Perfection might just exist... (The Heart Of Everything - Within Temptation)

Member Name: Mildew82

Product:	The Heart Of Everything - Within Temptation
Date:	25/06/09 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautifully produced album with amazing melodies and vocals

Disadvantages: Ummm..none

Within Temptation are one of those bands that sneak up on you unexpectedly - for me they went from being a band I quite liked and occasionally listened to, to one of my top 5 current bands in just one album - The Heart of Everything.

Within Temptation are a Dutch band formed in 1996 by partners Sharon den Adel (vocals) and Robert Westerholt (rhythm guitar) with the other members consisting of Ruud Adrianus Jolie (lead guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards) and Stephen van Haestregt (drums). They have had 7 other members throughout the course of their history which goes to show what an evolving group they are.

I didn't really know their earlier albums, but the albums I was most familiar with before The Heat of Everything were Mother Earth (2000) and The Silent Force (2004). I really liked Mother Earth as it had a chilled Celtic (e.g. songs with fairies in mystical forests - awesome!) feel to it mixed with beautiful vocals and a lovely symphonic feel but for me there were only a couple of standout songs (notably Ice Queen) but it showed their potential.

I began to get more into them with the next instalment of The Silent Force - this maybe suggested a turn towards slightly more gothic rock, but still with the heavy (if not heavier) symphonic style and a lot more coherent and catchier songs. Within Temptation had left their mark on me and I thought this was their best work by far.

I was so so wrong!

The Heart of Everything is just an absolutely stunning album with not a single filler song, an amazing range of hauntingly beautiful vocals and yet another shift in style, still with underlying orchestral tones, but now with a much better balance of drums and guitars compared to the aforementioned albums - the perfect goth rock album in my opinion.

There is just so much energy and variety to every song on this album, and for me Sharon den Adel is the star with an amazing range of vocals from angry, to haunting and chilling, to melancholy - she may well have overtaken Amy Lee in my favourite goth rock chick singers list.

As a side note, I went to see Within Temptation play live and den Adel's voice (as well as The Heart of Everything) sounds even better live - they put on an amazing show.

Anyway, less idol worshipping and back to the album review. Since every song tells a story of its own I would either have to review each one in turn or none at all - so I've decided to do them all - I hope I don't bore anyone!

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The Howling
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What a stunning opening! For me this song feels like it could be a movie in a similar vein to Underworld - the energy and passion just rolls of it in waves with a cool mysterious story of being stalked by "The Howling" beasts. Powerful vocals, equally strong guitar riffs and chillingly gothic undertones make this an exciting and awe-inspiring beginning.

There is such great variety to this song with slow, building verses leading to an epic chorus which ties in with the great storytelling ability this band has demonstrated. Already there is a sense that this might just be special....

10/10.

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What Have You Done
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The first single released off the album What Have You Done features Keith Caputo to bring contrastingly harsh and low male vocals against den Adel's soprano extravaganza which harmonise together perfectly to create another breathtakingly passionate, energetic and angry song.

This was the perfect song to release to gain interest for the album - it is amazingly catchy and the rawness leaves you totally engaged. This is the second story off the album and is one of a failed relationship where love has turned to hate and the intense vocals and angry guitar riffs tell the story sublimely. A great follow up to the opening track.

10/10

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Frozen
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This song takes a turn away from the heavier guitar riffs and is much more melodic and symphonic with a higher use of the keyboards/piano and orchestral instruments. Once again beautifully melancholic vocals tell the next story of self sacrifice with real passion and emotion which make this song a sound to behold. den Adel's range of vocals and tempo fit in with the music perfectly and wonderful lyrics really bring the story of the song to life.

10/10

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Our Solemn Hour
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This song heralds a return to the heavier guitar riffs coinciding with a strong symphonic sound and a much more obvious gothic edge than in any of the previous songs. The story is slightly more obscure and perhaps less personable in this song, but to me it seems to be one of a slightly more despairing view of human nature. Again extremely energetic and powerful vocals bring this song to life and the richly gothic music make this yet again another exciting song.

10/10

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The Heart of Everything
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The title track of the album - again a heavily guitar based song with terrific riffs and a captivating melody with dark gothic undertones this is a superb advert for the entire album. den Adel uses a different register for parts of this song which shows off her range and adds great variety to the song. From bitterly angry to pleadingly sorrowful this song creates an array of feelings which again leads to a remarkably produced song that will bowl you over.

10/10

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Hand of Sorrow
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This song has a nice balance between the heavy guitar riffs and a beautiful symphonic sound switching between the heavy tones of the guitar and the softer tones of the piano/violin. den Adel uses a much higher register for this one to tell another story - one of a tortured soul looking to break free from a form of slavery. Once again her vocals match the haunting melodies and the intense pace of the song with a seemingly symbiotic quality to make yet again another truly outstanding song.

10/10

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The Cross
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This song has a much slower tempo, but still fairly heavy guitar riffs, but it is the range of emotions that den Adel displays from that truly makes this song for me. With slow building verses leading to a strong chorus this song demonstrates the great variety that so far has made this album a masterpiece. Once again den Adel's range of vocals absolutely amazes me cementing the fact that her voice is now one of my favourites from any goth rock band. A perfect continuation of the album.

10/10

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Final Destination
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This song has a very slow and tempting intro before leading into yet another beautifully melodic guitar based tune with symphonic undertones. There is a produced quality to den Adel's vocals in parts of this song which creates great atmosphere to yet another story - one of someone on an arduous and dangerous journey with mixed emotions along the way. The music accentuates this story perfectly with the diverse range of tempos and melodies used throughout. Still not a bad song on the album.

10/10

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All I Need
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This song breaks up the intensity of the album at just the right time - a slow and melancholy song, with den Adel's vocals displaying an incredible amount of emotion which creates yet again another overwhelmingly beautiful song. With violins taking the lead on this song, and beautifully hopeful yet pleasing lyrics this is by far the most moving song on the album. Further changes in tempo create changes in emotion and this is just another incredible song.

10/10

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The Truth Beneath the Rose
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Another teasing intro with slow building gothic and symphonic tones and another stunning melody before gearing up to the bigger guitar riffs, this song remains restrained at a much slower tempo than some of the more epic songs on this album which gives den Adel yet another chance to truly show off her amazing vocals by unleashing a mind-blowing range to depict the changing emotions of the song. Her high notes are so pure that I am just blown away every time I hear her sing and this song is no exception!

10/10

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Forgiven
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The final song on the album and it is the perfect way to finish off a perfect album in my opinion. This is another ballad with the emphasis on the piano and much softer and truly haunting vocals from den Adel. The lyrics are once again very stirring and emotive and den Adel's expression of emotions through perfectly controlled vocals simply make this a beautiful and unforgettable song. For the chorus the piano and violin combine to create a melancholy atmosphere which builds to a crescendo as the song progresses - just amazing!

10/10

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Conclusion
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The Heart of Everything is one of the most amazing albums I have heard in a very long time. I might seem lame having marked every song as 10/10 but I simply couldn't mark any of them down as they are just so beautifully produced in every aspect. This album is just full of fantastic melodies ranging from angry to gothic, moving and emotive lyrics and the most awe-inspiring vocals that will leave you literally tingling in some songs.

An absolute must have for any goth rock fan out there.

Summary: Stories told through goth rock in passionate and awe-inspring ways. An absolute must have!