2007 Issued Fourth Studio Album by the Dutch Symphonic Metal Band. Within Temptation Once Again Prove Themselves as Peerless Purveyors of Quality Gotihic-tinged Rock, Produced Again by Daniel Gibson and Mixed by Stefan Gla... more »umann (Rammstein). While the Epic Grandeur of the Band?s Sound Remains, it Now Coexists with a More Contemporary "organic" Feel. Nowhere is this Highlighted More Than on the Single "What have You Done" (Featuring Life of Agony Vocalist Keith Caputo), which Manages to Be Both Passionate and Punchy. Elsewhere "Frozen" is a Classic, Streamlined Ballad and "The Howling" Swirling Tour-de-force.« less
2007 Issued Fourth Studio Album by the Dutch Symphonic Metal Band. Within Temptation Once Again Prove Themselves as Peerless Purveyors of Quality Gotihic-tinged Rock, Produced Again by Daniel Gibson and Mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein). While the Epic Grandeur of the Band?s Sound Remains, it Now Coexists with a More Contemporary "organic" Feel. Nowhere is this Highlighted More Than on the Single "What have You Done" (Featuring Life of Agony Vocalist Keith Caputo), which Manages to Be Both Passionate and Punchy. Elsewhere "Frozen" is a Classic, Streamlined Ballad and "The Howling" Swirling Tour-de-force.
"After the canonical goth-metal masterpiece Mother Earth, they had produced a tough act to follow, even for themselves. The Silent Force, four years after Mother Earth was a hollow rendition of their past efforts. I would contend that they're starting to work their way back up to that level with a slightly different, even grittier sound.
In The Heart of Everything we get nothing like the haunting "Our Farewell" nor the bombastic "Ice Queen" that made Mother Earth so great, but this offering is still nothing to be sneezed at.
"The Howling" is a worthy, attention-grabbing album opener, and it establishes the high stakes that the band (I assume) is intending to place on this album. They need to redeem themselves after The Silent Force, and God forbid they do anything like Lacuna Coil's Karmacode. This track is a positive beginning, with high-energy riffs and lyrics. 9/10
"What Have You Done" is a total disappointment. It was the single from the album, and track 2 should always be one of the stronger tracks on an album. Instead, this comes off as a nu-metal duet ballad of sorts, with a male vocalist that sounds too much like Fred Durst. If you like Evanescence, you should love this song, but Within Temptation can be so much more than this. 6/10
"Frozen" was a bit of a surprise. It starts out again like a Tori Amos song, but ends up a 4:30 love ballad that rocked my socks off. It possessed all the elements for a hit song, but there was a little too much noise in it. It's solid, but it lacks the compositional rhythm that makes a truly superb goth metal track. The lead guitar was also relatively boring, and it relied on repetitive licks that could have been spiced up a bit. 8.5/10
"Our Solemn Hour" is something i'd expect from Therion, not Within Temptation. It's over-the-top, operatic, and cheesy. Don't get me wrong, it has its moments, but there are strange sound clips or a backup male vocalist in the background that are impossible to hear. It's layering for the sake of layering rather than to achieve a unity of affect. If you're going to have lyrics like "Santus, Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour," you'd better have earned it. Avantasia is the only group from whom I can take Latin lyrics. 6.5/10
"The Heart of Everything" shows Sharon delving into the lower registers with her voice for a more masculine, aggressive sound. It's interesting, but nothing exceptional. 8/10
"Hand of Sorrow" has a classic Nightwish-esque intro, that melts into a Within Temptation ballad. Puts me in mind of "10th Man Down" by Nightwish, actually, both in lyrics and music. Luckily, Within Temptation has nailed it. 9/10
"The Cross" reminds me strangely of Tori Amos, and it takes a surprising turn from most of Within Temptation's music--the lyrics are more reasonable even, less angsty and juvenile. It really does sound like Tori Amos with a distorted guitar. 9.5/10
"Final Destination" is total filler crud. 5/10
"All I Need" is a slow, maudlin ballad that is a shallow imitation of "Our Farewell". It has its charms, i suppose, but I can't get past the lyrics and the whininess on this track, as I can manage with some of their other slower tracks. 7/10
"The Truth Beneath the Rose" seems to echo the earlier energy of the album, but it should more than likely have been a B-side. It has more of the operatic drivel that they tried to employ earlier in the album. This sounds a bit like Leaves' Eyes.
