Ellos se conocieron hace 14 años, cuando ambos tenían 18, y Sharon den Adel estaba cantando en un concierto en la iglesia local – “No porque yo fuera particularmente religiosaâ€, dice, “Sino porque allí era donde se realizaban los conciertosâ€. No fue amor a primera vista.“Pensíé que íél era un imbíécil,†dice.†El tenia el cabello largo y trataba de parecerse a Kurt Cobain. Se acerco a mí y me empezó a decir que lo estaba haciendo todo mal. El ya tocaba en una banda y creía que se las sabia todas.â€â€œCreo que lo que en realidad paso es que el se sentía atraído por miâ€, dice con un brillo en los ojos. “Pero era muy tímido como para confesármelo.â€â€œSimplemente tu no estabas acostumbrada a la critica profesionalâ€, Westerholt responde en el acto.Con el pasar de los meses lo superaron, y, como den Adel recuerda, se enamoraron en una fiesta.“Le di a Robert una rosa falsa (de plástico) y el me dio una de regreso†se acuerda. “En realidad, tuve que tomar yo la iniciativa – no al contrario, como a íél le gusta contar. A pesar de todo, encontríé al hombre que es el amor de mi vida, y 14 años despuíés, todavía es míoâ€Andaban juntos a la escuela, Sharon den Adel balanceándose en la en la parte de atrás de la motocicleta de Westerholt mientras soñaban en hacer música juntos. Practicaban en un viejo local de ensayos para músicos, el dueño, un fanático de la música country, les guardaba los instrumentos en su garage. Westerholt dice que había una gran afluencia de seguidores del death metal en el área, aunque íél estaba escuchando y tomando inspiración de la banda Británica de Doom Metal Paradise Lost.Su primer espectáculo – ahora hace mas de 10 años atrás – fue calle abajo, en Boskoop en un pequeño local llamado The Tunnel.“Vinieron 4 personas y los conocíamos a todos†Westerholt sonríe “Aun así estábamos nerviosísimosâ€â€œNosotros no encajábamos en la escena musical local†dice den Adel “í‰ramos los raros; nadie sabía que hacer con nosotros. Creo que en realidad eso realmente nos ayudoâ€Así fue. Significo que se destacaron de la multitud, su íépico, metal gótico atrajo la atención de la disquera Holandesa DSFA (Doesn’t Stand for Anything). Su alineación –ocasionalmente fluida ya que miembros entraban y salían – finalmente se estableció con den Adel y Westerholt, el guitarrista Ruud Jolie, el bajista Jeroen van Veen, el tecladista Martjin Spierenburg y el baterista Stephen van Haestregt, y en solo dos años publicaron dos discos que gradualmente fueron atrayendo la atención del publico Holandíés, mientras ellos continuaban con sus trabajos diurnos.Entonces hicieron una cosa curiosa, justo cuando se estaban volviendo famosos-se detuvieron. Renunciaron a todo por un año para así poder terminar sus carreras universitarias, para así “Tener un respaldo en caso de que todo saliera mal.†Den Adel estaba desesperada por estudiar diseño de Modas, pero en lugar de eso se vio atraída hacia gerencia y producción de modas. Westerholt, quien estaba trabajando en Recursos Humanos y con intenciones de empezar una compañía de internet mientras su banda salto a la fama, regreso a la universidad a estudiar economía.“Tomamos un periodo sabático de la banda†dice Westerholt “Simplemente queríamos estar seguros de que teníamos algo a lo que volver en caso de que lo de la música saliera malâ€Esto es algo que no se dice frecuentemente sobre una banda pero Within Temptation es formada de un grupo de gente evidentemente sensata. Eso se nota allí en el sobrio Saloon que conducen, en vez de los carros deportivos que prefieren la mayoría de la estrellas de rock, o en la forma en que indican los lugares históricos de la localidad que pasamos conduciendo, en vez de los lugares y clubes en los que solían emborracharse cuando niños. Pero seguramente todo esto es algo muy prudente,¿ algo planeado?