'Like a metal Kate Bush' seems to be a popular description of Dutch band, Within Temptation. The latter half of the phrase seems to be most accurate, as most metal elitists might rush to point out - Within Temptation are no longer focused on the 'metal' side of their music, but they continue to produce uplifting, enjoyable songs. Their brand of female-fronted, bouncy, symphonic rock has given them success around Europe and is likely to appeal to fans of Nightwish and Leaves Eyes.
The band's debut album, Enter, and the follow up EP The Dance, display the band’s metal roots. They have an atmospheric quality, with dense synths and even bird sounds. This record's production gives it a raw feel, with heavy guitars featuring highly, which a lot of fans prefer to the polished sound of their later albums. The band was originally founded by guitarist Robert Westerholt; he asked his girlfriend Sharon den Adel to try singing; possibly unaware of her amazing vocal talent. Even though Sharon's voice did not feature in such a prominent way on Enter as it does on their most recent records, with vocals being shared more or less equally between her and Westerholt's grunts, it was clearly something special, going from the graceful angelic whispers of "Pearls of Light" to dark, gutsy squeals that have earned her comparison to Kate Bush. Lyrical themes on Enter and 2001’s Mother Earth focus on nature; the band say they are influenced by fantasy stories and films like Lord of the Rings which is clear from the ‘green’ feel to the music.
Within Temptation’s sound changed significantly in the 4 years between releasing Enter and Mother Earth and coincidental with this change, they were signed to BMG records. This allowed them to develop their sound by using a real orchestra and choir, to dramatic effect on songs like Ice Queen and Caged. Mother Earth has a bouncy, energetic feel that is quite far removed from the more mid-paced melancholy of Enter. Mother Earth and 2004's the Silent Force are more definitive of how Within Temptation sound now. Completely gone are Westerholt's grunts and the guitar parts have been pushed into the background; to be perfectly fair, Within Temptation can no longer really be considered a metal group. Here Sharon's voice is the main focus, alongside rich keyboards and strings.
The Silent Force builds on the foundations laid by Mother Earth, but is not a huge step forward; the band could be criticised for not wanting to develop or change the sound that brought them so much success. The uplifting feel found on Mother Earth however, is less evident, with lyrics taking a turn towards the more emotional - this could be a result of the band feeling pressured into conforming to the ’gothic’ label with which they have been tagged. Fans of Mother Earth would probably appreciate TSF, but it would be unlikely to win over new devotees; it is not an essential purchase for the average metal fan.
On stage is where Within Temptation truly shine, though. Combining tight musicianship with pyrotechnics, theatrics and often ridiculous stage props (blow up beanstalks, anyone?) the band put on a real show and entertain in a way a light-hearted group like this should. The spotlight focuses on Den Adel, with her costume changes and wacky make up, as she makes her huge voice look effortless. In the live setting, the guitars are able to come to the foreground, and the band literally jump around, capturing the energetic feel on their CDs.
The way the band incorporate the symphonic element of their music into their sound, rather than tack it on as an afterthought, is not always done successfully by other bands. Melodies, on Mother Earth particularly, are influenced by Celtic music and soundtracks, but neatly structured into perfect 4 minute pop songs. Although you are reading this on metal site, do not take the word ’pop’ to be a criticism, because Within Temptation are a band that write quality songs with depth, and outrageously catchy choruses that are mostly, thoroughly enjoyable. As they currently stand as one of the leading, and most successful, bands of the female-fronted symphonic genre, it will not be possible for the UK to ignore Within Temptation for much longer.
