The Gathering (band)
Dutch rock band

The Gathering
Budapest concert, 31 January 2010
Budapest concert, 31 January 2010
Background information
OriginOss, Netherlands
Genres
Years active
  • 1989–2014
  • 2018–present
Labels
MembersRené Rutten
Hans Rutten
Frank Boeijen
Anneke van Giersbergen
Hugo Prinsen Geerligs
Past membersJelmer Wiersma
Bart Smits
Marike Groot
Niels Duffhues
Martine van Loon
Silje Wergeland
Marjolein Kooijman
Websitewww.gathering.nl

The Gathering are a Dutch rock band formed in Oss, North Brabant in 1989. The band's lineup currently consists of founding brothers René Rutten (guitars) and Hans Rutten (drums), Hugo Prinsen Geerligs (bass) and Frank Boeijen (keyboards), with former lead vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen currently a touring member.

The band's earliest releases were categorized as atmospheric doom metal with influences from extreme metal acts like Celtic Frost and Hellhammer, undergoing numerous vocalist changes before breaking out in 1995 with Mandylion. It was The Gathering's first album to feature lead singer Anneke van Giersbergen and the band's first to chart in the Netherlands. With van Giersbergen, the band's sound shifted from gothic metal to one influenced by shoegaze, post-rock and trip hop, starting with their fifth studio album How to Measure a Planet? in 1998.

In 2007, van Giersbergen left the group to focus on her new project Agua de Annique.[1] Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland of the band Octavia Sperati was named her replacement in 2009, and their first album with her, The West Pole, was released later that year. The band released three albums with Wergeland. Van Giersbergen toured with The Gathering in 2025 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mandylion, and Wergeland left the band at the end of the year.

History

Early years (1989–1994)

Founded by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits, The Gathering formed in the city of Oss in 1989. Soon after they were joined by Hugo Prinsen Geerligs, Jelmer Wiersma and Frank Boeijen to complete their first line-up. The Gathering's earliest recordings were categorized as atmospheric doom metal with influences from death metal acts like Celtic Frost and Hellhammer.[2]

In 1990 they recorded a demo tape entitled An Imaginary Symphony which met some positive reactions from the underground metal scene due to their unusual use of keyboards in metal-oriented music. A second demo, "Moonlight Archer" was recorded in April 1991, was picked up by several music journalists. Both demos suffered from poor production; however they did help establish the band's name on the live circuit opening for bands such as Dead Head, Invocator, Samael, Morbid Angel and Death.

After signing with Foundation 2000, the group released their debut album Always... in 1992. On this album, Bart Smits was accompanied by Marike Groot on vocals, who also joined the Gathering on stage for most of the gigs. The album sold nearly 20,000 units over the next few years in Europe.[3] In 1992 both Smits and Groot left the group due to musical differences; the other members wanted to change direction towards a lighter, more progressive sound.[4] Smits went on to form his own project, Wish, to explore a darker, heavier sound.

In 1993 the group recruited two new vocalists, Niels Duffhues and female counterpart Martine van Loon. A second album, Almost a Dance, was recorded and released in 1993 by Foundation 2000. The album was met with much criticism aimed at Duffhues' punk-ish tone being decidedly out of step with the music, and the album was largely written off as a result.[5] The group collectively acknowledged their disappointments with the album and started writing new material and looked for a new vocalist.

Century Media years (1995–2001)

In 1995, The Gathering released Mandylion, their third album and first to feature lead vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen, through Century Media; proving to be their breakthrough and selling over 130,000 copies in Europe. Two singles were released from Mandylion, "Adrenaline/Leaves" and "Strange Machines", the latter which reached number 37 on the Dutch singles charts and helped raise the group's popularity in Europe and the United States.[6] Tours of Belgium and Germany, as well as appearances at the Dynamo Open Air and Pinkpop Festivals further established the bands presence in the European metal scene.[7] 1997's Nighttime Birds was stylistically and musically a companion piece to Mandylion sold over 90,000 copies and saw the group tour throughout Europe.

