A Noise Severe
The Gathering · 2007
123 min · 19 tracks · alternative rock
A melancholic blend of gothic metal and atmospheric rock, underscored by haunting melodies and intricate instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Shortest Day Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Liberty Bell — This track encapsulates the album's atmospheric essence with its haunting vocals and evocative lyrics that explore themes of freedom and confinement.
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Probably Built in the Fifties — A standout for its reflective lyrics and dynamic structure, this song contrasts nostalgia with a sense of longing, showcasing the band's lyrical depth.
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Monsters — With its powerful instrumentation and emotionally charged vocal delivery, this track exemplifies the band's ability to blend heaviness with vulnerability.
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Alone — This song highlights the album's thematic exploration of solitude, featuring a poignant melody that complements its introspective lyrics beautifully.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features intricate arrangements and emotional vocal performances, creating a cohesive yet varied listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, atmospheric track that gradually builds in intensity, setting a melancholic tone for the entire record.
- Several tracks feature layered instrumentation, with guitars and keyboards intertwining to create rich soundscapes.
- The last three tracks include a significant drop in tempo, allowing for a reflective conclusion that contrasts with the earlier energy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- wave-like pacing and flow
- haunting atmospheric soundscapes
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Showcases refined sound and innovative songwriting, marking an artistic evolution.
- Themes
- freedom and confinement· nostalgic longing· solitude in shadows
- Career context
- Released in 2007, A Noise Severe is The Gathering's seventh studio album and marks a period of artistic evolution for the band. Following their 2006 release, Home, this album showcases a refined sound that blends their established gothic metal roots with more progressive rock elements as they continue to explore new musical territories.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Anathema· My Dying Bride· Paradise Lost
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Shortest Day Start here 4:40
- 2 In Between 4:34
- 3 Liberty Bell 5:29
- 4 Probably Built in the Fifties 6:45
- 5 Even the Spirits Are Afraid 6:04
- 6 Saturnine 4:24
- 7 Monsters 5:32
- 8 Alone 4:47
- 9 A Noise Severe 7:34
- 10 Leaves 5:41
- 11 Eléanor 6:42
- 12 In Motion, Part I 6:06
Disc 2
- 1 Waking Hour 6:01
- 2 On Most Surfaces 6:33
- 3 Strange Machines 6:34
- 4 Adrenaline 4:34
- 5 Third Chance 4:58
- 6 Black Light District 16:17
- 7 Travel 9:43
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Damnation
Opeth
Shares a melancholic atmosphere with intricate instrumentation and themes of solitude.
Judgement
Anathema
Features haunting melodies and explores themes of longing and introspection in a progressive rock context.
The Great Cold Distance
Katatonia
Combines gothic metal elements with an atmospheric sound, reflecting on emotional isolation and melancholy.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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