Within Temptation
The Heart of Everything


4.0
excellent

Review

by Dethtrasher USER (232 Reviews)
May 14th, 2007 | 63 replies


Release Date: 2007 | Tracklist

Review Summary: This is basically an upgraded version of The Silent Force. But it is still a strong album with a good overall song variety, musicianship and vocal work.

Within Temptation – A symphonic, melodic gothic metal band that has become a quite recognizable band over the years. They come from the Netherlands and they were formed in 1996. The band does not have lots of originality points in their originality score but they have something else. Probably one of metals greatest female singers Sharon Den Adel, a singer that sounds like an angel with a flawless crystal clear voice. At the beginning the band was a bit more atmospheric and they also used dual vocals, angelic vocals and growls from one of the male members. But with time the male vocals has almost disappeared and this seems to create a gap between the fans. Once you have read about this band in magazines, websites or whatever you will surely come across comments and stories from the fans. Some fans love them above all else while the other half of the fans hates this band more than anything. Another reason why people hate the band could be that many think that the band has become more and more commercial. Good or bad, the band still shows that they are capable of delivering high-quality melodic metal.

THE HEART OF EVERYTHING, 2007

StrengthsWithin Temptation may not have many strengths but one of them are Sharon’s vocals. If you didn’t believed that angels existed then you were wrong. I this album Sharon has really improved her vocals, or at least she doesn’t use the same type of vocals all the time. In the title track she uses more attitude which makes the vocals a bit more powerful and a bit more aggressive, she really sounds quite angry I must say. In the track Forgiven she delivers some of the most beautiful vocals I have ever heard, quiet and calm vocals that almost makes you want to cry. Other than that the vocal performance is solid, more than solid. Another thing that is good in this album is that they have more instruments and the keyboards and the background symphonies are lowered. There is a better balance between the different elements. The instruments create a great flow in the tracks while the symphonic parts add depth and texture.

Weaknesses – This album is pretty flawless in many aspects but there were some things that I thought were bad, well, slightly bad. One thing I didn’t enjoy so much was the male vocals in one track which were clean vocals. If it had been the growling that the band had before then I would probably enjoyed it but I didn’t liked these vocals. The album came closer to the mainstream and it lowers the uniqueness of this album. I know I said that Sharon delivers a superb vocal performance here but in the track The Cross she doesn’t. She uses really high-pitched soprano vocals, some sort of distorted staccato vocals and her regular vocals, it just sounds bad compared to the rest of the tracks. After that there are just minor issues that are left for the listener to decide if the album is good or bad.

If you thought that this album was going to be special compared to The Silent Force then I have to say: This sounds like a second version or improved of The Silent Force. The major differences are that the instruments are louder, the symphonic elements are somewhat balanced and that the vocals are also a bit more improved and varied. But this is still a good album, perhaps not for the fans who like their earlier work but newer fans will definitely like this. If you like bands with skilled female singers and melodic metal bands you will probably enjoy this band. This is a band that is still growing and with more time this band will probably get better.

Recommended Tracks
-- Hand Of Sorrow
-- Forgiven
-- The Heart Of Everything

4/5



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user ratings (461)
3.6
great
other reviews of this album
1 of
  • BenjoJames (3.5)
    Within Temptation do well to prove they can shed the 'goth' tag the press has laden them w...

    Altmer (1.5)
    This album, despite being destined to be a commercial hit in the USA, falls horrendously f...

    Malen (2.5)
    The Dark Times of Gothic/Symphonic Metal, Part 10...

    LaughingSkull (4.5)
    Absolutely huge....

  • Epictemptation (5)
    Heavier Chapter in Within Temptation, welcome to the crazy dark path of "The Heart Of Ever...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Altmer
May 14th 2007


5711 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

I heard the single and it sucked. I did not like The Silent Force very much. Their earlier stuff is much better.



And they are all over the Dutch radio. >_>

Mikesn
Emeritus
May 14th 2007


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I liked the first two songs, but couldn't really get into the rest.



Good review.

TheHamburgerman
May 14th 2007


1539 Comments


I heard the dreadful single. It was bad, like in reallllly bad. Bad like St. Anger and Ember to Inferno bad. Is it still worth checking out?

Altmer
May 14th 2007


5711 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

are you kidding me hamburgerman this band isn't going to release anything good after the silent force :/



I'm going to save my money and get this on like, a discount three years later.

Shattered_Future
May 15th 2007


1632 Comments


Well, at least it's better than The Silent Force. Which really isn't saying all that much...

Still pretty freaking lame though.

Phil
May 15th 2007


1473 Comments


I agree with the review. Its very good, the vocals are very good but sometimes she takes too much of the limelight. This isn't such a bad thing because she is a very good singer.

Slaytan
May 15th 2007


1185 Comments


Nice shorter review. Good job.

Dethtrasher
May 15th 2007


2211 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks, the only thing I think is lame with this album is the art cover.

Altmer
May 15th 2007


5711 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

and the music

pleetf
June 9th 2007


4 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

I bought almost all of wt albums but stopped short of purchasing this one after testing out the cd at the music store.. this one was poor.. an attempt at trying, and i mean trying, to emulate evanescence or something.. they really failed to stick to their goth roots in this one..



if you're looking for the first goth album you're going to buy and you've spent the rest of your life listening to avrill lavigne/christina aguilera, this album is perfect for you.. otherwise, this album was absolutely torture to the ears- all melodrama without the substance..



MeowMeow
June 9th 2007


662 Comments


This band is ok. And they're nothing like Evanescence.

cSsteFa
June 9th 2007


47 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Excelent album, I think they really made some progress since The Silent Force.

BlackOpera
June 12th 2007


12 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I think this album rules. The track ''The Thruth Beneath The Rose'' is just brilliant. Sharon rules, Robert and Ruud (guitars) are much more present and use more variation than on ''The Silent Force''.

I dont even know why people keep comparing them to Evanescnece. When you listen to WT and than to EV shortly after eacother, you get the point. They are not similar. They are totally different...

Groeten,

Dethtrasher
June 13th 2007


2211 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I have been diggin ''Our Solemn Hour'' for a while now, most because of the growls. This album is more ''mature'' and stronger than The Silent Force. I like them both but this album is way better though.

Altmer
July 21st 2007


5711 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

I listened to this and it really sucked. It makes me want to cringe. This is even worse than the Silent Force, if that is possible.

Wizard
July 22nd 2007


20564 Comments


This album is just terrible. Good review none the less.

Willie
Moderator
July 23rd 2007


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I'm from the minority camp, I liked Silent Force much more then Mother Earth, and thought that the 2 albums before Mother Earth were second-rate and generic compared to the other bands doing the same thing at that time. I'll get this album tomorrow.

Dethtrasher
July 23rd 2007


2211 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The main reason why I like this band is most because of Sharon's beautiful vocals.

Altmer
July 23rd 2007


5711 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

sharon has much better vocals than on here

Volunteer
July 24th 2007


102 Comments


This album needs a little less Evanescence and a little more Lacuna Coil. Yawn.



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