The Gathering (band)
Encyclopedia
The Gathering is a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...

 alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans
Hans Rutten
Hans Rutten is a Dutch drummer. He founded The Gathering with his brother René in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs. His latest work is The Gathering's The West Pole, that was released in 2009.-External links:* at The Gathering's official website...

 and René Rutten
René Rutten
René Rutten is a Dutch guitarist for The Gathering. He founded the band with his brother Hans in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs...

 and vocalist Bart Smits
Bart Smits
Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

 in the small city of Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...

, North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...

.

The Gathering earliest releases were categorized as atmospheric death/doom
Death/doom
Death/doom, sometimes writes as death-doom or deathdoom, is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double kick drumming of death metal...

 metal, inspired by such underground acts like Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...

 and Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...

. The addition of vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...

 in 1994 marked an evolution in The Gathering's musical style, with the group acknowledging the growing influence of shoegaze, post rock, experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....

 and the more ethereal sounds of 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...

 bands, such as Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...

, Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...

, as well as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

 and Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...

; they expanded their sound, which acquired characteristic of progressive
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

, alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

, and trip rock
Trip rock
Trip rock is a term used to describe a type of music characterized by a fusion of trip hop and rock genres, principally alternative rock. It may also have connections with new forms of psychedelic rock or progressive music, or even post-rock...

 and gained success and recognition beyond the European borders. The group continue to expand upon the experimental nature of their music.

In August 2007 Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...

 left the group to focus on her solo project Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique is the solo project of the former The Gathering vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen.- History :The project was announced June 5, 2007, the same day that both The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen issued separate announcements that van Giersbergen would leave the band in August.She...

. On 12 March 2009, The Gathering announced that their replacement vocalist was Silje Wergeland (ex-Octavia Sperati
Octavia Sperati
Octavia Sperati, formerly known as Octavia, is a gothic metal/doom metal band from Bergen, Norway.The group released their debut album Winter Enclosure in 2005. Their second album, Grace Submerged, was released in May 2007. Both albums were released by Candlelight Records, and both releases were...

). Their most recent album, The West Pole
The West Pole
- Credits :* Frank Boeijen - keyboards, piano, harmonium and vibraphone* Marjolein Kooijman - bass guitar* Hans Rutten - drums and percussions* René Rutten - electric and acoustic guitars, stylophone* Silje Wergeland - vocals and grand piano- Guests :...

, was released in May 2009.

Early years (1989 – 1994)

Founded by brothers Hans
Hans Rutten
Hans Rutten is a Dutch drummer. He founded The Gathering with his brother René in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs. His latest work is The Gathering's The West Pole, that was released in 2009.-External links:* at The Gathering's official website...

 and René Rutten
René Rutten
René Rutten is a Dutch guitarist for The Gathering. He founded the band with his brother Hans in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs...

 and vocalist Bart Smits
Bart Smits
Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

, The Gathering formed in the small city of Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...

, North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...

, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 in 1989. Soon after they were joined by Hugo Prinsen Geerligs
Hugo Prinsen Geerligs
Hugo Prinsen Geerligs is a Dutch bassist. He was the original bassist of The Gathering, and together they released seven studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs. After the release of Sleepy Buildings - A Semi Acoustic Evening in 2004, he left the band...

, Jelmer Wiersma
Jelmer Wiersma
Jelmer Wiersma is a Dutch heavy metal guitarist. With René Rutten, he was one of the two original guitarists of The Gathering. After the release of their fourth full-length album, Nighttime Birds, he decided to leave the band and stop playing guitar....

 and Frank Boeijen
Frank Boeijen (keyboardist)
Frank Boeijen is a Dutch keyboardist. He entered the rock/then-metal group The Gathering in 1990, and together they released nine studio albums, three live albums, and four EPs...

 to complete their first line-up. The Gathering's earliest recordings were categorized as atmospheric death/doom metal, inspired by such underground acts like Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...

 and Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...

.

In 1990 they recorded a demo tape An Imaginary Symphony, which met some positive reactions from the underground metal scene due to their unusual use of keyboards in metal-orientated 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 Deadhead
Deadhead
Deadhead or Dead Head is a name given to fans of the American jam band, the Grateful Dead. In the 1970s, a number of fans began travelling to see the band in as many shows or festival venues as they could. With large numbers of people thus attending strings of shows, a community developed...

, Invocator
Invocator
Invocator are a Danish technical thrash metal band featuring Esbjerg-based guitarist/singer Jacob Hansen, founder of the band. They are considered influential on the European thrash metal/heavy metal scene, and known for incorporating elements from death metal, thrash metal, groove metal and...

, Samael
Samael (band)
Samael is a industrial black metal band formed in 1987 in Sion, Switzerland.-Biography:Although much of their music from the mid-1990s onwards has incorporated electronic sounds which would best define their genre as industrial metal, they are an early 2nd Wave black metal band and an innovator for...

, Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...

 and Death.

After signing with Foundation 2000, the group released their debut album Always...
Always...
Always... is the debut album of the Dutch band The Gathering. It was first released in 1992 in Europe by Foundation 2000 and in North America by Pavement Music. In 1994, a first remixed version was released by Foundation 2000. In 1999, a second remixed version was released by Psychonaut Records...

in 1992. On this album, Bart Smits
Bart Smits
Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

 was accompanied by Marike Groot
Marike Groot
Marike Groot is a Dutch singer. She started her career in the mid eighties as the singer for punk band The Grabbits, with whom she recorded the EP Aliens. From 1989 to 1992 she was the vocalist of Little Mary Big, which transformed into Visions of Johanna and later Johan...

 on vocals, who also joined The Gathering on stage for most of the gigs. the album was a minor success on the European continent, where it went on to shift nearly 20,000 units over the next few of years. In 1992 both Bart Smits
Bart Smits
Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

 and Marike Groot
Marike Groot
Marike Groot is a Dutch singer. She started her career in the mid eighties as the singer for punk band The Grabbits, with whom she recorded the EP Aliens. From 1989 to 1992 she was the vocalist of Little Mary Big, which transformed into Visions of Johanna and later Johan...

 decided to leave the group due to musical differences; the other members wanted to change direction towards a lighter, more progressive sound. Smits
Bart Smits
Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

 went on to form his own project, called Wish, to explore a darker, heavier sound.

In 1993 the group recruited two new vocalists, Niels Duffhues
Niels Duffhuës
Niels Duffhuës is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist, composer and writer. From 1993 to 1994 he was the vocalist and acoustic guitarist in the Doom metal band The Gathering, and he played on their album Almost a Dance, released in 1993. From 1997 to 1998, he played drums in U-Charger...

 and female counterpart Martine van Loon
Martine van Loon
Martine van Loon is a Dutch singer. She joined The Gathering in 1993, and she sang on their second album Almost a Dance, released in 1993. She later entered Orphanage in 1994, but after the release of Oblivion in 1995 she left the band. She also joined Lords of the Stone in 1994...

. A second album, Almost a Dance
Almost a Dance
Almost a Dance is the second studio album of the Dutch band The Gathering, released in 1993 by Foundation 2000.-Track listing:...

, was recorded and released in 1993 by Foundation 2000. The album was met with much criticism aimed at Duffhues' punk-ish being decidedly out of step with the music, and the album was largely written off as a result. The group collectively acknowledged their disappointments with Almost a Dance
Almost a Dance
Almost a Dance is the second studio album of the Dutch band The Gathering, released in 1993 by Foundation 2000.-Track listing:...

and decided to start writing new material and start the search for a new vocalist.

Century Media years (1995 – 2001)

The Gathering released their third album (and first to feature Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...

) Mandylion
Mandylion (album)
Mandylion is the third album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on August 22, 1995 by Century Media Records. It is their first album to feature vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen...

in 1995 through Century Media; proving to be their breakthrough and selling over 130,000 copies in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. Two singles were released from Mandylion
Mandylion (album)
Mandylion is the third album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on August 22, 1995 by Century Media Records. It is their first album to feature vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen...

, "Adrenaline/Leaves" and "Strange Machines" (which charted in the Netherlands) further helped raise the group's popularity in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Tours of Belgium and Germany, as well as appearances at the Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...

 and Pinkpop Festivals further established the bands presence in the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an metal scene. 1997's Nighttime Birds
Nighttime Birds
Disc 2, 1–8 EROC Demo Session recorded at at Woodhouse Studios, Hagen, Germany, Mixed by EROC, November 15th to 30th, 1996. Disc 2, 9–10 recorded at S&K Studios, Doetinchem, Netherlands, September 1st to 4th, 1997. Produced by The Gathering & Dirk Kemper. Taken from the "Kevin's Telescope" EP. Disc...

was stylistically and musically a companion piece to Mandylion
Mandylion (album)
Mandylion is the third album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on August 22, 1995 by Century Media Records. It is their first album to feature vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen...