“El hecho es que no venimos de un país que apoya a las bandas†dice den Adel “Algunas bandas tienen íéxito fuera de Holanda pero tienes que trabajar muy duro y por un largo tiempo para poder lograrlo. Holanda nunca será como Inglaterra donde las bandas obtienen mucho más apoyo. Lo que significo que necesitábamos tener ese “algo mas†porque; dado lo que les sucede a la mayoría de bandas Holandesas, había una alta posibilidad de que no lo lograríamos no importaba lo buenos que fuíéramos. Por eso mantuvimos por tanto tiempo nuestros trabajos despuíés de que empezó la banda.â€Pero es algo más profundo que eso. Within Temptation lo dejo muy claro, tantas veces como fue posible, que no querían entrar en la música por dinero. La razón por la que mantuvieron sus trabajos o siguieron estudiando, era para que no tener que ver la música como una carrera, para no tener que depender nunca en la música para tener la seguridad de un techo. Esto, dice Westerholt, es importante si quieres estar seguro que estas tocando por las razones correctas, si deseas mantener la integridad y honestidad de la música.“No queríamos tener que hacer música por dinero†el admite “No queríamos que la música fuera lo que pusiera comida en nuestras mesas. Queríamos tener independencia de eso. Cuando renunciamos a nuestros trabajos para convertirnos en una banda profesional sabíamos que no teníamos que hacer concesiones en nuestra música porque, si salía mal, teníamos algo en que recurrir, algo con que ganarnos la vida, si era necesarioâ€â€œEso significo que no necesitábamos ponernos metas como hacernos famoso fuera de Holanda, o vender un número determinado de discos,†el agrega “Podíamos simplemente sentarnos y observar que sucedía, a salvo en la idea de que estábamos bien si nada pasaba. Significa que nuestra carrera ha sido orgánica, en vez de algo que teníamos que forzar para poder obtener un mayor número de ventas.â€Y es una carrera que ha durado hasta ahora más de 10 años, una carrera que los ha visto convertirse en una de las bandas más grandes de Europa, una banda que ha tocado para 10.000 personas en un solo espectáculo – como lo hicieron en su concierto de Java Island en el 2005.Todo esto los pone ahora en una situación peculiar. Despuíés de batallar su camino hacia la cima en Europa en los últimos 10 años. Ahora están empezando otra vez desde abajo – peleando por reconocimiento en GB y Amíérica. Seguramente tocando en locales de mala muerte, concediendo incontables entrevistas y esforzándose con todo el trabajo que toma hacer famosa una banda, eso es algo de lo que están cansados?“Es en realidad, bastante estimulante†dice den Adel. “Es sensacional poder pelear otra vezâ€, es sensacional empezar de nuevo. Las personas que ya nos conocen, saben que esperar. En Amíérica, por ejemplo, nadie sabe que esperar de nosotros, entonces se siente como cuando estábamos empezando la banda. Es emocionante ver esas primeras reacciones otra vez.â€â€œSignifica que nos sentimos pioneros,†la interrumpe Westerholt. “Estamos a la vanguardia. No hay otras bandas Holandesas haciendo lo que nosotros hacemosâ€Pero, no ser conocido viene con sus problemas. En Amíérica, y en GB, hasta cierto punto, Within temptation ha sido catalogado como el “Proximo Evanescenceâ€, esto a pesar de tener una carrera de más de 10 años y un amplio catalogo de canciones. Esa es, sin embargo, una comparación comprensible – ambas bandas tratan temas oscuros, tiene magnifico sonido, pertenecen al rock gótico, ambas bandas poseen vocalistas femeninas sensuales y ambas atraen la misma clase de admiradores. Aun así, esto es algo que no hace feliz a Within Temptation.