The Gathering - If-then-else -2000- -eac-flac- Upd -

Following the sprawling, 70-minute epic How to Measure a Planet? (1998), expectations were high. Recorded between January and March 2000 at the aptly named Koeienverhuurbedrijf (Cow Moving Company) Studio in Doetinchem, the Netherlands, the album was a conscious refinement. Produced by Zlaya Hadzich and engineered by Dick Kemper, it was mixed and mastered by Attie Bauw (who would later work on Souvenirs ) at his Bauwhaus Studio in Amsterdam, giving the record a crisp, modern sheen that suited its hybrid nature. Released on July 3, 2000 (with a North American release on July 25) via Century Media Records, if_then_else was a statement of intent.

The album title—a nod to computer programming logic—reflects the band's increasing interest in electronic experimentation and structured, yet emotional, songwriting. The Gathering - If-then-else -2000- -eac-flac- [2021]

To understand why this specific keyword string is so prominent in audio circles, one must look at the technology behind the file creation:

The Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) compresses audio file sizes by roughly 50% without discarding a single bit of data. When decoded during playback, an EAC-FLAC file outputs the exact 16-bit/44.1kHz audio stream that left the mastering studio. 3. Preserving the Dynamic Range The Gathering - if-then-else -2000- -EAC-FLAC-

to rip your own CDs to this standard, or are you looking for a specific media player recommendation?

A cinematic, slow-burning instrumental track that utilizes electronic pulses and eerie strings to evoke a sense of underwater weightlessness.

The Gathering arrives like the brittle logic of a storm: decisions stacked, conditions checked, consequences branched. It is an architecture of possibility, where every path is an if and every outcome a then or an else. But unlike neat programs running in watertight sandboxes, this gathering is messy, human, alive — a network of conditional moments that compile into a day, a life, a small apocalypse of choice. Following the sprawling, 70-minute epic How to Measure

The original 2000 mastering possesses excellent dynamic range. The drums have a natural, punchy snap, the bass guitar retains its round, foundational warmth, and the guitars occupy a wide, distinct space in the stereo field.

to convert these FLAC files into high-quality MP3s (320kbps) while keeping the original lossless files as your "master" backup. If you want to recreate the physical CD, use the file with software like

: A haunting, slow-burning opener driven by an infectious bassline and trip-hop electronic beats, blooming into a powerful wall of sound. Produced by Zlaya Hadzich and engineered by Dick

People seek the version because the original CD had excellent dynamic range (before the loudness war). The 2000 pressings sound warm, open, and detailed — perfect for FLAC. Later remasters may be compressed.

Anneke van Giersbergen’s vocals are the emotional anchor of the album. Her voice navigates the shifting musical tides with effortless grace, moving from vulnerable whispers to soaring, cathartic heights. Backed by the atmospheric guitar work of René Rutten, the driving bass of Hugo Prinsen Geerligs, Hans Rutten’s dynamic drumming, and Frank Boeijen’s lush, cinematic keyboards, the album creates a distinct sense of "motion blur"—like watching a rainy city landscape flash past a train window. Key tracks highlight the album's incredible dynamic range:

It is impossible to discuss if_then_else without highlighting vocal powerhouse Anneke van Giersbergen. While earlier albums featured her singing in a highly operatic, ethereal style, this record captures her most grounded, intimate, and raw performances.

: A softer, trip-hop-influenced track that demonstrates the band's evolution away from their metal roots. Production & Sound

That’s a high-quality, scene-style or P2P naming convention for a lossless digital copy. If you’re looking for the behind the album, here it is: