Anneke van Giersbergen does not need any introduction. And if you don’t know her, then you must dig into the ‘90s, from the last century and discover a band, called The Gathering. This woman was the voice and frontwoman, that influenced many people, including myself. And has also another band, called Vuur. But let’s focus on this album, “The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest”. This is her third solo record and has a deep meaning, because it talks about her relationship and how it could fall apart. This album is almost like a diary to her soul and she would like to share it with the fans. “Agape” is the first track and it features an acoustic guitar, alongside Anneke’s voice, then some strings and percussion. “Hurricane” is very magical, it will make you spin to it, due to the chorus. “My Promise” was released as the first single and we can see why. Very beautiful. The arrangements were very well done. We feel like dancing. A powerful and unique song. It has strength, like a car, but with a darker flow: “I Saw A Car”. A soft pop/rock ballad, that shows Anneke’s higher range: “The Soul Knows”. “The End” will make you cry and grab a tissue, since it talks about heartbreak. “Keep It Simple”, although it is still melancholic, like the previous one, is more groovy and diverse, especially in terms of the instruments. “Lo and Behold” is about commitment. “Losing You” is the one of the warmest tracks in the record, we can see that Anneke is fighting for something, in this case, someone. The album ends with a positive track, “Love You Like I Love You”, which is a song of hope. “The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest” is a very beautiful album in every way. we hope that Anneke accomplished her goal with this album, as she is a great singer and an amazing human being. This record must be listened and appreciated.
♦ 8/10
Raquel Miranda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9jkpdqv-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8PA4w1iSug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCfoKtDs0XE