“Síé que eventualmente las personas juzgaran la música por lo que es,†dice den Adel. “Pero si, a veces me molesta; a veces las personas pueden ser muy desagradables. Hay personas que han dicho que nosotros estamos imitando a Evanescence. Eso es muy desagradable porque nosotros hemos estado haciendo esto por mucho tiempo y, cosas como nuestra ropa y la forma en que nos comportamos siempre han sido así. Si la gente viera nuestra historia, se darían cuenta por sí mismos. Es siempre como un trago amargo que tenemos que pasar y no es justo. Desearía que las personas tuvieran la mente suficientemente abierta como para poder vernos como somosâ€â€œPero no es realmente frustrante porque sabemos que no es verdadâ€, continua Westerholt. “Al final, eso no es lo que se destaca. Lo que se destaca es la música, si es buena. De manera que, no es agradable ser comparado con otras bandas pero síé que, al final, la gente se olvidara de eso. Siempre serás comparado con alguien a menos que seas la banda más famosa y grande que hay – Entonces todos los demás son comparados contigoâ€Y, si no los están cuestionando por eso, entonces es por el hecho que tienen a una mujer en la banda. Otro tema de conversación que los hace suspirar del cansancio.“Siempre me preguntan si me tratan de manera diferente o si fue difícil al principio ya que era una de “las pocas mujeres en el metalâ€, dice den Adel, poniendo los ojos en blanco. “La respuesta es no. Nunca tuve ningún problema, las personas siempre nos han aceptado como somos
So, I received a pleasant surprise in the mail yesterday - sitting in my letterbox was the upcoming album from Dutch Rock legends Within Temptation. Thus, without further ado...The new Within Temptation album opens with an eerie 34 second voice clip entitled “Why Not Me?†- coincidentally also used in the short movie bundled with the 'Faster' single - which really helps set the mood and focus the mind for the story which follows."Shot In The Dark" begins on misleadingly quiet territory, lulling you into calm and gently leading you on. "I've been left out alone like a dead criminal" starts Sharon, before quickly leading into a chorus which packs one hell of a punch, bleating out "your soul is on fire, a shot in the dark - where did they aim for when they missed your heart?" which you'll be singing long after the song is over. 'In The Middle Of The Night' comes up next, beginning with guitars blazing and Sharon's haunting voice echoing 'I don't care if I'm playing with fire, I'm aware that I'm frozen inside'. This is definitely one of the strongest songs on the album, both musically and from a production perspective. “Faster†is the first nominated single from the album, and offers a good example of the new direction that Within Temptation have gone in for their first concept album. Powerful vocals and a catchy chorus make for an impressive rock anthem, a wise choice! “Fire And Ice†slows down the pace, and is the first ballad on the album. The highlight of this song definitely lies in the power and capacity of Sharon's voice - 'where's the love we once had, is it all a lie?' haunts the first verse, before the tempo picks up for the second with strong orchestral elements and a steady bass line.If “Fire and Ice†slowed down the pace a bit too much for your liking, 'Iron' brutally forces it right back up again! A symphonic introduction with heavy, fast paced guitars precedes Sharon belting out 'you cant live without the fire, it's the heat that makes you strong' in yet another catchy chorus.In what is a good choice for just past the halfway mark, “Where Is The Edge†is a medium paced showcase of talent in a specific Within Temptation style - albeit in a slightly predictable manner.“Sinead†will be the 2nd single released from the album, and is as far away from “Faster†as it's possible to get. 