To celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Mandylion’, the landmark album that defined The Gathering’s international breakthrough, the band reunited in its original lineup for five sold-out shows. For Anneke van Giersbergen, it was a return to familiar ground, and one that resonated far beyond expectations. The overwhelming response has led to a full slate of major concerts and festival appearances worldwide in 2026 with her former bandmates.

While embracing this renewed connection with her musical “brothers,” Anneke continued writing the deeply personal material that forms ‘La Vie, La Mort, L’Amour’. The trilogy traces an intimate emotional journey through love, loss, and grief, inspired by the passing of both of her parents within just two months of each other.

A brand-new EP featuring four songs – “La Mort” – will be released soon. The release is preceded by the single ‘Red Sky’, out today. Watch the official music video for it here.

The full EP will be available digitally on March 27, with a special vinyl edition released for Record Store Day on April 18.

Anneke comments: “Not every song on ‘La Mort’ is literally about death, writing doesn’t follow rules like that, and I’m glad it doesn’t. ‘Sail Towards The Sun’, however, is about saying goodbye to my father. He once built his own seaworthy sailboat, and we spent many family holidays on the water. That memory lives very close to my heart”.

“La Mort” – Tracklist
1. Fade In Fade Out
2. Handle Me With Care
3. Red Sky
4. Sail Towards The Sun

As with the first EP, ‘La Vie’, Anneke once again recorded the new songs with her live band, capturing an organic sound. The lineup on “La Mort” consists of:

Anneke van Giersbergen – vocals, guitar
Allie Summers – backing vocals
Camilla van der Kooij – violin, viola
Edward Capel – reed instruments
Gijs Coolen – guitars
Matthias van Beek – guitars, backing vocals
Rob Snijders – drums
Roel Blommers – bass
Thijs Schrijnemakers – keyboards

Το άρθρο ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN: ANNOUNCES “LA MORT” EP εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

It was my first time in Gazarte. More specifically, Anneke would perform at the main stage, which means that most of the attendants would be seated. Indeed, the venue was filled with tables and chairs, each table with a candle on it. We arrived early at the place so that we became familiar with everything at Gazarte, which gradually started to get crowdy. You could see many couples, middle-aged fans who all adored The Gathering and Anneke and were eagerly waiting for the onset of the live show. Anneke didn’t leave us alone for long – the sweet girl from the Netherlands appeared on stage and kept us good company for almost two hours. One of the most sincere, warmest and more personal acoustic live shows was about to begin!

Anneke made her entrance humbly and the audience burst in applause. The original voice of The Gathering stood in the middle of the stage, without other musicians supporting her, but with a large crowd of music lovers, who were there, crazy for Anneke! After a short prologue, necessary for both the musician and the listeners, Anneke started the show, performing the songs she had prepared. We listened to songs from her solo career, some from The Gathering and covers of famous songs. The girl with the velvet voice sang beautifully and passionately all the songs– it is incredible, but her voice is in a very good condition! Her performance was brilliant and the audience, understanding that, was mesmerized! Although she had only a guitar to accompany her singing, Anneke performed brilliantly – some mistakes added to the authenticity of the show. She gave us her everything- this one woman show was dense, raw and emotionally charged. I also liked very much the covers, especially “November Rain” (Guns N’  Roses), “Who Wants to Live Forever” (Queen) and “I Want to Know What Love Is” (Foreigner) – Anneke is technically clever, her arrangements were superb and her feeling was flowing like a stream of water!!! She touched everyone with her sensitivity and sincerity – her acoustic show was like no other – so melodic, true and soulful, we all were super excited and lost in a dream of notes and harmonies!!!

Anneke sang for about two hours and travelled us to many, beautiful places. Her voice is warm, mellow and crystal and for two hours, we lived in paradise. Thank you Anneke, see you soon!

Το άρθρο ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN – GAZARTE, ATHENS, GREECE – 30/04/2025 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

1. “Saturnine” (The Gathering)

A poignant ballad from her time with The Gathering, “Saturnine” showcases Anneke’s ability to convey deep emotion through minimalist arrangements. Its melancholic melody and introspective lyrics resonate profoundly in an acoustic setting, offering a raw and intimate experience that underlines her vocal purity.

2. “The May Song” (The Gathering)

Coming from a fantastic gothic/atmospheric metal album (“Nighttime Birds”), The Gathering’s “The May Song” is a melancholic yet colourful song, which travels you in time and seasons. Like the flowers blossom, Anneke’s voice plays so wonderfully and vividly and sets the bar high for all women, who want to lead a metal band.

3. “Strange Machines” (The Gathering)

A Gathering classic, one of the best metal songs of the mid 90s, “Strange Machines” still sounds so fresh thanks to its riffs and rhythms. The dreamy and powerful vocals of Anneke are unparalleled, showing us a new, beautiful dimension. We love those strange machines, and this girls sings like an angel! A top moment of Anneke’s repertoire!

4. “Hurricane”

From Anneke’s solo album “The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest”, “Hurricane” is a fine example of her songwriting prowess. She sings brilliantly and, based on the song’s exciting changes and touching lyrics, she gibes a recital. That’s an acoustic composition, which lets the emotions come through clearly and makes the listeners sing along! What a refrain!

5. “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” (Kate Bush)

Anneke’s interpretation of Kate Bush’s classic brings a fresh perspective to the iconic track. Stripping it down to its core elements, her acoustic version emphasizes the song’s haunting themes and showcases her ability to honor the original while infusing it with her unique style.

6. “I Saw a Car”

An uncovnetional song, which delights the listeners with its caprice and imaginative style. Anneke’s expressive vocals create an outstanding performance that invites us in a sonic game! Give it one listen and you will be immediately captivated by the artist and her stirring artistry. Let’s play with Anneke, shall we?!

7. “Mental Jungle”

A wonderful, stand out track, featured on her 2013 album, “Drive”, it has an atmospheric depth, an undeniable power and a strong intensity, which all make it amazing! The earworm refrain, the heavy guitars and the moving beat give Anneke the opportunity to sing passionately and emotionally. I love the song, it has a raw beauty, which melts hearts and leave you breathless. And there is also a prog touch!

8. “You Will Never Change”

A touching song, full of dynamics, with a whimsical melody and catchy vocal lines.”You Will Never Change” combines strength, atmosphere, style and finesse, in other words all the true characteristics of Anneke’s way of composing and performing. This is a rocking song, which makes the listener sing and dance to its upbeat tempo. I am dying to listen to this song in an acoustic live setting!

9. “Witnesses” (Agua De Annique)

Without a doubt, this is a strange composition, which has a calmness and sounds emotionally deep, but at the same time is heavy, complex and ends with a rhythmical crescendo. One of the most demanding songs by Anneke, “Witnesses” is a hymn of music cleverness and versatility. I know that Anneke closes her recent shows with this one, so get ready for a zenith of musical and emotional power!

10. “Ray of Light” (Madonna)

Anneke offers a fresh and emotive interpretation of the iconic, classic Madonna track. Her hauntingly beautiful vocals bring a new depth to the song, transforming its upbeat energy into a more introspective and atmospheric experience. The lush instrumentation, the electronic and rock elements and the passion and psyche of Anneke make this rendition a very interesting one. A compelling cover that both fans of Madonna and Anneke will receive with big exctitement and pure joy!

Το άρθρο ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN – 10 FAVOURITE SONGS! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.