In 1998 the group acknowledged their growing influences and their need to experiment with a double album, How to Measure a Planet?. Produced by Attie Bauw, the album is a radical departure from the group's established sound. Upon release, the album received excellent reviews from critics who appreciated the band's absorption of new styles such as shoegaze and trip hop into its sound.[8] Positive reactions came from all over the world, including the United States, where they played 14 shows during the summer of 1999.

In 1999 the band formed their own record label, Psychonaut Records, with the view of releasing their own music and taking creative control over how their music is marketed and distributed. Always... was re-released in 1999, followed by Almost a Dance in 2000, both re-mastered and fitted with new artwork. However, the band were still under contract with Century Media, they released a live album Superheat (2000) which was recorded in several Dutch venues during 1999.

Another successful chapter in The Gathering's career followed with the release of If Then Else (2000). The album is filled with diverse, intense and emotional rock songs, more compact than its predecessor. Fifteen months of touring ensued, taking them to several countries of Europe, with a little sidestep to Mexico, and ending with a small Dutch club tour in October 2001. With these more atmospheric trip hop albums, The Gathering earned increased popularity in South America.[9]

Independent years (2002–2008)

Anneke van Giersbergen in 2003

In 2002 the band members took a break and tended to their private lives. During this period, they ended their contract with Century Media. The Gathering had to run their newborn label Psychonaut Records and their 12½-year anniversary was coming up. To celebrate this with their fans, they released the mini-CD Black Light District on their own label.

In early 2003, Souvenirs was released. Sleepy Buildings, a semi-acoustic live album, followed in 2004. This album was the last one featuring Hugo Prinsen Geerligs as the bass player. He was later replaced by Marjolein Kooijman.

In 2005, The Gathering provided the music for a CD-ROM titled "Passengers in Time: The Musical History Tour". This CD accompanied a history study book written by Professor Wim Kratsborn and the band did not consider it to be an official release of theirs.

The band released a DVD in 2005, entitled A Sound Relief. This contained more gentle semi-acoustic songs. But this is not their first DVD. Century Media had released In Motion without band permission at 2001. Nevertheless In Motion had an acceptable success. The next plan was to release in 2007 a second DVD (recognized for the band) A Noise Severe which features the more hard rock sound of The Gathering. This DVD was recorded in Santiago, Chile at 24 March 2007 at the Caupolicán Theatre.

In April 2006 they released their eighth studio album called Home. They had toured in March in North and South America and, after a brief pause to let van Giersbergen treat a laryngitis problem, they continued their touring schedule with European dates and music festivals throughout 2006.

In May 2007, The Gathering joined Lacuna Coil, In This Moment and Stolen Babies on "The Hottest Chicks in Metal" tour in the United States, sponsored by Revolver.[10][11] On 5 June 2007, it was announced that Anneke was leaving The Gathering to spend more time with her family and her new project, Agua de Annique.[12] Their final performance before Anneke's departure took place on 4 August 2007, at the Ankkarock festival in Finland.[13]

Silje Wergeland era (2009–2025)

Silje Wergeland in Budapest, 2010

In March 2009, The Gathering announced Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland, of the band Octavia Sperati, as their new lead vocalist.[14] Their ninth album, and first with Wergeland, was titled The West Pole and released in May 2009.[15]

On 16 May 2011, the band released the single "Heroes for Ghosts" via their Bandcamp page, as well as announcing a South American tour. This was the lead single to their tenth studio album Disclosure, released on 12 September 2012.[16][17] In 2013, the band released Afterwords, which features alternate versions of several songs from Disclosure. Drummer Hans Rutten referred to it as more of an EP than a proper album.[18]

In January 2014, the band announced the departure of bassist Marjolein Kooijman after 10 years and an incoming hiatus at the end of the year.[19]

The Gathering celebrated their 25th birthday with two sold-out reunion concerts at Doornroosje in Nijmegen on 9 November 2014. It was the first time that four of their singers (Bart Smits, Marike Groot, Anneke van Giersbergen and Silje Wergeland) performed together, and the band's first performance with van Giersbergen since her departure in 2007.[20]