"Forgiven" begins with a beautiful piano intro, and Sharon's voice takes on a more muted quality from its usual whiny harshness. It approaches magnificence, and even (gasp) subtlety. This is hands-down one of my favorite tracks from the band, and I forgive the Sun/Clouds lyrics in a song where lyrics should be paramount. 10/10
If you didn't like The Silent Force and were a Within Temptation fan, get this album. I can forgive the filler tracks and call the entire elbum a 9/10."
What Have They Done Now?
Reijo Piippula | Turku, Finland | 03/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really loved the earlier album "Silent Force" but this is even better! The vocalist, Sharon, proves that she is even better than Tarja Turunen (from Nightwish), and the whole band proves that they are not "a poor man's Nightwish". This album has much differen kinds of songs, and they all are great. The songs "The Howling" and "What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo)" have been played in radios but I prefer more the songs "Frozen" and "The Cross". It seems that Within Temptation have decided to make something newer than just pale melodic metal with opera vocals. Sharon's voice is delightful! She can sing so beatifully and her voice is not just an opera voice without depth. The last song "Forgiven" is a beautiful beautiful ballad! The lyrics are even better than in "Silent Force". There seems to be some Christianity in lyrics...could it be that...?
Stars: Frozen, The Cross, Our Solemn Hour"
WOW - From not a goth metal rocker
Vicente Arancon Nacher | Mexico City, Mexico | 05/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For quite a while I had been searching for this kind of music, my first experiences were with Nightwish and Evanescense and I really think that Within Temptation tops them all!
I do not know why this kind of music is not aired in the radio or on TV, it is surely far, far better than the garbage we watch and everyday from teeny bands that beleive they are rockers.
I have only listened to this record once, but so far the best songs are: The Howling, What have you done, Frozen and All I need (a very pop-style song that could hit high on the charts if it had a chance).
Finally, if you like the combination of sexy, hipnotizing and scary female vocals, buy this record."
It is the Heart of Everything
L. Hughes | 03/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first heard 'What Have You Done,' I wasn't sure I'd be into the new CD. I LOVE Within Temptation, and to me that wasn't WT. But after hearing the entire CD several times over (because I couldn't stop listening to it)...I have to say it's AMAZING! HIGHLY recommended. Whether you're a first time listener or a long-time WT fan.
"
Must have for Within Temptation fans! It does not disappoint
A. Cozad | 07/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First matter at hand, do not listen to any of these so called fans that say negative things about "The Silent Force". It is by far an awesome album in which I loved every single song. So the next album had a lot on its plate in trying to step up to the caliber of Silent Force. Fortunately, The Heart of Everything does just about that!
