The Heart Of Everything

I've been following WT since I first got hold of 'Mother Earth' three years ago. I loved the album, and knew I was onto something special. But nothing could prepare me for their next album, 'The Silent Force', which was basically my taste in music in an album. From its release until now, it virtually has not left my CD player, and I did not expect anything to ever surpass it. Except, that is, for WT's next album. Somehow, they managed to do it with 'The Heart of Everything'. While I wish they'd gone with their other choice for the title ('Our Solemn Hour'), there are so many stand out songs here that it's very difficult for me to pick out my favourite.

Firstly, I'll get the criticisms out of the way. 'Final Destination' is, as some have said previously, a bit of a filler track, all too similar to 'A Dangerous Mind'. 'The Howling' is a brilliant opener, but since nearly every WT fan had already heard this a million times, it wasn't as exciting as it could have been. I would have preferred 'Hand of Sorrow' to open the album (you'll understand why when you hear the intro). Most fans will also admit that 'What Have You Done' is not WT's best work, the addition of Keith Caputo being an all-too unsubtle attempt to strike lucky with an Evanescence-style hit.

However, 'Frozen', hotly tipped to be the follow-up release, provided it has a good video, will almost definitely place WT on the map in the UK and the USA. It has WT's signature style written all over it, whilst still managing to have a commercial flavour. For a ballad, it's also damn heavy, and for a 'goth-rock' band, it's a surprisingly uplifting song. With lines such as 'It tears me apart that you will never know, but I have to let go', it's easy to understand how many fans find it easy to relate to WT's music.

If I was asked to pick a song that defines WT, 'Our Solemn Hour' would undoubtedly be among my top choices. Yes, it was described as 'camp' by Kerrang (who, let's not forget, are very well known for whoring and then trashing bands), and to be honest, it IS very in-your-face with its huge orchestras, choirs, lyrics and war sound effects. The shortest song on the album, it's also probably the most fun.

'The Heart of Everything' took a while to get used to. It's a much darker and heavier WT song, with Sharon's vocals going as deep as they possibly can, but it works.

'Hand of Sorrow' contends with 'Frozen' to be my favourite song on the album. The intro is out of this world, with its subtle choir and fiddle, which then suddenly bursts, into explosive guitars and strings. Great lyrics and song name too.

'The Cross' is WT's most experimental song to date, and it's also one of their most successful. It's aggressively catchy with it's 'ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah' throughout. The use of the mandolin and old drums really paid off, giving the song a bizarre machine-like, industrial feel, and probably the strongest chorus WT have ever written.

'Final Destination' and 'All I Need' are probably the album's weakest points. Fortunately, 'All I Need' is a perfectly acceptable ballad, but this is one song that could have easily been written by any other band. It's very, very American in its sound.

'The Truth Beneath The Rose', inspired by the Da Vinci Code, is reminiscent of the 'Mother Earth' era, with an opening that you already know will grow into something huge as soon as it begins.

Originally I had thought that 'Somewhere' would remain my favourite WT ballad, but 'Forgiven' is a strong contender to replace it. It's almost a continuation of the aforementioned song, and provides a suitably bittersweet close to the album.

I honestly have to say that this is the best QUALITY WT album yet. I personally think that 'The Silent Force' has more atmosphere, but THOE builds on what the band learned from its predecessors, resulting in a more balanced combination of their sound from ME and TSF. It has been described elsewhere as ME without the 'fairies', which is a surprisingly accurate description!

If you want huge, in-your-face choirs and orchestras providing a ridiculously OTT back drop (absolutely a positive!) to a gothic rock band with the best female singer on the planet, WT are your guys, and 'The Heart of Everything' is your album!

Hardcore fans of Within Temptation may well have been left shaking in their boots at the idea of the band becoming heavier. After all it was the majestic, somewhat overblown "fairytale" sound of songs such as Mother Earth, Ice Queen and later Angels that sealed the band's success in the first place.

Loved and hated in equal measure, the band's symphonic metal style has always had an element of drama. From the 88-piece orchestra employed for The Silent Force to Sharon den Adel's princess-like stage attire, there is no denying that the Dutch masters have a taste all things big. Fear not, for this is a trait not lost on The Heart of Everything. While the sound is indeed heavier, there is no denying that this is a true Within Temptation record. Stunning opener The Howling sets the bar high, building up gently before unleashing hell. The song is one of many heavy tracks that prove just how much the band has matured. Sharon's versatile voice is finally put to full use, while fellow musicians Robert, Rudd, Jeroen, Martijn and Stephen appear to break free of all restrictions.

First single What Have You Done -featuring Life of Agony's Keith Caputo- is a far cry from Within Temptation's previous releases. A new level of intensity is created through both the music and the perfectly matched vocals of Keith and Sharon, both of whom keep one another firmly on their toes. Elsewhere listeners are treated to songs such as Frozen and Our Solemn Hour, tracks that cover familiar ground while still maintaining a fresh edge. It may be worth mentioning that theses songs in particular are an acquired taste, meaning they'll only be thoroughly appreciated by true fans of the band and those of a similar nature.

The Heart of Everything, the title track, will be the biggest surprise to fans. Sharon succeeds in ditching her sweet mannered vocals in favour of a harsher tone, a move that'll leave you wondering whatever happened to the woman who sang Mother Earth. But it's a move that will ensure the band don't go stale. After all, more of the same is bound to get boring eventually.

Overall its fair to say this is a huge step forward for Within Temptation. Anyone expecting a replica of The Silent Force will be in for a shock, because The Heart of Everything is truly a brand new record in every way. Heavier, mature yet still true to their well-known sound in many respects, this may well be the record that not only earns the adoration of English fans (the rest of Europe jumped an the bandwagon ages ago!) but those who prefer their symphonic metal with more of an edge.

I'd never heard of Within Temptation before this album. A friend of mine pointed me at them, telling me they were 'kinda like Evanescence, only better'. I have to agree. The album is absolutely fantastic, and if this is the sort of thing they can produce, they deserve a lot more recognition in the UK.

My favourites:

The Howling - great rocking opener, and the song my friend pointed me at. I bought the album on the strength of this alone.

What Have You Done - again good, but a worry that it's very like Evanescence's Bring Me to Life. If people can see past that, it could do very well.

The Heart of Everything - bit too much filler music halfway through the song, but otherwise high on my list.

Hand of Sorrow - hands down my ABSOLUTE favourite. I think this is a very lyrics-driven one; I could totally see this as a Bond theme.

All I Need - the ballad of the album, I think. Not as catchy as some of harder rock songs, but pretty.

I'm definitely going to check out some of their other work.