The Gathering returned from their hiatus in June 2018, with their first announced show at the Midsummer Prog Festival in Valkenburg.[21] On 29 April 2022, the band released their eleventh studio album, and first in nearly 10 years, Beautiful Distortion. It was preceded by the lead single "We Rise", released in February.[22]

In December 2024, the band announced that, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mandylion, they would reunite with van Giersbergen for five sold-out August 2025 shows in Nijmegen.[23] The band then announced a full worldwide 2026 Mandylion tour with van Giersbergen.[24]

On 28 December 2025, vocalist Silje Wergeland announced her departure from the band after 16 years "to move on to new ventures." There was no indication if van Giersbergen's temporary return influenced her decision.[25]

Etymology

Frank Boeijen on the origins of the name of the band:

"The name the Gathering has been made like eleven years ago when we started this band. We were all between 15 and 17. We were watching a lot of movies those days. One of the movies spoke about immortality and that you could kill the immortals with cutting their head off [it's the first Highlander Frank is speaking about]. In the first part of the movie, they speak a lot about the gathering. There will be a gathering once with all the immortals. We thought it was a nice name for a band, and that's how we created this name. And you can feel it's a cool name for five people who come together to make fine music." [sic][26]

Band members

Timeline

Discography

References

  1. ^ "Former The Gathering Singer Launches Agua De Annique". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  2. ^ Blabbermouth (4 April 2002). "THE GATHERING To Issue "Limited Edition" CD In June". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Vic Records". Vicrecords.com. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Interview with Bart Smits, ex-vocalist of THE GATHERING van Albert DiBenedetto (Kreavis B. Gribble) op Myspace". Myspace.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  5. ^ Bickers, James. "The Gathering". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  6. ^ Steffen Hung (27 January 1996). "Dutch Charts". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Anneke van Giersbergen boekt decennia later Top 2000-succes met The Gathering". NPO Radio 2 (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (23 January 2018). "10 Best Metal Albums of 1998". Loudwire. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. ^ john (24 September 2014). "Interview with The Gathering's Frank Boeijen". swirls of noise. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Marta and Cristina on the cover of Revolver's Hottest Chicks in Metal Issue". Metal Injection. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  11. ^ Blabbermouth (19 May 2007). "'The Hottest Chicks In Metal Tour' Photos Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  12. ^ Blabbermouth (14 October 2007). "ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN Explains Decision To Leave THE GATHERING". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Singer Anneke's Last Show With The Gathering Video".
  14. ^ Blabbermouth (11 March 2009). "THE GATHERING Announces New Singer; Audio Samples Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  15. ^ Blabbermouth (13 March 2009). "THE GATHERING To Release 'The West Pole' In May". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  16. ^ "THE GATHERING Offer New 'Heroes Of Ghosts' Track For Free Download". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  17. ^ Blabbermouth (29 May 2012). "THE GATHERING: New Album Details Revealed". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  18. ^ "THE GATHERING Drops New Single 'In Colour' From 'Beautiful Distortion' Album". Blabbermouth.net. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Dear friends, With some great shows and the release of 'Afterwords', a special album that had a fantastic response, we had a good year". Facebook. 17 January 2014.
  20. ^ Lach, Stef (15 December 2014). "Anneke thrilled by Gathering return". Louder. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  21. ^ Koetse, Marc (14 December 2017). "The Gathering toegevoegd aan line up Midsummer Prog 2018". Rockportaal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  22. ^ "THE GATHERING Launch Music Video For New Single "We Rise"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  23. ^ Blabbermouth (13 December 2024). "THE GATHERING's 'Mandylion' Lineup Announces More 30th-Anniversary Shows In The Netherlands". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  24. ^ "THE GATHERING Announce Mandylion Album 30th Anniversary Shows Featuring Vocalist ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN For 2026". BraveWords - Where Music Lives. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  25. ^ "THE GATHERING Splits With Vocalist SILJE WERGELAND". Metal Injection. 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  26. ^ "The Gathering". Gathering.nl. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Gathering.
  • Official website
  • The Gathering discography at Discogs
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