Today's Pick

Within Temptation has released the new video for new softer song "Whole World Is Watching," the third single and closing track from Dutch symphonic metal rockers' latest sixth studio album, "Hydra," features a guest appearance by the golden-voiced frontman of US alternative rock band Soul Asylum Dave Pirner. It is is a basically a very power hard rock duet ballad about facing and conquering your fears. It's very different to the other tracks from "Hydra," but actually a really nice way to end an album, which is a very enjoyable dose of what one could call "symphonic metal for the masses."
According to both music critics and lead vocalist Sharon den Adel, the song is the slowest one on "Hydra." Before the song was finished, the band was already considering inviting Pirner to provide his vocals on the track by its "captivating" voice, turning the final result as the band thought that it should be. Den Adel's and Pirner's vocals follow the ups and downs of life: dreams, pain when life shatters your sureties, and finally building hope that's stronger than your greenhorn confidence ever was, precisely because you've already taken some hits. Living isn't about not falling - we can't always help that - it's about getting up.
"I remember when I first heard the song 'Runaway Train',” recalls Den Adel. "I was traveling through India and I saw the video on MTV Asia. Dave's voice and lyrics just blew me away! The impact of that song combined with the images of India never left me. When we wrote 'Whole World Is Watching,' Dave was at the very top of our list. He has such a captivating voice: it made the song exactly how it needed to be. This track is about overcoming setbacks in life after all, those setbacks are what create you. It feels as if the whole world is with you when these things happen. It's an optimistic song, but dramatic at the same time."
The Patric Ullaeus-directed video, features Den Adel and Pirner Singing from the rooftops in the red glow of a stormy sunset with the band appearing periodically, follows the story of a young biker who wants to leave the past and start anew following the incident he got into after riding his motorbike while drinking. He is later seen spending his time in a wheelchair before deciding to start anew by cutting his long hair, shaving his beard and trying to walk again. He's eventually recovered and literally throws his old life into a dumpster and sets it on fire, ready to put his demons behind him. And at the very end of the video, you realize that it wasn't sunset after all. It was sunrise.

Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation has posted the brand new long awaited promotional video featuring a unique collaboration with classically trained Finnish rock diva, Tarja Turunen for the band's new single, "Paradise (What About Us?)," the lead and title track form their just-released new EP, which is now available in Europe and will be released in North America on October 1st via Nuclear Blast. The duet between Within Temptation and Tarja is just one facet of the new material.
The title track finds band's frontwoman Sharon Den Adel duetting with former Nightwish singer Tarja. Den Adel explained, "When we had written the first version of 'Paradise' and listened back to the demo we'd recorded and the epic power of the song, we thought of Tarja instantly. How well this track would fit her classical voice and how extra special it would be if we sang it together. The more we thought about this wild idea, the more excited we got about it!" Tarja adds, "It was very nice to finally meet Sharon and the Within Temptation guys. I truly appreciate the invitation and the opportunity to work with them on their song 'Paradise.' So wonderful that they thought of me! I hope our fans will like this 'girl power' duet!"
Featuring the always impressive Tarja's beautiful operatic vocals in a powerful duet which instantly makes this an EP worth owning. We were lured in by some jumpy strings before the guitars blast in, providing that familiar symphonic metal riff so popular with both Within Temptation and Tarja old band Nightwish, though during the verses this gives way to a chugging background riff allowing the vocals to take pride of place. And when you have these two ladies on board that is what should be done every time. Though the voices inevitably shine, Tarja in particular has a chilling operatic solo just before a frantic guitar solo, showing us that the musical side of this single can keep up with the vocals and the subtle keys are a brilliant touch too.
Following several video trailers teasing the track, fans have been speculating on the band's Facebook page who the duet would be with, some guessing it couldn't possibly be a "competing" artist like Tarja. However, the two singers had no hesitation joining forces, having never thought of themselves as competitors! According to its press release, the central theme of the song and its accompanying music video is that only constructive co-operation can lead to creation. To establish a new paradise, rising from the ashes of the old, we must work together. The video is very interesting, I mean, as every Within Temptation video, it really has a story and is very very well done. So check out this most royal of heavy metal pairings below.

Dutch symphonic/Gothic metallers Within Temptation has just released their new video for the standout track "Shot in the Dark," the third single from the female-fronted metal outfit's latest fifth LP "The Unforgiving." Truly an inspiring album. The latest video, alongside the short film "Triplets," is the last part of the combined "The Unforgiving" short movies, following "Faster" and "Sinéad."
This concept album is based on a comic book series. The band's lead vocalist Sharon den Adel stated about the new album's concept: "It's a very realistic story, although you don't see that in the first phase when you see a lot of the supernatural and people being brought back to life to have a second chance. It's not about bad people but good people making bad choices. There are many layers and characters but it's about making peace with yourself. The main characters embody the comic characters in the songs. The concept we were challenged our boundaries and it inspired to the sound from a different angle to approach. This resulted in an album with our best songs yet!"
This Dutch phenomenon gives us a modern version of the classic Within Temptation sound. Some sound effects are added, no sounds that distract or disturb. Adel and her gang made with "The Unforgiving" a solid symphonic rock/metal album. Adel is an amazingly powerful vocalist, she really summons up a bounty of believable emotion on "Shot In The Dark." Within Temptation took Melodic and Symphonic Metal to incredible heights with "The Unforgiving." I admire and respect the direction that this band has taken on this album and it has become quite the contagious listen for me over the past month.
The music video for their instant thrills of the anthemic "Shot In The Dark," is shot in the same place as the "Faster" Video. It is in black and white and features the band only. All band members are there with the drummer having a black sock over his face as when the video was shot his identity was not revealed. Nevertheless with "The Unforgiving," Within Temptation proved once again that they are the best in their genre.

