What makes The Diary by The Gentle Storm notable?

The album received critical acclaim for its innovative dual-version concept, featuring both 'Gentle' and 'Storm' interpretations of each track. It reached number 1 on the Dutch Albums Chart, highlighting its commercial success and resonating impact within the symphonic metal genre. The Diary marks The Gentle Storm's debut album, released in 2015 as a collaborative project between Anneke van Giersbergen and Arjen Anthony Lucassen. This album came after van Giersbergen's successful solo career and Lucassen's established reputation in the progressive metal scene, showcasing their combined artistry and vision.

How many songs are on The Diary?

The Diary has 44 tracks, running approximately 227 minutes.

The Diary

The Gentle Storm · 2015

227 min · 44 tracks · progressive metal

A dual sonic landscape where orchestral beauty collides with heavy progressive metal, creating a vivid emotional journey.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Endless Sea (Gentle version) — This track introduces the album's thematic depth, contrasting serene melodies with poignant lyrical imagery about longing and introspection.
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The Storm (Storm version) — As a title track, it encapsulates the album's heavier side, merging intricate guitar work with intense orchestration, demonstrating the band's dynamic range.
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Heart of Amsterdam (Gentle version) — This song highlights lush arrangements and emotive vocals, serving as a standout example of how the Gentle versions enhance lyrical storytelling.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album's dual-version concept showcases strong composition and craft but may feel uneven in cohesion due to its length.

What we noticed

The album features a dual-version concept, with each track presented in both 'Gentle' and 'Storm' interpretations, creating distinct sonic landscapes.
The orchestral elements are prominent in the 'Gentle' versions, while the 'Storm' versions emphasize heavy guitar riffs and aggressive drumming.
Each track is structured similarly across both versions, allowing for direct comparison of the arrangements and emotional delivery.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

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.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

New Horizons (Gentle version)

The moment shifts from a reflective tone to an uplifting declaration of hope and future possibilities.

This transition effectively signifies personal growth, breaking from previous themes of despair to embrace optimism.