Silent Force by Within Temptation

This week-end I made an exciting discovery. Within Temptation, a metal band from Netherlands, released a new album back in November. Being up the wazoo in code I haven’t had a chance to keep pace with latest releases on this front.

Silent Force by Within Temptation is a true masterpiece. Their older album, Enter, was bona fide doom/gothic metal—slow, melodic with fascinating female (Sharon den Adel) and death (Robert Westerholt) vocals. With the release of Mother Earth they dumped death vocals.

Silent Force is a lot more orchestral (not quite as orchestral as Nightwish). It’s also much more rhythmic and powerful than previous albums. I’m quite honestly still in shock and awe how well done it is. It is definitely going into my CD changer to keep Nightwish and Finntroll company.

I found a place where you can listen to samples of some of their tracks from Silent Force. Check out the truly awesome single Stand My Ground.

If you like Within Temptation, may I suggest that you also listen to 'the Gathering'. Also a Dutch band. Also former death metal but progressing nicely to what they themselves call 'trip rock'.

Check out their site at http://www.sandandmercury.com and buy their last album (Gathering - Sleepy Buildings).

Personally, I prefer the Gathering above Within Temptation :^)

I used to love their old albums. I think they somewhat followed the fate of Amorphis---those guys went from classic doom metal to the likes of Depeche Mode. :(