The West Pole

For the 1994 book, see Diane Glancy. For the location in Texas, see The West Pole, Texas.

The West Pole
Studio album by The Gathering
Released	4 May 2009
Recorded	2008
Genre	Alternative rock, post-rock, shoegaze
Length	54:01
Label	Psychonaut
Producer	René Rutten
The Gathering chronology
Home (2006) The West Pole (2009) City from Above (2009)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rock Sound	[2]
Sputnikmusic	[3]
Blogcritics	(Positive) [4]
Sea of Tranquility	[5]
MusicTAP	[6]
Lords of Metal	(89/100) [7]
Gravemusic	[8]
Dangerdog Music	[9]

The West Pole is the ninth studio album by the Dutch rock band The Gathering. It is the first album to feature the new vocalist Silje Wergeland, previous frontwoman of Norwegian gothic metal band Octavia Sperati. This album also includes two guest singers, Dutch Anne van den Hoogen and Mexican Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion), as well as other guest musicians. Music videos were made of the songs "All You Are" and "No Bird Call".

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"When Trust Becomes Sound"	Instrumental	René Rutten	3:53
2.	"Treasure"	Silje Wergeland	René Rutten	4:06
3.	"All You Are"	Silje Wergeland	René Rutten	4:34
4.	"The West Pole"	Silje Wergeland	René Rutten	6:35
5.	"No Bird Call"	Silje Wergeland	Frank Boeijen	5:38
6.	"Capital of Nowhere"	Anne van den Hoogen	René Rutten	6:35
7.	"You Promised Me a Symphony"	Silje Wergeland	Silje Wergeland	2:54
8.	"Pale Traces"	Marcela Bovio	Frank Boeijen	7:46
9.	"No One Spoke"	Silje Wergeland	Frank Boeijen	4:32
10.	"A Constant Run"	Silje Wergeland	Frank Boeijen	7:44
Total length:				54:01

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Dutch Albums Chart [10]	98

Personnel

Band members

• Silje Wergeland – vocals and grand piano
• René Rutten – electric and acoustic guitars, stylophone
• Frank Boeijen – keyboards, piano, harmonium and vibraphone
• Marjolein Kooijman – bass guitar
• Hans Rutten – drums and percussions

Additional musicians

• Marcela Bovio – vocals on track 8
• Anne van den Hoogen – vocals on track 6, megaphone nonsense on track 1 and megaphone backing vocals on track 2
• Jos van den Dungen – violin and viola on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8
• John Mitchell – cello on tracks 3, 4, 5 and 8
• Marije de Jong and Jonas Pap – narrative on track 4

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "The Gathering The West Pole review". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 April 2012.
2. Burt, Jim (June 2009). "The Gathering – The West Pole". Rock Sound (123): 92.
3. Spencer, Trey (6 May 2009). "The Gathering – The West Pole". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved 29 April 2012.
4. Perkins, Jeff (18 August 2009). "Music Review: The Gathering – The West Pole". Eurorock. Blogcritics . Retrieved 29 April 2012.
5. Glenday, Duncan (3 June 2009). "The Gathering – The West Pole". Sea of Tranquility.org. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
6. Dunphy, John (29 June 2009). "The Gathering – The West Pole". MusicTAP.net. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
7. "The Gathering – The West Pole". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
8. "The Gathering – The West Pole". Gravemusic.com. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
9. Hartranft, Craig (30 April 2009). "The Gathering: The West Pole". Dangerdog Music Reviews. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
10. "The Gathering – the West Pole".