voice of an angel that was also to be expected. The album is still a landmark in the Gothic Metal.Leichte smears there only because the voice of Anneke halt extremely dominating and the musicians around them do not yet have the playful class to support them always perfect. Nevertheless, this album is very well done.

9/10 points