'Now I'm crossing the border, sealing my fate, I'm not afraid' - definitely an accurate description of what Within Temptation demonstrates with this track. Lyrically mainstream but musically epic, this is the defining song to showcase their breakaway from albums of old.The slow tempo of 'Lost' perhaps contrasts with the rest of the album. Acoustic guitars compliment Sharon's vocals at the start, with striking range and lyrics which will leave you pondering – right before you're brutally overwhelmed with the sudden kick of a full blown orchestra directly after the chorus.'A Demon's Fate' has the most interesting start of any of the songs on the album, and would sound more in place on a pop-rock record from the 80s. With less orchestra breaks than usual, it could be considered an easygoing song that is guaranteed to appeal to a wide range of musical taste.As you'd expect from a song with such a title, 'Murder' uses dark and theatrical structures in order to transport the listener into a world, which could resemble an Edgar Allan Poe-esque scenario. Certainly unique, this is one song which is hard not to listen to again, simply to see if you missed anything the first time.The album concludes with a balled called 'Stairway To The Skies', led by a piano based start accompanied by the combined efforts of a few violinists, joined one last time by the haunting vocal talents of Sharon. Making use of such lines as 'My Angel is coming down from heaven to take me', we can only hope that these particular Angels will grace us with their music for many years to come.9.5/10 - Whilst its certainly a change in pace and direction for a well established band, its nonetheless one of the best albums I've had the pleasure of listening to in a long time. Less emphasis on choirs, more emphasis on rock'n'roll, this marks a turning point in the long standing career of Within Temptation - for the good.- Nathan Scottnathan.scott@chatcore.net
1. Why Not Me 0:342. Shot In The Dark 5:023. In The Middle Of The Night 5:114. Faster 4:235. Fire And Ice 3:576. Iron 5:417. Where Is The Edge 3:598. Siníéad 4:239. Lost 5:1410. Murder 4:1611. A Demon's Fate 5:3012. Stairway To The Skies 5:32according to DTMD
Within Temptation el exitoso y sorprendente grupo holandíés, no son una banda promedio, son todo un íéxito en el continente europeo, y en el mundo, solo no esperen que alardeen sobre eso.El paisaje desde el Aeropuerto Schiphol de Amsterdam al pequeño pueblo de Gouda es implacablemente plano. Los campos se extienden hasta donde alcanza la vista, se logra ver pueblos a la distancia, con los árboles que fuerzan un horizonte sobre los aviones de los alrededores.Sharon den Adel, la vocalista de 36 años de edad, conocida ya en todas partes del mundo por su siríénica voz, nos susurra en voz muy baja las enormes ventas que han tenido sus álbumes en el viejo continente.Sus discos se han vendido de tal manera que hasta ellos mismos se sorprendieron. De hecho, son ventas que eclipsan a las de otras bandas consideradas exitosas. Sus primeros álbumes vendieron más de dos millones en total, solo recordemos a “The Silent Forceâ€, el cual fue nombrado disco de oro en solo las tres primeras semanas de su lanzamiento. Son estas cifras las que han llevado a Within Temptation a ganar premios casi todos los años de “Record de ventas en el extranjeroâ€. La mayoría de dichos países son Holanda, Escandinavia, Alemania, y el resto de Europa, lugares que no son exactamente conocidos por ser “semilleros de la músicaâ€, y lo cual resulta increíble. Esto es algo que Sharon den Adel y sus compañeros de la banda lograron en el camino, siendo ellos mismos, componiendo hermosas melodías y composiciones.En el escenario Sharon den Adel es un derroche de trajes, corpiños ajustados, vestidos, faldas de vuelo, combinado con maquillaje que van desde lo oscuro, hasta digamos, gótico. Hoy, está en jeans, chaqueta negra y un maquillaje mínimo. Ella es preciosa, despampanante como una modelo, con una tierna mirada y una sonrisa natural con un estilo curiosamente sencillo.Por otro lado vemos a su pareja, guitarrista, primer amor y cerebro de la banda, Robert Westerholt. Alto, flaco, calvo, barbita de chivo, y de vez en cuando vehemente, es su visión de la música, combinada con la sensacional voz de