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?
How to Measure a Planet?
How To Measure A Planet? is fifth studio album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on 26 January 1999 by Century Media Records...

. Produced by Attie Bauw, the album is a radical departure from the group's established sound, characteristically experimental alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

, trip rock
Trip rock
Trip rock is a term used to describe a type of music characterized by a fusion of trip hop and rock genres, principally alternative rock. It may also have connections with new forms of psychedelic rock or progressive music, or even post-rock...

. Upon release, the album received excellent reviews from critics who appreciated the band's absorption of new styles such as shoegazer and trip-hop into its sound. 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
Psychonaut Records
Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

, 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
If then else
-Additional Musicians on the album:*Bart van Vegchel - French horn [tracks 1, 6, 11]*Ad Verspaandonk - Trombon [tracks 6, 11]*Emmeke Bressers - Oboe [track 6]*Jasper Slotboom - cello [track 6]*Marthe Kalkhoven - cello [track 6]...

(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 virtually every nook and cranny of Europe, with a little sidestep to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, and ending with a small Dutch club tour in October 2001.

Independent years (2002 – 2008)

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 new born label Psychonaut Records
Psychonaut Records
Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

 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
Souvenirs (The Gathering album)
The CD version also contains a track in the pregap called "Telson." On the vinyl edition of this album, Telson is the final track.-Personnel:The Gathering* Anneke van Giersbergen – lead vocals/guitars* René Rutten – guitars* Frank Boeijen – keyboards...

was released. Sleepy Buildings
Sleepy Buildings - A Semi Acoustic Evening
Sleepy Buildings - A Semi Acoustic Evening is a live album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering, released in Europe on January 26, 2004 and in the United States on March 9, 2004 by Century Media Records. The album was recorded at The LUX Theatre in Nijmegen, Netherlands on August 22nd,...

, 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
Marjolein Kooijman
Marjolein Kooijman is a Dutch bassplayer. She joined The Gathering in 2004, and worked on their two latest studio albums, Home and The West Pole.- External links :*...

.

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
A Noise Severe
-References:...

which features the more hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...

 sound of The Gathering. This DVD was recorded in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...

, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 at 24 March 2007 at the Caupolicán Theatre.

In April 2006 they released their eighth studio album called Home
Home (The Gathering album)
-Personnel:* Anneke van Giersbergen - lead singer/guitars* René Rutten - guitars/flute* Marjolein Kooijman - bass* Hans Rutten - drums* Frank Boeijen - keyboards-External links:*...

. They had toured in March in North and South America and, after a brief pause to let van Giersbergen treat a laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....

 problem, they continued their touring schedule with European dates and music festivals throughout 2006.

The Gathering toured throughout the U.S. and Canada with Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

 in the spring of 2007. On 5 June 2007, it was announced that Anneke was leaving The Gathering to spend more time with her family and her own band, Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique is the solo project of the former The Gathering vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen.- History :The project was announced June 5, 2007, the same day that both The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen issued separate announcements that van Giersbergen would leave the band in August.She...

. The band scheduled a final tour stop on 4–5 August 2007 at the Ankkarock Festival, Finland. The Ankkarock Festival was announced as the final performance with Anneke as vocalist.

Post-Anneke van Giersbergen years (2007 – present)

In February 2008, The Gathering released a boxed set entitled Sand and Mercury - The Complete Century Media Years. This boxed set was limited to 3000 copies worldwide, and contained 10 discs including a selection of studio, live and compilation albums. The set also contained the audio from the In Motion DVD as a new live album, also entitled In Motion.

In September 2008, The Gathering released a collection of all their old material from 1989 to 1993 on a double CD. The album contains the demos, the never released promo 1992, live tracks and the Celtic Frost cover of "Dethroned Emperor". The songs were from the period of the first line-up with singer Bart Smits. All songs were restored and mastered by Mike Wead (King Diamond / Mercyful Fate) and was released by small Dutch independent label Vic Records.

Recently drummer Hans Rutten posted a statement on their forum giving details of what to expect in 2009. "Yes, we are working on a new album! Or actually, two new albums! Many of our new songs are very rock and guitar orientated and will end up on a heavy rock album for sure. The second album will be filled with more ’shoe gaze’, dreamy tracks." The album is expected in Spring 2009. Hans also mentioned they have been working with three singers, though the gender of these is yet unknown.