Dutch symphonic metal rock outfit Within Temptation have released a music video for "Sinéad." The video takes place at a nightclub where things soon get very dangerous. The irresistible, fan-favourite track is the second single from Within Temptation's fifth studio and first concept album, "The Unforgiving." Choosing to release "Sinéad" as the follow-up underlines the band's ambition to break down the walls between musical genres. "Sinéad" is the most catchy song Within Temptation have ever written; a euphoric disco-metal stomper with the potential to become the ultimate crossover-hit on the dance floors this summer.
It is the beginning of a new era for Within Temptation. With undeniable disco grooves, the band took this opportunity to further enhance the track's dance floor appeal; commissioning special remixes from four acclaimed dance producers. Already triumphant in rock and metal, Within Temptation now experiment further with the extremes of rock and dance, merging these seemingly disparate genres to create contagious new versions of "Sinéad," which is blurring the lines between rock, dance, pop, and metal music in an unprecedented way.
The band enlisted the help of trance producer Benno de Goeij, electro-industrial artists VNV Nation, and happy hardcore band Scooter to put together a remix with heavy dance influences, departing from their usual Gothic rock fare. "We thought it would be interesting to see what would happen if 'real' dance [artists] would remix the track," said the band on their website" "'Sinéad' has always been a favorite of all of us. She is a character with a lot of different opposite sides to her, just like the song. It is catchy and feel good but at the same time emotional and melancholic. So from the start it was quite clear that 'Sinéad' would be released as a single from this album."
Such dark subject matter abounds in "The Unforgiving." In a February interview with Metal Ways, frontwoman Sharon den Adel stated, "The story is about people who have done bad things not because they are bad, but because they made bad decisions." With such a somber overtone, it is difficult to imagine how "Sinéad" could be transformed into a dance song. Within Temptation have promised to keep fans posted. Adel's voice and the bombastic rock of Within Temptation are a truly unique mixture. Her voice always sounds incredible but, on this track, it reaches a whole new level of beautiful, intense, and fragile emotion.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers Within Temptation's music video in abutment of their new distinct "Faster" has aloof fabricated its way out. It was released as a short movie "Mother Maiden", introducing the main character played by British actress Dawn Mastin. The "Faster" video is visually vivid, and has a graphic novel and noir film pastiche to it. Check out the Spider-Man like creepy-crawlers in the opening frame.
Within Temptation was founded in 1996 by the couple, frontwoman vocalist Sharon den Adel and rhythm guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have come a long way in the last fourteen years. From their humble beginnings, the band have now making them not only Holland's biggest selling musical export but also one of the biggest rock acts internationally. Released on January 21, "Faster" is serves as the lead from the metal/rock band's long-awaited new concept album "The Unforgiving," to be released on March 29. The album is released alongside both a comic book series and a series of short films that together encompass a story.
The first short film revolves around a powerful medium, "Mother Maiden," as she recruits lost souls to be part of her wraith task-force to fight evil in all its forms. She offers the "remorseful souls" an opportunity to "make right what is wrong" by giving them missions and assignments to hunt down evil as a penance for their previous sins. It ties in with "Faster," introducing the main characters of the narrative. These movies give further insight into the concept of "The Unforgiving" and are based on the comic book storyline that has been unfolding on the band's site. Each film is followed by a band performance that, all together, form a dark and compelling tale of life, love, revenge, rage and regret.
Westerholt said on band's official site that: "'Faster' is a song which surprised ourselves. It's a very fresh new sound wrapped around the 80'ties heart and soul of the track. 'Faster' reflects one of the many musical roots we have. Combined with the modern influences on our new album, it's like the past and future created the present." The edited music video, part of the "Faster & Mother Maiden Short Film" is the first of three short films to be released this year. It consists of the band playing a shortened version of the song with clips of the first short film. The following day, the first short film, "Mother Maiden," was released. This release included an extended version of the "Faster" video without the clips but with the guitar solo.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band, Within Temptation will release a new live album, "An Acoustic Night At The Theatre" on October 30 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and November 2 in the rest of Europe. According to the rock band, the new acoustic live CD will feature many of their biggest hits, played live and acoustic during seated tour last year. "These were very special concerts, as we added an acoustic set to our live show, making our show more intimate," the group says. "Besides this we used film projections emphasizing the great theatre ambiance."
The band was founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. The new live album will also contain a brand new first single on it, entitled "Utopia", which is a duet between Sharon, and a new guest vocals from British singer Chris Jones, who was also a guest vocalist on Armin van Buuren’s album "Imagine", performing on the track "Going Wrong." The single will be released on October 23. The single will also contain "Restless", recorded live at Within Temptation's 2007 show in Eindhoven, Holland.
Within Temptation has now posted a music video for the song "Utopia" on their official YouTube channel today. The video shows a man walking around a city and witnesses a lot of people doing bad things, such as a man stealing a blind woman's wallet and a prostitute being picked up by an older man. He also saves a child from almost being hit by a car when his mother wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. The band is also seen performing in a run down building.