Provides perfect compression without removing any audio data, ensuring the high-fidelity sound is preserved.
Released in the summer of 2000, if_then_else by The Gathering marks a pivotal moment in the Dutch band's evolution, bridging their metal roots with the atmospheric trip-rock/alternative sound they perfected in the following years. For audiophiles and dedicated fans, finding this 2000 masterpiece in a high-fidelity format—often signified by the label (indicating a flawless digital rip using Exact Audio Copy to FLAC format)—is a high priority.
The album’s title, borrowed from computer programming logic, sets the stage for a record obsessed with choices, speed, and the feeling of being a "glitch" in a mechanical world.
At a remote festival gathering, the "EACFLAC" transmission began—a high-fidelity spark in the dark for those who craved the pure, uncompressed emotion of the new sound. As the first notes of "Amity" drifted over the crowd, the logic of the code became clear. It wasn't about the if or the then . It was about the moment of the gathering itself—where the music finally got "inside your head," and the world, for a brief moment, made perfect sense. if_then_else | The Gathering | Century Media Records the gathering ifthenelse 2000 eacflac
: A cinematic piece that highlights the album's thematic focus on modern detachment.
A high-energy opener that, as the name suggests, takes the listener on a "loud, cerebral journey".
EAC is a specialized CD-ripping software for Windows. Unlike generic media players that rip audio rapidly—ignoring read errors caused by scratches or drive imperfections—EAC uses a "Secure Mode." It reads every sector of a compact disc at least twice to ensure the data is perfectly accurate. If a discrepancy is found, it re-reads the section until it extracts a perfect digital clone of the audio data. It generates a detailed to prove the rip is 100% accurate, alongside a Cue Sheet (.cue) that preserves the exact gaps and track transitions of the original CD. Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) It wasn't about the if or the then
When assessing a specific EAC FLAC rip of if_then_else , the following audio characteristics are typically observed:
A high-energy opener that AllMusic describes as a "cerebral journey" through the band’s creative evolution.
is more than a file folder name on an old hard drive. It is a litmus test for understanding digital music history. introducing space rock
One of the more experimental tracks on "side two," featuring psychedelic and electronic influences. Why EAC/FLAC Matters for This Album
By 2000, The Gathering had already completed an extraordinary evolution. They had transitioned from the death-doom style of Always... (1992) to the genre-defining gothic metal of Mandylion (1995), anchored by the ethereal vocals of . However, it was 1998's double album How to Measure a Planet? that shattered expectations, introducing space rock, shoegaze, and ambient textures.