On 20 December 2008, the title of The Gathering's ninth studio album was announced as The West Pole.
From September 2008 there had been much speculation that Octavia Sperati
Octavia Sperati
Octavia Sperati, formerly known as Octavia, is a gothic metal/doom metal band from Bergen, Norway.The group released their debut album Winter Enclosure in 2005. Their second album, Grace Submerged, was released in May 2007. Both albums were released by Candlelight Records, and both releases were...

 singer Silje Wergeland would be the new lead singer of the band; a picture was forwarded by the band onto their official forum site that looked like her. On 7 January 2009, an article in a local Dutch publication stated that new singer would not be Dutch. Speculation shifted to the new singer being Norwegian after conversations with René Rutten.

On 12 March 2009, it was officially announced that the new vocalist would be Silje Wergeland. Their new album, The West Pole
The West Pole
- Credits :* Frank Boeijen - keyboards, piano, harmonium and vibraphone* Marjolein Kooijman - bass guitar* Hans Rutten - drums and percussions* René Rutten - electric and acoustic guitars, stylophone* Silje Wergeland - vocals and grand piano- Guests :...

, was released in May 2009.

On 16 May 2011, the band released their new single "Heroes For Ghosts" via their Bandcamp
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is an online music store, as well as a platform for artist promotion, that caters mainly for independent artists. Artists on Bandcamp have a customizable microsite with the albums they upload. All tracks can be played for free on the website and some artists offer free music downloads...

 page, as well as announcing a South American tour. The song will be featured on the forthcoming album.

Etymology

Frank Boeijen
Frank Boeijen (keyboardist)
Frank Boeijen is a Dutch keyboardist. He entered the rock/then-metal group The Gathering in 1990, and together they released nine studio albums, three live albums, and four EPs...

 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
Highlander (film)
Highlander is a 1986 fantasy action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. It stars Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Hart. The film depicts the climax of an ages-old battle between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and...

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)

Members

Current members
  • Silje Wergeland – vocals (2009 – )
  • René Rutten
    René Rutten
    René Rutten is a Dutch guitarist for The Gathering. He founded the band with his brother Hans in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs...

     – guitars
    Guitarist
    A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

    /flute (1989 – )
  • Frank Boeijen
    Frank Boeijen (keyboardist)
    Frank Boeijen is a Dutch keyboardist. He entered the rock/then-metal group The Gathering in 1990, and together they released nine studio albums, three live albums, and four EPs...

     – keyboards
    Keyboardist
    A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...

     (1990 – )
  • Marjolein Kooijman
    Marjolein Kooijman
    Marjolein Kooijman is a Dutch bassplayer. She joined The Gathering in 2004, and worked on their two latest studio albums, Home and The West Pole.- External links :*...

     – bass
    Bassist
    A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...

     (2004 – )
  • Hans Rutten
    Hans Rutten
    Hans Rutten is a Dutch drummer. He founded The Gathering with his brother René in 1989, and together they released nine studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs. His latest work is The Gathering's The West Pole, that was released in 2009.-External links:* at The Gathering's official website...

     – drums
    Drummer
    A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

     (1989 – )


Former members
  • Anneke van Giersbergen
    Anneke van Giersbergen
    Anneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...

     – lead vocals/guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

    s (1994–2007)
  • Hugo Prinsen Geerligs
    Hugo Prinsen Geerligs
    Hugo Prinsen Geerligs is a Dutch bassist. He was the original bassist of The Gathering, and together they released seven studio albums, two live albums, and three EPs. After the release of Sleepy Buildings - A Semi Acoustic Evening in 2004, he left the band...

     – bass
    Bassist
    A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...

     (1989–2004)
  • Jelmer Wiersma
    Jelmer Wiersma
    Jelmer Wiersma is a Dutch heavy metal guitarist. With René Rutten, he was one of the two original guitarists of The Gathering. After the release of their fourth full-length album, Nighttime Birds, he decided to leave the band and stop playing guitar....

     – guitars
    Guitarist
    A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

     (1989–1998)
  • Niels Duffhues
    Niels Duffhuës
    Niels Duffhuës is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist, composer and writer. From 1993 to 1994 he was the vocalist and acoustic guitarist in the Doom metal band The Gathering, and he played on their album Almost a Dance, released in 1993. From 1997 to 1998, he played drums in U-Charger...

