Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. The band has also been associated with other musical genres, with critics noting their experimentation and versatility. By 2016, Within Temptation had sold over 3.5 million albums worldwide.
The band’s debut album, "Enter" (1997), was rooted in gothic metal and helped establish them in the Dutch underground music scene. Wider recognition came in 2001 with the release of the single "Ice Queen" from their second album, "Mother Earth", which reached number two on the Dutch charts. This success was followed by the band winning the Conamus Exportprijs, a Dutch music award, four consecutive times and again in 2016. Subsequent albums, "The Silent Force" (2004) and "The Heart of Everything" (2007), both debuted at number one in the Netherlands and expanded the band’s international audience. In 2008, Within Temptation released the live album "Black Symphony", recorded with the Metropole Orchestra, followed by "An Acoustic Night at the Theatre" (2009), featuring acoustic renditions of their songs.
Their fifth studio album, "The Unforgiving" (2011), was part of a transmedia project that included a comic book series and short films, marking a shift toward exploring musical styles beyond symphonic metal. The band continued to experiment with new sounds on their sixth studio album, "Hydra" (2014), which featured a variety of guest artists. "Resist" (2019), their seventh studio album, incorporated influences from industrial music and EDM. Their most recent album, "Bleed Out" (2023), includes elements of metalcore and djent while retaining aspects of their early gothic metal style.
Studio albums
Enter (1997)
Mother Earth (2000)
The Silent Force (2004)
The Heart of Everything (2007)
The Unforgiving (2011)
Hydra (2014)
Resist (2019)
Bleed Out (2023)
The band’s debut album, "Enter" (1997), was rooted in gothic metal and helped establish them in the Dutch underground music scene. Wider recognition came in 2001 with the release of the single "Ice Queen" from their second album, "Mother Earth", which reached number two on the Dutch charts. This success was followed by the band winning the Conamus Exportprijs, a Dutch music award, four consecutive times and again in 2016. Subsequent albums, "The Silent Force" (2004) and "The Heart of Everything" (2007), both debuted at number one in the Netherlands and expanded the band’s international audience. In 2008, Within Temptation released the live album "Black Symphony", recorded with the Metropole Orchestra, followed by "An Acoustic Night at the Theatre" (2009), featuring acoustic renditions of their songs.
Their fifth studio album, "The Unforgiving" (2011), was part of a transmedia project that included a comic book series and short films, marking a shift toward exploring musical styles beyond symphonic metal. The band continued to experiment with new sounds on their sixth studio album, "Hydra" (2014), which featured a variety of guest artists. "Resist" (2019), their seventh studio album, incorporated influences from industrial music and EDM. Their most recent album, "Bleed Out" (2023), includes elements of metalcore and djent while retaining aspects of their early gothic metal style.
Studio albums
Enter (1997)
Mother Earth (2000)
The Silent Force (2004)
The Heart of Everything (2007)
The Unforgiving (2011)
Hydra (2014)
Resist (2019)
Bleed Out (2023)