Sharon, lo que han aumentado las ventas de sus discos tan rápidamente.Sharon Den Adel es la clase de persona que llama la atención de todas las miradas, y la anonimidad del gran guitarrista y compositor Robert Westerholt hacen de íél la clase de persona que “los demás†suelen ignorar. Su charla es casual, a menudo sobre sus vacaciones, o sus hijos. Y, cuando ocasionalmente, el discurso de Westerholt se desvía hacia algo mas obsceno, Sharon den Adel con delicadeza lo reprende. Cuando en una cena hace unas noches, empezó a contar una historia en la que tuvo que matar a una paloma, provocó que ella se incline hacia atrás con una mirada de advertencia y preguntando, “Robert, ¿de verdad necesitamos escuchar esa historia justo ahora?â€. jajaja!Y mientras se pasean por el país, señalando paisajes en el camino, es fácil olvidar que estás en compañía de miembros de una banda. Cuando ocasionalmente se detienen a comprarte regalos como caramelos o galletas típicas holandesas, todo parece una extraña escapada con amigos particularmente hospitalarios, en vez de una entrevista con una banda que ha vendido millones de álbumes. Los integrantes de Within Temptation no son iguales a los de de otras bandas que hablan solo de sexo, drogas y rock and roll, como estás por descubrir en las siguientes líneas.Within Temptation fue formada en 1996, unos años despuíés que Robert Westerholt se tropezara con la bella Sharon den Adel en un concierto escolar en el pequeño pueblo Holandíés de Alphen aan den Rijn. Ella creció junto a su padre viajando por todas partes del mundo, quien montaba proyectos en diferentes naciones lejanas llevando a su familia consigo. Ella menciona los muchos países que solía llamar casa, de Surinam a Etiopia, pasando por Indonesia hasta Yemen, Sri Lanka y muchos más.Sharon dice que: “Era en su mayoría una forma maravillosa de vivir, una niñez sensacional. Pero habían momentos en los que desee que nos hubiíésemos quedado en un solo lugar. Era siempre difícil mantener, y hacer amistades, cuando sabes que te vas a mudar lejos de nuevo. Aun así, tratíé. Solía escribir a mis amigos y todavía estoy en contacto con algunos. En realidad, acabo de visitar a uno el otro díaâ€De vuelta en Holanda, a los 14 años, Sharon den Adel cantaba en una banda local que realizaba covers, tocando algo de Lenny Kravitz, Pink Floyd, y ese estilo de música.Sharon cuenta: “Solíamos ganar todas las competencias en la batalla de las bandas porque mi primo, que estaba en una pandilla de motociclistas, venía a todos nuestros conciertos y llenaba todos los formularios votando por nosotros, jajaja!â€.Mientras tanto, Robert Westerholt, crecía en España, vivió cerca de Madrid donde su padre, un Contador, había establecido su propia firma. Westerholt montaba a caballo sin parar, pasaba las mañanas limpiando establos, entonces así podía pasar las tardes cabalgando por los campos de España con su hermano. Y con un sentimiento de culpa dice que no ha cabalgado en años.A los 10 años, su familia retornó a Holanda, mudándose a una amplia casa en una urbanización en Alphen aan den Rijn, a 30 minutos de Amsterdam en carro. Mientras Sharon den Adel manejaba con facilidad por esas calles. Westerholt mira larga y fijamente por la ventana asombrado.Señala los muros que usaba para practicar tenis o los campos en los que solía correr, y dirige a su pareja por esas calles recordando los viejos tiempos.Fuera de su antigua casa, mira fijamente las ventanas, notando varios cambios, recordando cuando solía introducir a escondidas equipamiento e instrumentos de música despuíés que su padre le había prohibido comprarlos. Sharon den Adel suelta una risita, recordando cuando el padre de Westerholt la sorprendió en la cama de Robert vestida con solo una camiseta.Sharon cuenta, mientras suelta su clásica sonrisa contagiosa: “El estaba tan avergonzado que no sabía que decir. Creo que se puso más rojo que yo, jajaja!â€
