by Joshua Mackle

Created on: May 01, 2008

It's funny how things can work out. Dutch rockers Sharon den Adel and her partner Robert Westerholt formed Within Temptation in 1996 via a mutual love of music and heavy metal. Soon after their creation, their first album 'Enter' was released in 1997. While not making airwaves, the album was generally well received and Within Temptation gained a modest underground fanbase. Then, it happened - the breakthrough.

In late 2000 'Mother Earth' was released, followed by the single 'Ice Queen' in early 2001. The single was a huge success and catapulted Within Temptation into the mainstream. The album preceded and went on to become a huge hit, ending the year 2001 at #3 in the Netherlands chart. The album made Sharon and her bandmates into household names and is still considered by Within Temptation fans to be their best yet.

The album kicks off with the title track: a magnificent, soaring harmony of blissful strings, rumbling guitars and Sharon's incredible soprano vocals. The well-known 'Ice Queen' slowly creeps in afterwards. It is the most mainstream of the album but doesn't lose any of Within Temptation's magic. Enchanting, gothic and catchy, it's easy to see why it was a success.

'Our Farewell' is truly astonishing - the signature ballad of the album - with a beautiful piano performance and a surprisingly subdued vocal from Sharon. Not only can you hear what she is singing, you can feel it. Her voices shakes with genuine emotion as she cries 'Rest your head and go to sleep/This is not our farewell'. Heartbreaking on every scale. 'The Promise' is definitely the highlight of the album. Clocking in at 8 minutes, it swings dramatically between frantic strings, crunching guitars and furious drums. 'You promised to return to me/And I believed', Sharon wails as the song reaches its unearthly crescendo. This is Within Temptation at their very finest.

Betrayal is a theme that runs through every album the band have produced, and these are usually the songs they excel in. 'Caged' and 'Deceiver Of Fools' are no exception. The former misleads the listening, opening with a captivating flute which lulls one into serenity until Sharon's furious vocals break into the song. The song is sorrowful and full of regret, leaving a strong impression on whoever listens. The latter is another epic at 7 minutes long. The song hovers between being calm and plodding to soaring and dramatic. Once again Sharon's vocals are laced with pain and fury that could put a chill through anyone. The album closes with the stunning 'In Perfect Harmony'. It's a song that could calm anyone - the atmosphere created by the entrancing music is of the most tranquil I've ever heard in a song. It's a fantastic close to a phenomenal album.

There's only so much that words can say when describing something so amazing, so I'll just say this. This album is incredible on every possible scale, and if you disagree, Mother Earth should do a soundcheck on your ears, pronto.

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