Who knows Arjen will immediately know his handwriting in the new double album. Nevertheless, THE GENTLE STORM is not only by Anneke's voice something unique, Arjen is the matter here differ slightly from usual. Although he has already launched with Guilt Machine or STREAM OF PASSION projects with only one singer or singer to life, but here seems more heart to put in it. Striking is at once that the two CDs contain the same tracks, namely once as Gentle and once as Storm version. This means nothing else than that commented on the one hand the songs with quieter arrangements and completely without electric guitar, while walking on the other violent to work. Not go as far as the versions as well as apart as one might now suspect and instead the Storm version unloving to be backed by the reef, both albums by various instrumentalization quite right to exist and you realize that one has been thinking something, but that was expected anyway.
Musically goes Arjen melodic and folk than ever to works, which may be due to the concept that the story second lover in Dutch 17th century plays tells. A Dutch sailors traveling for two years on the lake and separates from his beloved wife. So enough material for all sorts of emotions that bring Arjen and Anneke wonderfully over. Authentic and would have been understandable, however, if you had taken a male voice for the part of the seafarer. Of course again a thick chorus, a French horn and a whopping 40 exotic stringed instruments, he collected together and The Diary gives a very exotic touch. Whether oriental, maritime or simply classic, Lucassen always manages to deliver the right mood. Although The Diary is full of emotion, feeling and passion, so I lack, despite the great variety and some ideas that could fit on a Ayreon album, the final icing on the cake that it is now one of countless masterpieces written by Arjen Lucassen makes. But you come very quickly in the relatively simple knitted melodic rock / metal songs, despite deliberate arrangements rather quickly in and the concept can be traced very easily and track.
Nevertheless is THE GENTLE STORM a sublime beyond all doubt piece melodic metal with some spice Prog and just about everything you'd expect from the Dutch mastermind Arjen Lucassen and multi-instrumentalist.
The two versions one more tip: Shuffle the songs of Gentle and Storm version alternately to achieve the perfect roller coaster ride of emotions.
