“”De Overtocht” (English: The Crossing) tells the story of the moment someone loses themselves: physically, mentally, or emotionally, and awakens in a mist, a kind of purgatory between life and death. The song follows an inner journey through fear, loneliness, and regret, where the longing for love and company collides with self imposed isolation born from anxiety. Within the realm of shadows comes the confrontation: this is not how I want to fade away. What begins as panic slowly turns into clarity, and ultimately into a renewed hunger for life. It is a story about being trapped, breaking free, and realizing that life, despite all your fears, is more beautiful than you ever imagined. The tragedy is finding beauty in life at the very moment you learn you no longer belong to it, with a quiet yet powerful message: open your eyes, cherish what you have, be kind to those around you, and live your dreams before the light fades”, comments the band and adds: “With this second album, we started from nothing again. At the start, you need a spark, a kind of kickstarter song that makes you want to keep writing in the same feeling, style and direction. “De Overtocht” was that spark, which is why it became the first track we started with and the one that ultimately shaped the direction of the entire album.”

In September 2026, VANAHEIM will release their concept album, which carries the name “Roede voor de Borst” together with a new band design and lyrics that tell a tragic, emotional but engaging story. The new album features top musicians like Coen Janssen of Epica and Nils Fischer of Eluveitie, who enhanced the band’s sound with their performances on all new tracks. The Dutch luminary of all things symphonic and melodic metal, aka Joost van den Broek produced, recorded and mixed the album before it was mastered by Finnish mastering legend Mika Jussila in Helsinki.

“Roede voor de Borst” involves the listener in an immersive storyline about regrets, despair, hope and salvation. A musical journey full of surprises coated by a Dutch 19th century setting that pulls you deep into a book of untold legends. The Dutch vocals award these songs with an emotional honesty which leads every sung word directly under your skin. With a rousing mix of symphonic heaviness, elegant folk-inspired melodies and grounding death metal riffs, Roede voor de Borst represents the next level of Vanaheim and a new level of epic folk metal.

VANAHEIM is:
Zino van Leerdam – Vocals
Michael van Eck – Guitar
Mike Seidel – Bass
Rikke Linssen – Violin
Bram Trommelen – Drums