Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything
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Free Music Notes for The Heart of Everything
Free Music Review: It's truly the heart of everything
Hit: 5 Stars
In this fourth studio album from Dutch symphonic metal act Within Temptation, the band proves they have what it takes to be an international music sensation. This album has it all: drama, emotion, hardcore rock-out songs, moving power ballads, captivating lyrics, catchy rocks songs with just enough dark edge (and pop-like hooks) to ensnare new fans while pleasing old ones.
Where do I start with THOE? Let's start with the variety. Want something that's got catchy jump-inducing, pulse-pounding rock? Check out "Hand of Sorrow," my personal favorite on the album. Don't tell me you can't get through the chorus without wanting to jump in time to the music. How about an emotional, gut-wrenching ballad that brings tears to your eyes? Check out "Frozen," the more pop-friendly "All I Need," or, another of my favorites on the album, "The Cross." Want something to really get you revved up, possibly with thought-provoking lyrics and awesome instrumental sections? "The Howling" was written for you. If you're really into those thought-provoking lyrics, "The Truth Beneath the Rose" and "Our Solemn Hour" are the places to be. Oh, then there's the first single from the album, "What Have You Done." Though I admit I was a little let down by this song, it features a great duet with Sharon and Keith Caputo. However, the song has far too many shades of Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life" for comfort for me, with its catchy pop-rock tone.
There a few different versions of the album floating around and between special editions and international re-releases, the tracks tend to vary a little bit. There are live recordings of just about every song on the album, plus an acoustic versions of "What Have You Done," Silent Force hit "Stand My Ground" and classic WT song "Ice Queen." Heck, the U.S. version even included Silent Force song "Stand My Ground." The special digital version of THOE includes the video game trailer for the Chronicles of Spellborn, which the song "The Howling" was used to promote. It also includes the music videos for "What Have You Done," "Frozen" and "The Howling." B-sides for THOE of the ballads "Blue Eyes," "Sounds of Freedom" and the strangely pop-sounding "The Last Time."
The Heart of Everything is WT's crowning achievement so far in their career. If you've never heard of WT or have even the slightest interest in seeing what they are about, start with THOE. It's a truly phenomenal piece of symphonic rock.
Free Music Review: Pompous, overblown, symphonic - best album of 2007
Hit: 5 Stars
Firstly, comparing Within Temptation unfavourably to Evanescence is a bit like turning your nose up at Bollinger whilst simultaneously extolling the virtues of Wal Mart cut-price grape juice. Amy Lee whines a bit and navel-gazes a lot and writes largely inane lyrics and occasionally comes up with a half-decent song like Going Under.
WT, on the other hand, boast Sharon den Adel whose ethereal voice is a thing of great beauty, great passion and great power. WT's songwriting is far more subtle and interesting - these guys (and gal) know their way round a fantastic tune. Oh, and if we're talking chronology and copy-cattery, WT's inception pre-dates that of Evanescence by about two years. If you MUST compare WT to any band, let it be one of the calibre of The Gathering or Nightwish. (Both of whom I have a soft spot for, but neither of whom surpass WT in my eyes.)
So, anyway, T.H.O.E. is a classic. It bulges with a handful of songs which have already joined the Heavy Metal pantheon forever, I believe. Yes, I think The Howling, What Have You Done?, Frozen, Our Solemn Hour, The Cross and Forgiven have all earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Black Sabbath, Better By You, Better Than Me, The Phantom of the Opera (think the Maiden rather than Michael Crawford and West End/Broadway stages!), In the Still of the Night, One, Angel of Death, Livin' On A Prayer, The Final Countdown, Samarithan, The Clerical Conspiracy, Smoke on the Water, Stairway to Heaven, Let There Be Rock, K.I.N.G., Spiritual Healing, Wild Child, Eye of the Tiger, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Ace of Spades, Bohemian Rhapsody etc etc etc.
Sure, T.H.O.E. sags a bit in the final third, but there's not an album in existence that doesn't have its boring bits. WT are a phenomenon. They are a peerless live band and you get the feeling that, sure, as they mature they progress and evolve in all sorts of ways, but they started off with such astounding quality that their earlier albums are as essential as this one. I mean, jeez! Enter and Restless and Ice Queen and Mother Earth and Caged and Deceiver of Fools and Angels and Stand My Ground and Memories.... they've come up with classic after classic ever since they burst onto the scene. I don't see this kind of quality in any other band today. WT are the epitome of Metal in the Noughties!
Free Music Review: Their best so far
Hit: 5 Stars
What an awesome album!!! Truely amazing.
WT have the mix spot on here. From the pumping rock on the heavy tracks to the faultless singing (thankfully less operatic than previous albums) and rousing orchestral work, it all gells into their finest album so far.
The Heart Of Everything is heavier than previous efforts but is still catchy and unlike a lot of symphonic metal, each track doesn't sound like the last. Their previous album, The Silent Force raised the bar, this takes it even higher. Almost every track is an absolute gem.
The Howling is a great opener. All the elements are here. One of the albums heavier tracks.
What Have You Done is the lead single and is a great track but with the male duet vocal it sounds too close to the popular Evanesance's Wake Me Up.
Frozen slows the tempo but keeps the rock levels up. A good track but not a standout. A little radio safe perhaps it was released as the second single.
One Solemn Hour is my favorite. Sounds like it's pulled straight from the climax in a big budget disaster/action hollywood movie. The louder the better with this one.
The Heart Of Everything is another down tempo nice rock tune. Not one of the highlights but a good track.
Hand Of Sorrow is another standout. The crashing intro would also be right at home on a movie sound track. Great song.
The Cross is the best of what could be deemed as the albums two filler songs.
Final Destination is the second and while good, isn't memorable enough.
All I need is the first of two ballads and the albums fourth single. A terrible film clip but a brilliant song. Another standout. Great vocal work.
The Truth Behind The Rose is the albums epic and another highlight. A tad over 7 minutes it contains all the elements sym metal needs. A choral ending that could have been lifted from 'O Fortuna'.
Forgiven is soft and delicate and truely wonderful. A close second faorite to One Solemn Hour though the two couldn't be further apart. Just a piano, some strings and Sharon's voice. Builds nicely but not overdone. Similar to the previous albums closer 'Somewhere' but even better.
You must try this album and it's predecessor, The Silent Force. I agree, some symphonic rock can sound the same but you won't find that here.
Free Music Review: my new favorite
Hit: 5 Stars
wow, I thought Evanescence was great, Within Temptation (though a less creative band name IMO) took it one step further!!! they truly concentrated on theatric and classical opera-like theme, which makes them sound more "gothic-like". And unlike Evanescence's The Open Door (which I also enjoy very much), WT did not focus too much on making the lead singer's voice shine by creating so much choruses with her voice, but simply use higher and higher pitches of vocal that made it sound both more chilling and hunting, and I have to admit, makes them sound more like a band (I do sympathize with complainers of Evanescence's new album that it sounded like "Amy and Evanescence").
That said, so what if they clearly adopted many Evanescence influence with their newest album? After hearing The Silent Force, Mother Earth, and this album, I really have to say that this one is the best, it's more powerful, more prominent, more rock, and will definitely be the album that will make them stand out. What Have You Done is gotta be my favorite, and I really don't think it sound THAT much like Ev's Bring Me To Life. And their lyrics are much much more dark and more subtle in the message and more fairy tale opera-like (which is definitely their strength)
However, I don't think their mellower ballet-like songs, such as All I Need, is as good as Ev's My Immortal, Good Enough etc (tune-wise). I sometimes have to listen a few more times before making out the tunes of those songs, and they don't combine as well with the rest of the album, I think it's something they need to work on.
I know some people get irritated when WT is so constantly compared with Ev, but honestly, I have tried other goth-rock bands with the characteristic of female lead-singer, and no other bands can compare IMO(this include Nightwish, Leave's Eye, Stream of Passion etc) except WT, Within Temptation is definitely going to be Evanescence's rival from now on.
"I don't want to sound like we are the best band ever but I think we do have something very genuine, just like classical music"--Amy Lee
well Amy, you better watch out from now on, there may just be a band yet that can do just as good, if not better, than yours can!! :P
Free Music Review: Late to get on board...but very glad I did!
Hit: 5 Stars
I was exploring the web a little and heard a song from Within Temptation...now I positively can't get enough! I have always loved all types of Metal (from older stuff to Deathmetal, to Metalcore, to Progressive) I never really got into anything like Evanesence or Nightwish, and I figured these guys and girl were very similar. Last year I dabbled a little bit in Lacuna Coil, but I got bored with it quite soon actually, and I never looked further in this area of music...until now. After hearing this stunning band I was hooked, but I was still not certain that was going to last, so I listened to a few more songs then tentatively bought this album (mainly cause it was cheaper that usual). I have had this album for a week now and I've listened to it all the way through every day now. Very few bands have that effect on me and I'm still trying to decide what it is about them that has me so enamored. I'll try to break it down a bit:
After going back just to check on other bands in the genera again they still don't excite me, but Within Temptation is amazing! It might be the orchestral sound in many of the songs along with the more-than-stellar vocals that makes them stand out. There is a certain charm to their unique sound that is catchy while not being too commercial friendly (which I appreciate), and tracks like Our Solem Hour and Stand My Ground have a refreshing Epic Metal sound that does not feel strained or overdone, which is rare when talking about all things labeled "epic." Their sound is just so natural sounding with the vocals. It all fits with a perfection that is angelic, and it is some of the only music I can think of that makes me actually feel the emotion of the song with an almost tangible feeling. The Cross actually sent chills down my spine and The Howling had a similar effect on me. The only low point on the album, in my opinion, is What Have You Done, as it is the only song that has that commercial, radio-friendly, pop-rock sound that I've come to dislike, but it still does that type of rock justice. Either way, I'm glad the male vocals are a one time thing on this album, because the female's voice can make anyone sound awful.