Anneke Van Giersbergen "The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest (Mexico, InsideOut Music, IOMLTDCD-577)"

The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest is the third solo studio album by Anneke van Giersbergen, released on 26 February 2021 by Inside Out Music. It was written entirely by van Giersbergen and produced by Gijs Coolen.

After releasing the first VUUR album in 2017 and going on tour, Anneke van Giersbergen and the band started plans of recording a second album for the project in 2018. This first effort, although, had been financially demanding, and recording a second album and going on a second tour would imply more financial risks. At the same time, the singer's marriage went through difficulties and she and her husband envisioned a divorce. As a way of recovering and think about her future life decisions, van Giersbergen retreated alone to a small house near the woods outside Eindhoven. She then started writing songs by herself there, with just an acoustic guitar and basic musical gear, without the intention of transforming them into a full album. In 2020, delving back to that songs, the singer invited her friend and producer Gijs Coolen to help her polish the songs. Eleven of them ended up becoming a full album, and so van Giersbergen decided to release them. The release was announced on 16 November 2020, along with the cover artwork and the tracklist. The title, The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest, reflects the album main themes and refers to the idea that people are forced to find answers regarding big life questions when facing personal challenges.

The first single from the album, "My Promise", was released on 4 December. The lyrics came from van Giersbergen reflecting on how her life after a divorce would be and revolves around her determination to fight for love. According to the singer, "for the new album [she] wrote a lot of songs filled with messages of love and heartache, but [she] also went on a more propulsive journey, with darker storytelling", which is clear in the second single released, "Hurricane". Musically, the album follows a more melancholic and modest landscape, opposite to the singer latest progressive metal ventures. It features mainly acoustic guitars, strings, horns and percussion, along with van Giersbergen's vocals.

Track listing

All music and lyrics composed by Anneke van Giersbergen and produced by Gijs Coolen.

1. "Agape" 4:09
2. "Hurricane" 3:57
3. "My Promise" 4:27
4. "I Saw a Car" 3:39
5. "The Soul Knows" 3:52
6. "The End" 4:19
7. "Keep It Simple" 3:56
8. "Lo and Behold" 2:50
9. "Losing You" 3:41
10. "Survive" 3:46
11. "Love You Like I Love You" 3:12

Total length: 41:48

Recording information:

Pieter Hoekstra (Pie Design) - artwork, layout

Snir Gedasi Design - design (heart)

Robbin Gielen - management (assisted by)

Rob Snijders - management

Darius van Helfteren - mastering

Guido Aalbers - mixing

Lida van Straaten - other (hair & makeup)

Dylan van Duijne - other (styling)

Mark Uyl - photography

Erik Spanjers - recording (string arrangements)

Anathema "A Moment In Time (Limited Edition, Swing Case, Poland, Metal Mind Productions, MMP DVD 0075)"

A Moment In Time is a live CD/DVD album by English Rock band Anathema, released June 19th, 2006.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 (DVD)

1. Shroud of False 04:35
2. Fragile Dreams 04:49
3. Balance 03:36   
4. Closer 05:28  
5. Lost Control 06:10   
6. Empty 03:13   
7. A Natural Disaster 05:55
8. Inner Silence 03:08
9. One Last Goodbye 05:44  
10. Judgement 02:47
11. Panic 02:59   
12. Flying 06:15
13. Angelica 05:04  
14. Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd cover) 07:55  
15. Interview 22:27  
16. Sleepless (Live in Kraków 2004) 03:59
17. A Dying Wish (Live in Kraków 2004) 07:49   
18. Albatross (Live in Kraków 2004) 03:41  
19. Fragile Dreams (Live in Kraków 2004) 05:09  

Time:   01:50:43

 

Disc 2 (CD)

1. Shroud of False 04:36  
2. Fragile Dreams 04:52  
3. Balance 03:33  
4. Closer 05:33  
5. Lost Control 06:09  
6. Empty 03:13  
7. A Natural Disaster 05:55  
8. Inner Silence 03:10  
9. One Last Goodbye 05:47  
10. Judgement 02:43  
11. Panic 03:01  
12. Flying 06:16  
13. Angelica 05:05  
14. Comfortably Numb 07:26  

Time:  01:07:19  

Hinged swing case with credits fold-out sheet. The CD is an audio recording of the concert featured on the DVD.

Recording information:

Filmed and recorded at Metalmania Festival, Spodek, Katowice, Poland, March 4th 2006.

Guest performance by 'Bacchus String Quartet'.

