THE GENTLE STORM - The Diary

May 27, 2015, 8 years ago

(InsideOut)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 7.0

review heavy metal the gentle storm

THE GENTLE STORM - The Diary

Give reclusive mastermind/guitarist Arjen Lucassen (Aryreon/ex-Bodine) credit, he's released a massive format, with The Gentle Storm (his collaboration with ex-The Gathering vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen) offering four CDs, one “gentle” (acoustic/folk, accent on), one “storm” (rock) and then an instrumental version of each. While the descriptor "gentle" is accurate, if not an over estimation, the word "storm" is also a misnomer, in metallic circles, still sounding quite docile. Unless a completist/fanatic, the regular disc should suffice. The non-electric material offers a wide range of instrumentation, including flute/fife, bodhran, conventional percussion, violin/cello and assorted orchestral strings... “Heart Of Amsterdam”, with its brushes on drums, has a melancholy jazz lounge quality, while it's amplified counterpart is more upbeat, almost a lilting jig.

“Shores Of India” sports appropriate Eastern melodies, regardless of version. The Storm renditions not only employ electricity, but prerecorded sound effects, the odd guitar solo (courtesy of the mainman himself), backing choirs (as opposed to Van Giersbergen's solo cooing) and other embellishments. Naturally, more refined moments with her former outfit, as well as less bombastic Nightwish, are the reference point. Riding symphonic strings, guitar and an audible drum kit, "The Storm" is about as hard/heavy as it gets, even with its midpoint diversion. Flute introduces "New Horizons", then is quickly sheathed. Beautifully constructed, but given their individual past works, don't come looking for rock (let alone metal).



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