In 2000, most competition entries were visual demos. However, ifthenelse released a pure audio entry (often referred to as a "music disk" or "soundtrack") that accompanied their unreleased 64k intro. The piece, often mislabeled in peer-to-peer networks as "Ifthenelse - The Gathering 2000 - eacflac," was a progressive trance/ambient suite composed by the musician known as (Torbjørn Andresen) or Gargaj (depending on the track listing).
By the year 2000, The Gathering had fully transcended their death-doom roots. if_then_else was recorded at Koeienverhuur Studio and Signalhell Recording Studio, with the band taking a more "band-oriented" approach compared to the sprawling, spacey textures of its predecessor. The title itself—a common logical construct in computer programming—reflected a modern, perhaps more analytical take on human emotions and the choices that define them. Track-by-Track Atmosphere the gathering ifthenelse 2000 eacflac
Released in July 2000, by the Dutch band The Gathering represents a pivotal, restless moment in their discography. It is an album defined by "trip-rock" textures, moving away from their metal roots into a cinematic, atmospheric soundscape that mirrors the frantic pace of modern life. The Sound of Urban Anxiety In 2000, most competition entries were visual demos
: Perhaps the album's most enduring "deep piece," this track showcases Anneke van Giersbergen's vocal range, capturing a haunting sense of stillness amidst the record's otherwise kinetic energy. Technical Fidelity: The EAC/FLAC Connection By the year 2000, The Gathering had fully