Anathema "Fine Days: 1999 - 2004 (3CD+1DVD Limited Edition Digibook, UK, Music For Nations, 888750 585424)"

Fine Days: 1999 - 2004 is a boxed set by English Alternative Metal band Anathema, released April 13th, 2015.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 (CD)   Judgement

1. Deep
2. Pitiless
3. Forgotten Hopes
4. Destiny Is Dead
5. Make It Right (F.F.S.)
6. One Last Goodbye
7. Parisienne Moonlight
8. Judgement
9. Don't Look Too Far
10. Emotional Winter
11. Wings of God
12. Anyone, Anywhere
13. 2000 & Gone

Disc 2 (CD)  A Fine Day to Exit   

1. Pressure
2. Release
3. Looking Outside Inside
4. Leave No Trace
5. Underworld
6. Barriers
7. Panic
8. A Fine Day to Exit
9. Temporary Peace

Disc 3 (CD)   A Natural Disaster  

1. Harmonium
2. Balance
3. Closer
4. Are You There?
5. Childhood Dream
6. Pulled Under at 2000 Metres a Second
7. A Natural Disaster
8. Flying
9. Electricity
10. Violence

Disc 4 (DVD)

1. Were You There?  
2. Intro: Childhood Dream
3. Balance
4. Closer
5. Pressure
6. Release
7. Forgotten Hopes
8. Destiny Is Dead
9. Are You There?
10. One Last Goodbye
11. Pulled Under at 2000 Metres per Second
12. Parisienne Moonlight
13. A Natural Disaster
14. Judgement
15. Panic
16. Temporary Peace
17. Flying
18. One Last Goodbye
19. Temporary Peace
20. Flying
21. Pressure (Promo Video Clip)
22. Release (Live in London)
23. A Natural Disaster (Live in Hamburg)

Comes in an A5 Mediabook with 2x double tray & 24-page lyrics/liner notes booklet.

On CD2 "Temporary Peace" (CD2-10.1) lasts until 5:50, followed by the sound of waves, spoken word, and an unlisted hidden song called "In The Dog's House" (CD2-10.2) at 12:15.

Track CD1-2 is misspelled as 'Pittless' on some backcovers, but is correctly spelled in the booklet.

In addition to being remastered, "A Fine Day To Exit" has the previously unreleased song "A Fine Day" added as track 1, and the running order changed from the original release.

DVD label and back cover presents the "Dolby Digital" & "Digital dts Sound" logos. "FSK ab 12 freigeben" logo found on the DVD label. "FSK ab 0 freigeben" logo sticker present on the cover of some copies.

Anathema "A Sort Of Homecoming (Blu-ray + 2CD + 1DVD Limited Edition Boxed Set, UK, Kscope Music, KSCOPE525)"

Following the success of their short Australian tour, an acoustic tour was announced for New Zealand and Australia in 2015. Daniel, Vincent and Lee performed these show without the other band members. Later that year, the band released an acoustic live album and video entitled A Sort of Homecoming, consisting in the record of a concert at the band's hometown Liverpool Cathedral.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray)

1. The Lost Song - Part 2  
2. Untouchable - Part 1  
3. Untouchable - Part 2  
4. Thin Air
5. Dreaming Light  
6. Anathema  
7. Ariel
8. Electricity
9. Temporary Peace   
10. The Beginning and the End   
11. Distant Satellites  
12. Take Shelter
13. Internal Landscapes  
14. A Natural Disaster
15. Fragile Dreams   
16. A Temporary Place - Behind the Scenes Short Film  

Disc 2 (CD)

1. The Lost Song, Part 2 06:38
2. Untouchable, Part 1 06:29   
3. Untouchable, Part 2 06:24   
4. Thin Air 06:44  
5. Dreaming Light 06:22
6. Anathema 07:31
7. Ariel 06:08
8. Electricity 03:52   

Time:  50:08  

Disc 3 (CD)

1. Temporary Peace 05:54   
2. The Beginning and the End 05:21  
3. Distant Satellites 08:04  
4. Take Shelter 09:28
5. Internal Landscapes 07:03
6. A Natural Disaster 08:45
7. Fragile Dreams 07:32

Time:  52:07  

Disc 4 (DVD)

1. The Lost Song Part 2 06:39  
2. Untouchable Part 1 06:29
3. Untouchable Part 2 06:25   
4. Thin Air 06:44   
5. Dreaming Light 06:22   
6. Anathema 07:31
7. Ariel 06:08  
8. Electricity 03:52  
9. Temporary Peace 05:54  
10. The Beginning and the End 05:21  
11. Distant Satellites 08:04  
12. Take Shelter 09:28
13. Internal Landscapes 07:03  
14. A Natural Disaster 08:45   
15. Fragile Dreams 07:32

Time:  01:42:17

Comes in slipcase.

Recording information:

Recorded live on March 7, 2015 in Liverpool Cathedral.