A brand new THE GATHERING track, entitled "Shortest Day", has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 3.8 MB). The song comes off the Dutch rock act's upcoming album, "Home" (view cover at this location), due on April 18 via The End Records in North America.

Ever since their inception 15 years ago THE GATHERING have continued to evolve, never settling on one set style and rarely ever duplicating themselves. They have embraced change along the way and used it as a tool to feed their ongoing creative process.

Like their previous groundbreaking releases — their classic "Mandylion" (1995), the electronic dabblings of "How to Measure a Planet?" (1998) or the trip-hop/atmospheric warmth of "Souvenirs" (2003) — their latest album "Home" finds the band heading back to a bit more of rock vibe, yet still maintaining the delicate nuances and passages that fans worldwide have grown to love.

But the momentum here is not entirely based on emotional highs, as the band still manages to capture the dark spirit that most human beings have had to deal with from time to time. Variation has always been the key, case in point the diverse offering of such numbers as "In Between", "Shortest Day", "A Noise Severe" and the powerfully moving title track.

"Home" track listing:

01. Shortest Day
02. In Between
03. Alone
04. Waking Hour
05. Fatigue
06. A Noise Severe
07. Forgotten
08. Solace
09. Your Troubles Are Over
10. Box
11. The Quiet One
12. Home
13. Forgotten Reprise

THE GATHERING will make their debut at this year's South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 16, 2006 at Lava Lounge. Also participating are fellow lablemates GREEN CARNATION, UNEXPECT and GIANT SQUID. The band will also venture out for a small U.S. tour as part of their Homelands world tour to promote their upcoming album. The dates are as follows:

All dates with GIANT SQUID and UNEXPECT except where noted:

Mar. 16 - The Lava Lounge - Austin, TX (SXSW Showcase)
Mar. 17 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Mar. 19 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
Mar. 20 - The Middle East - Boston, MA
Mar. 21 - The Knitting Factory - New York, NY
Mar. 22 - TBA
Mar. 23 - The Big Bop - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mar. 24 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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