     – singer/guitars
    Guitarist
    A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

     (1993–1994)
  • Martine van Loon
    Martine van Loon
    Martine van Loon is a Dutch singer. She joined The Gathering in 1993, and she sang on their second album Almost a Dance, released in 1993. She later entered Orphanage in 1994, but after the release of Oblivion in 1995 she left the band. She also joined Lords of the Stone in 1994...

     – singer/backing vocals
    Backing vocalist
    A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...

     (1993–1994)
  • Bart Smits
    Bart Smits
    Bart Smits is a Dutch heavy metal singer. He was the original singer in The Gathering, and he sang on their first album Always..., released in 1992. The following year he left them to form Wish. After one full-length album and four EPs, the band split up in 2003...

     – singer (1989–1993)
  • Marike Groot
    Marike Groot
    Marike Groot is a Dutch singer. She started her career in the mid eighties as the singer for punk band The Grabbits, with whom she recorded the EP Aliens. From 1989 to 1992 she was the vocalist of Little Mary Big, which transformed into Visions of Johanna and later Johan...

     – singer/backing vocals
    Backing vocalist
    A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...

     (1992–1993)


Studio albums

  • Always...
    Always...
    Always... is the debut album of the Dutch band The Gathering. It was first released in 1992 in Europe by Foundation 2000 and in North America by Pavement Music. In 1994, a first remixed version was released by Foundation 2000. In 1999, a second remixed version was released by Psychonaut Records...

    (1992) Foundation 2000
  • Almost a Dance
    Almost a Dance
    Almost a Dance is the second studio album of the Dutch band The Gathering, released in 1993 by Foundation 2000.-Track listing:...

    (1993) Foundation 2000
  • Mandylion
    Mandylion (album)
    Mandylion is the third album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on August 22, 1995 by Century Media Records. It is their first album to feature vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen...

    (1995) Century Media Sold: 130 000
  • Nighttime Birds
    Nighttime Birds
    Disc 2, 1–8 EROC Demo Session recorded at at Woodhouse Studios, Hagen, Germany, Mixed by EROC, November 15th to 30th, 1996. Disc 2, 9–10 recorded at S&K Studios, Doetinchem, Netherlands, September 1st to 4th, 1997. Produced by The Gathering & Dirk Kemper. Taken from the "Kevin's Telescope" EP. Disc...

    (1997) Century Media Sold: 90 000
  • How to measure a planet?
    How to Measure a Planet?
    How To Measure A Planet? is fifth studio album by the Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering. It was released on 26 January 1999 by Century Media Records...

    (1998) Century Media Sold: 80 000
  • if then else
    If then else
    -Additional Musicians on the album:*Bart van Vegchel - French horn [tracks 1, 6, 11]*Ad Verspaandonk - Trombon [tracks 6, 11]*Emmeke Bressers - Oboe [track 6]*Jasper Slotboom - cello [track 6]*Marthe Kalkhoven - cello [track 6]...

    (2000) Century Media Sold: 65 000
  • Souvenirs
    Souvenirs (The Gathering album)
    The CD version also contains a track in the pregap called "Telson." On the vinyl edition of this album, Telson is the final track.-Personnel:The Gathering* Anneke van Giersbergen – lead vocals/guitars* René Rutten – guitars* Frank Boeijen – keyboards...

    (2003) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

     Sold: 40 000
  • Home
    Home (The Gathering album)
    -Personnel:* Anneke van Giersbergen - lead singer/guitars* René Rutten - guitars/flute* Marjolein Kooijman - bass* Hans Rutten - drums* Frank Boeijen - keyboards-External links:*...

    (2006) Noise
    Noise Records (Germany)
    Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...

    /The End
    The End Records
    The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...

     
  • The West Pole
    The West Pole
    - Credits :* Frank Boeijen - keyboards, piano, harmonium and vibraphone* Marjolein Kooijman - bass guitar* Hans Rutten - drums and percussions* René Rutten - electric and acoustic guitars, stylophone* Silje Wergeland - vocals and grand piano- Guests :...

    (2009) Psychonaut Records
  • TBA (2012)

Live albums

  • Superheat
    Superheat
    Superheat is a live album by Dutch alternative rock band The Gathering, released on 25 January 2000 by Century Media. The album was recorded at Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands on 16 April 1999, with the exception of "Rescue Me" & "Strange Machines", which were recorded at 013, Tilburg, Netherlands...