Ellos se conocieron hace 14 años, cuando ambos tenían 18, y Sharon den Adel estaba cantando en un concierto en la iglesia local – “No porque yo fuera particularmente religiosaâ€, dice, “Sino porque allí era donde se realizaban los conciertosâ€. No fue amor a primera vista.“Pensíé que íél era un imbíécil,†dice.†El tenia el cabello largo y trataba de parecerse a Kurt Cobain. Se acerco a mí y me empezó a decir que lo estaba haciendo todo mal. El ya tocaba en una banda y creía que se las sabia todas.â€â€œCreo que lo que en realidad paso es que el se sentía atraído por miâ€, dice con un brillo en los ojos. “Pero era muy tímido como para confesármelo.â€â€œSimplemente tu no estabas acostumbrada a la critica profesionalâ€, Westerholt responde en el acto.Con el pasar de los meses lo superaron, y, como den Adel recuerda, se enamoraron en una fiesta.“Le di a Robert una rosa falsa (de plástico) y el me dio una de regreso†se acuerda. “En realidad, tuve que tomar yo la iniciativa – no al contrario, como a íél le gusta contar. A pesar de todo, encontríé al hombre que es el amor de mi vida, y 14 años despuíés, todavía es míoâ€Andaban juntos a la escuela, Sharon den Adel balanceándose en la en la parte de atrás de la motocicleta de Westerholt mientras soñaban en hacer música juntos. Practicaban en un viejo local de ensayos para músicos, el dueño, un fanático de la música country, les guardaba los instrumentos en su garage. Westerholt dice que había una gran afluencia de seguidores del death metal en el área, aunque íél estaba escuchando y tomando inspiración de la banda Británica de Doom Metal Paradise Lost.Su primer espectáculo – ahora hace mas de 10 años atrás – fue calle abajo, en Boskoop en un pequeño local llamado The Tunnel.“Vinieron 4 personas y los conocíamos a todos†Westerholt sonríe “Aun así estábamos nerviosísimosâ€â€œNosotros no encajábamos en la escena musical local†dice den Adel “í‰ramos los raros; nadie sabía que hacer con nosotros. Creo que en realidad eso realmente nos ayudoâ€Así fue. Significo que se destacaron de la multitud, su íépico, metal gótico atrajo la atención de la disquera Holandesa DSFA (Doesn’t Stand for Anything). Su alineación –ocasionalmente fluida ya que miembros entraban y salían – finalmente se estableció con den Adel y Westerholt, el guitarrista Ruud Jolie, el bajista Jeroen van Veen, el tecladista Martjin Spierenburg y el baterista Stephen van Haestregt, y en solo dos años publicaron dos discos que gradualmente fueron atrayendo la atención del publico Holandíés, mientras ellos continuaban con sus trabajos diurnos.Entonces hicieron una cosa curiosa, justo cuando se estaban volviendo famosos-se detuvieron. Renunciaron a todo por un año para así poder terminar sus carreras universitarias, para así “Tener un respaldo en caso de que todo saliera mal.†Den Adel estaba desesperada por estudiar diseño de Modas, pero en lugar de eso se vio atraída hacia gerencia y producción de modas. Westerholt, quien estaba trabajando en Recursos Humanos y con intenciones de empezar una compañía de internet mientras su banda salto a la fama, regreso a la universidad a estudiar economía.“Tomamos un periodo sabático de la banda†dice Westerholt “Simplemente queríamos estar seguros de que teníamos algo a lo que volver en caso de que lo de la música saliera malâ€Esto es algo que no se dice frecuentemente sobre una banda pero Within Temptation es formada de un grupo de gente evidentemente sensata. Eso se nota allí en el sobrio Saloon que conducen, en vez de los carros deportivos que prefieren la mayoría de la estrellas de rock, o en la forma en que indican los lugares históricos de la localidad que pasamos conduciendo, en vez de los lugares y clubes en los que solían emborracharse cuando niños. Pero seguramente todo esto es algo muy prudente,¿ algo planeado?