Tracks:
1. Howling - Let's just say I cranked up the volume in preparation for the experience. When the Howling came blasting on with the haunting choir and Sharon's dark voice, it sent chills down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. This song is Within Temptation in true Silent Force mode with the music, choir, and Sharon's voice soaring high and beautifully. The song about killing and descent into madness definitely suits the music and singing. Rating - 10/10
2. What Have You Done - I was a bit put off at first that WT went with a guest singer in Keith Caputo on a song. I don't even know who that is. But surprisingly the guy doesn't have a bad voice (although one appearance is enough). I admit like the rest of the reviewers that this song sounds a lot like something Evanescence would do. But the issue is that I firmly believe Evanescence's last album to be a complete failure. This song is pretty good in tempo and dark mood in showing Evanescence how it is REALLY done. Rating - 8/10
3. Frozen - The first ballad of the album, but it is really a hard ballad when you really look at it. A haunting song about sacrifice that sees Sharon soaring with her voice in lamenting quality that will send more chills through you. As you can tell by this point as I did listening, this album has a darker overtone to it so far. Rating - 9/10
4. Our Solemn Hour - WOW! Just when you think another dark song would come out, this song literally explodes into a soaring melody of choir and Sharon's voice. I was a little put off at first by the guy talking a little in the background but you either learn to tune it out or accept it (it only happens at a few short points really, that's all). I accepted it as it fits the song well in talking about the destruction mankind is wreaking havoc in its sinfulness and Sharon pleading for the Holy Spirit to redeem and save us. Just the choir chanting "Sanctus Espiritus" is mind blowing! Then Sharon belting it out with everything she's got with her voice will blow it away even further! By far my favorite song on this album and would receive a 100 rating if I could! Unbelievable! Rating - 10/10!
5. The Heart of Everything - This song actually rather surprised me. Most all of us are used to Sharon soaring with her voice, but in this one she brings her voice down lower than I've every heard her before. And she pulls it off really well! Probably one of the most gothy songs on the album, reaching back to their earlier days with some of the subtle growling in the background. The darkest song yet to be sure. Rating - 8/10
6. Hand of Sorrow - If Our Solemn Hour wasn't on this album, this song would easily be the hit of the album. It is much like the song mentioned but with less choir. In Hand of Sorrow you can hear Sharon more clearly in her melodic voice. Again she cuts loose with her vocals in this incredible song about a tortured soul torn between his love and his oath of honor in which often makes pay the price in doing terrible things. Another hit! 10/10
7. The Cross - Track number seven isn't 'lucky number seven' for Within Temptation. This is the one song on the whole album where they tripped and fell flat on their face. It starts off with Sharon high pitched like Mariah Carey before you hear her "Ah ah ah ah ah aaaaahhhhh!" repeatedly! It sounds like some weird laughing that is seriously distracting and annoying. I gritted my teeth trying to listen through the whole song but I only made it 2/3 of the way through. WT would best be wise to avoid this kind of style like the plague in the future. Rating - 3/10
8. Final Destination - WT gets off the ground and dusts themselves off as they redeem themselves with this track about escaping death but leading into paranoia about death around every corner and how easily fragile life can be snatched away. Sharon once again drops her voice down but not so much of the time in this one as she is soon back to singing high with her angelic voice. Rating - 9/10
9. All I Need - The first real ballad of the album. No choir. Very little guitars. Just Sharon singing passionately with drum and orchestra about the hope found in love. A big contrast compared to the darkness of most of the album but a really nice touch. In this we get to see Sharon's versatility in being able to sing a great love ballad. Rating - 8/10
10. The Truth Beneath the Rose - Back to the darkness we go! The choir never ceases to fail as they explode into a haunting chant before Sharon comes in to sing this song about the inner turmoil and battle a person faces with the evil inside oneself while praying for forgiveness for sins committed. The longest song on the album is what it ends up being but you barely notice as the whole song captivates you all the way through! Outstanding! Rating - 10/10
11. Forgiven - Get your tissues out for this one cause you WILL need it. This song has only Sharon's voice, violin, and a Piano in a haunting song of grief over losing a loved one and being left behind. I was left in tears by the end of the song. Her voice is so bitterly sweet that it will no doubt touch most everyone's heart. It brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it, reminding me of loved ones I miss so much. Simply Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. Rating - 10/10
Overall this album is much like a mixture of Silent Force and Mother Earth that really makes for memorable songs. While it falls just short of the incredible album Silent Force, it is another fine installment by Within Temptation that will keep me as a fan for a long time! This album is a must have for other fans and for anyone interested in this group. I love it!
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
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