    (2000) Century Media
  • Sleepy Buildings – A Semi Acoustic Evening (2004) Century Media 
  • A Noise Severe
    A Noise Severe
    -References:...

    (2007) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

     

EPs

  • Adrenaline / Leaves (1996) Century Media
  • Amity (2000) Century Media
  • Black Light District (2002) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

  • City From Above
    City From Above
    City From Above is a mini-album by the Dutch rock band The Gathering.-Track listing:...

     (2009) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...


Singles

  • Leaves (1995) Century Media
  • Strange Machines (1995) Century Media
  • Kevin's Telescope (1997) Century Media
  • The May Song (1997) Century Media
  • Liberty Bell (1998) Century Media
  • Rollercoaster (2000) Century Media
  • Monsters (2003) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

  • You Learn About It (2003) Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records
    Psychonaut Records is an independent record label founded in 1999 by Dutch rock band The Gathering. Currently, its sole purpose is to publish work of The Gathering.- See also :* List of record labels* Psychonaut * The Gathering...

  • Alone (2006) I Scream Records
    I Scream Records
    I Scream Records is a label founded by Laurens Kusters in 1994 in Brussels, Belgium. The label has an extensive catalogue and is one of the leading punk and hardcore labels in Western Europe.- History :...

     – Split single with Green Lizard
    Green Lizard
    Green Lizard is a band from Tilburg, Netherlands that plays rock and roll, with influences from grunge, punk, hardrock and metal.-Past members:* Jasper Dankaart - drummer* Jan-Jaap Onverwagt - bassist...

    , 5,000 copies limited edition giveaway at Sziget festival, Budapest, 2006

Compilations

  • Downfall – The Early Years
    Downfall (The Gathering album)
    Downfall - The Early Years is the compilation album of the Dutch band The Gathering. It was first released in 2001 by Hammerheart Records...

     (2001) Hammerheart Records
  • Accessories – Rarities and B-Sides (2005) Century Media
  • Downfall
    Downfall (The Gathering album)
    Downfall - The Early Years is the compilation album of the Dutch band The Gathering. It was first released in 2001 by Hammerheart Records...

     (2008) Restored, remastered plus 7 never released songs, double CD, Vic Records

Collections

  • Sand and Mercury – The Complete Century Media Years (2008) Century Media including:
    • Mandylion
    • Nighttime Birds
    • How To Measure a Planet? [CD1]
    • How To Measure a Planet? [CD2]
    • Superheat
    • if_then_else
    • Accessories — Rarities
    • Accessories — B-sides
    • Sleepy Buildings
    • In Motion

Demos

  • An Imaginary Symphony (1990)
  • Moonlight Archer (1991)
  • promo demo / pre production (1992), 6 tracks. Released on Vic Records 'Downfall double cd 2008

Cover songs

Songs The Gathering has covered
  • "Life's What You Make It" (by Talk Talk
    Talk Talk
    Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"....

    )
  • "In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated" (by Dead Can Dance
    Dead Can Dance
    Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...

    )
  • "When The Sun Hits" (by Slowdive
    Slowdive
    Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...

    )
  • "Dethroned Emperor" (by Celtic Frost
    Celtic Frost
    Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...

    )

Music videos

Videos were made for the following songs :
  • "King for a Day"
  • "Leaves"
  • "Strange Machines" (Unreleased)
  • "Liberty Bell"
  • "My Electricity"
  • "Monsters"
  • "Life's What You Make It"
  • "You Learn About It"
  • "Alone"
  • "Forgotten"
  • "All You Are"
  • "No Bird Call"
  • "Heroes For Ghosts"

DVD

  • In Motion (2002)

Features live footage from two shows: Their performance at '96 Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...

 festival, and a concert they did in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...

, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 in 1997. Please note that this DVD is not considered as part of the official releases by the band, because of the contents and its quality, and the fact the band was not consulted for this DVD released by their former label, Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...

.
  • A Sound Relief (2005)

Features a semi-acoustic concert recorded on 23 May 2005 at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam in front of an international audience.

It was recorded in Santiago, Chile, on 24 March 2007, at Caupolican Theatre. A Noise Severe
A Noise Severe
-References:...

is expected to be the opposite side of A Sound Relief, showcasing the heavier side of The Gathering, according to the band (Source).

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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