The Gathering

The Gathering

The Gathering are a Dutch atmospheric rock and metal group from Oss, North Brabant, active from 1989 to the present. They begin as a gothic metal and doom metal band, with early material described as atmospheric death doom metal, before moving towards alternative rock and progressive rock in later years. Their work sits across alternative rock, death metal, doom metal, gothic metal, metal and progressive metal, and they are associated with Psychonaut Records and Century Media.

Line-up and development

The band’s members include Bart Smits, Jelmer Wiersma, Hugo Prinsen Geerligs, Hans Rutten, René Rutten, Frank Boeijen, Marike Groot, Niels Duffhues, Martine van Loon, Anneke van Giersbergen, Marjolein Kooijman and Silje Wergeland. Anneke van Giersbergen joins in 1994, and her arrival marks a major change in the group’s sound. The band begins to draw on shoegaze, post-rock, experimental rock and the atmospheric style associated with 4AD-era acts such as Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins, alongside influences from Pink Floyd and Massive Attack. Their music becomes more expansive, with progressive, alternative and trip rock elements, and they gain recognition beyond Europe.

Vocalists and later years

In August 2007, van Giersbergen leaves to concentrate on her solo project Agua de Annique. The band announces Silje Wergeland as the replacement vocalist in March 2009. In November 2014, The Gathering mark their 25th anniversary with two sold-out reunion concerts at Doornroosje in Nijmegen, where four of their singers — Bart Smits, Marike Groot, Anneke van Giersbergen and Silje Wergeland — perform together for the first time. Van Giersbergen later returns for anniversary shows connected to Mandylion, and the band also announce a wider Mandylion tour with her.