Most people's opinions here mirror mine, but I just wanted to address some points I read.
Coyote wrote:
they play one thing instead of another one... what they do now is not better than previous style... (necessary condition for an "evolution")... just it's different and worse for me
I think the key phrase here is "for me". You're expressing your personal opinion, yet state it as fact. Well, just because
you don't like something, doesn't make it necessarily bad. Different, yes.
Coyote wrote:
the problem is there's not some other band which sounds like TG in mandylion or NtB... even TG changed their style (at the cost of their first unconditional fans who made them known) and they went for easy way, popular rythms in order to catch more fans.
Really? That's curious, because one, you make assumption on behalf of the band without actually knowing what they were thinking, and two, while I haven't checked sales numbers and all that, anyone who I've gotten to listen to The Gathering actually finds the earlier stuff easier to listen to, even non-metal fans. I think that's saying something, don't you? Oh, most of these people really appreciate the latest releases by Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil and Nightwish, too.
Coyote wrote:
and I said it before... maybe TG guys changed the style because of an unconscious fear of not being able to overcome Mandylion or even Ntb. then change style and nobody compares them because they're two different kind of music and blah blah blah.... or they didn't like metal anymore simply and they preferred to be a pop band as now... who knows... whatever...
I'm sorry, but this is an absurd argument. "Because we're afraid we'll never surpass our masterpieces, let's branch off into a totally different and unknown direction, which will require infinitely more work, inspiration and imagination." Hmmm, not too likely IMO. Wouldn't it be more logical to continue in the vein that they started, the safe and known route? (Thank God they didn't!)
And regarding what was said about the "unconditional fans" from the beginning. I wasn't there at the
very beginning, I started to listen with Mandylion and NB. But I don't consider myself an "unconditional fan". As long as a band puts out material that 1) I like, 2) are worthy of the band's quality and ability, and 3) doesn't insult my intelligence, I'll keep coming back. It's that simple. And TG have done a very good job bringing me back over the years.
I really don't understand one thing: If people like hangyord and Coyote appreciate the old material and don't like the new material at all, why do they keep coming back to this band? I think it's obvious by now that The Gathering will never again play like they did in the 90s. Quality of the work aside, why do they keep coming back, and offering opinions that have no constructive criticism in them but "I don't like it 'cos it's not metal anymore, and the band sold out". I mean, seriously, people. Wouldn't the time spent bitching about it be better applied to listening some of the music you
still like? This isn't an attempt to make fun, it's a serious question, by the way.