THE GENTLE STORM — The Diary (review)

THE GENTLE STORM — The Diary album cover Album · 2015 · Symphonic Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
666sharon666
Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen is back with his new project The Gentle Storm, this time with singer Anneke van Giersbergen (formerly of The Gathering) as his partner in crime. They've worked together before on Ayreon. Their first album together is the double disc release, The Diary. Lucassen is no stranger to the double album, most Ayreon albums are doubles. The Diary is a little different though as the two discs both contain the same songs, done in very different styles. Disc one is the Gentle version and disc two is the Storm version.

The Gentle version of The Diary is a progressive folk release, drawing on both Asian and Celtic influence. The Storm version on the other hand is best described as symphonic metal, but the same folk influences creep in giving it a folk metal edge while both progressive and power metal leanings can also be found. Regardless of version, The Diary is probably one of Lucassen's more accessible albums, as it's full of catchy songs, sung beautifully by Anneke. Both discs are impressive work but ultimately I personally find I prefer the Gentle version, despite being more of a metalhead. My favourites are Heart of Amsterdam, The Greatest Love and Shores of India.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
adg211288 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I'm putting together my own review for this at the moment. I love the folk version of the album too but I think I'm leaning more towards the metal version overall. It's pretty close though.

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Star Melodic Black Metal
WORMWOOD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sounds of The Forgotten Progressive Metal
WITHERFALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Preaching Our Doomsday Coming Doom Metal
DOOM MONGER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Transcend Metalcore
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Eden Tough Technical Death Metal
ASEITAS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

CRAZY GRIZZLY - PARALLAX Feat RIKO AGUS [Official Music Video]
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Bosh66· 14 hours ago
CRAZY GRIZZLY - ASPERSION Feat BEARFOURS [Official Music Video]
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Bosh66· 14 hours ago
CRAZY GRIZZLY - TERRA LUNA [Official Music Video]
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Bosh66· 14 hours ago
CRAZY GRIZZLY I DEATH STRANDNG I OFFICIAL LYRICS VIDEO
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Bosh66· 14 hours ago
CRAZY GRIZZLY - THE SADDLE OF HORSES (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
CRAZY GRIZZLY
Bosh66· 14 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed