This unique Dutch rock band Within Temptation first emerged in the gothic metal underground scene of 1997 with their first album Enter. Their debut album took the gothic doom approach with death metal growls, longer instrumental sections and few singing part, it was an album that won them early fan in their home country. The band soon emerges three years later with a sound that merged Celtic music with metal, this produced the album ‘Mother Earth’; it was a new territory as it became clear the band sound was more symphonic metal then early gothic doom music. In 2004 their next studio effort, ’The Silent Force’ really expanded them in the symphonic metal scene and their popularity outside their home country. The album ‘Heart of Everything’ soon followed with a more define symphonic sound than ever before, however it for the band fifth album they emerge which brought an entirely new sound. ‘The Unforgiving ‘was heavily focused on the sound of metal riffs, atmospheric keyboard playing and pop based melodies, gone was the early sound of symphonic metal; instead place with a new direction for the band.
Their latest album ‘Hydra’ has been described by the band as diversity of all their sound throughout the five previous albums. The name ‘Hydra’ was given as a reference to music genre variation the band improves on each new release, according to Greek mythology Hydra was a multi-headed serpent that, for each decapitated head, sprang forth two more in their place.
While the band has stayed true to its signature sound, it hard to miss the new diversity of this album with added duet performances from the likes of Howard Jones ,Tarja Turunen , David Pirner and American rapper Xzibit. While some of the choices of duet was an unlikely decision to stomach, especially from Xzibit however blended with Sharon De Adel angelic voice it work well; with this album you get two angelic voice for the price of one with the song ‘Paradise (what about us)’ where you also get another symphonic metal celebrated singer Tarja Turunen .
The first time you listen to this album, it could be easy to be sidetracked by the guest stars, but that’s not the case with the ‘Hydra’ album. The vocal power of Sharon den Adel’s provided some interesting tracks that flow well within the context of the disc; she’s a singer who can go heavenly light on one song (Edge of The World) to heavy boom basted to another song (Covered By Roses, Sliver Moonlight and Tell me Why).
Another interesting addition to the ‘Hydra’ album was that they included their Q-music sessions, a collection of cover songs redone in ‘Within Temptation’ style. Don’t let these collections of cover