“El hecho es que no venimos de un país que apoya a las bandas†dice den Adel “Algunas bandas tienen íéxito fuera de Holanda pero tienes que trabajar muy duro y por un largo tiempo para poder lograrlo. Holanda nunca será como Inglaterra donde las bandas obtienen mucho más apoyo. Lo que significo que necesitábamos tener ese “algo mas†porque; dado lo que les sucede a la mayoría de bandas Holandesas, había una alta posibilidad de que no lo lograríamos no importaba lo buenos que fuíéramos. Por eso mantuvimos por tanto tiempo nuestros trabajos despuíés de que empezó la banda.â€Pero es algo más profundo que eso. Within Temptation lo dejo muy claro, tantas veces como fue posible, que no querían entrar en la música por dinero. La razón por la que mantuvieron sus trabajos o siguieron estudiando, era para que no tener que ver la música como una carrera, para no tener que depender nunca en la música para tener la seguridad de un techo. Esto, dice Westerholt, es importante si quieres estar seguro que estas tocando por las razones correctas, si deseas mantener la integridad y honestidad de la música.“No queríamos tener que hacer música por dinero†el admite “No queríamos que la música fuera lo que pusiera comida en nuestras mesas. Queríamos tener independencia de eso. Cuando renunciamos a nuestros trabajos para convertirnos en una banda profesional sabíamos que no teníamos que hacer concesiones en nuestra música porque, si salía mal, teníamos algo en que recurrir, algo con que ganarnos la vida, si era necesarioâ€â€œEso significo que no necesitábamos ponernos metas como hacernos famoso fuera de Holanda, o vender un número determinado de discos,†el agrega “Podíamos simplemente sentarnos y observar que sucedía, a salvo en la idea de que estábamos bien si nada pasaba. Significa que nuestra carrera ha sido orgánica, en vez de algo que teníamos que forzar para poder obtener un mayor número de ventas.â€Y es una carrera que ha durado hasta ahora más de 10 años, una carrera que los ha visto convertirse en una de las bandas más grandes de Europa, una banda que ha tocado para 10.000 personas en un solo espectáculo – como lo hicieron en su concierto de Java Island en el 2005.Todo esto los pone ahora en una situación peculiar. Despuíés de batallar su camino hacia la cima en Europa en los últimos 10 años. Ahora están empezando otra vez desde abajo – peleando por reconocimiento en GB y Amíérica. Seguramente tocando en locales de mala muerte, concediendo incontables entrevistas y esforzándose con todo el trabajo que toma hacer famosa una banda, eso es algo de lo que están cansados?“Es en realidad, bastante estimulante†dice den Adel. “Es sensacional poder pelear otra vezâ€, es sensacional empezar de nuevo. Las personas que ya nos conocen, saben que esperar. En Amíérica, por ejemplo, nadie sabe que esperar de nosotros, entonces se siente como cuando estábamos empezando la banda. Es emocionante ver esas primeras reacciones otra vez.â€â€œSignifica que nos sentimos pioneros,†la interrumpe Westerholt. “Estamos a la vanguardia. No hay otras bandas Holandesas haciendo lo que nosotros hacemosâ€Pero, no ser conocido viene con sus problemas. En Amíérica, y en GB, hasta cierto punto, Within temptation ha sido catalogado como el “Proximo Evanescenceâ€, esto a pesar de tener una carrera de más de 10 años y un amplio catalogo de canciones. Esa es, sin embargo, una comparación comprensible – ambas bandas tratan temas oscuros, tiene magnifico sonido, pertenecen al rock gótico, ambas bandas poseen vocalistas femeninas sensuales y ambas atraen la misma clase de admiradores. Aun así, esto es algo que no hace feliz a Within Temptation.“Síé que eventualmente las personas juzgaran la música por lo que es,†dice den Adel. “Pero si, a veces me molesta; a veces las personas pueden ser muy desagradables. Hay personas que han dicho que nosotros estamos imitando a Evanescence. Eso es muy desagradable porque nosotros hemos estado haciendo esto por mucho tiempo y, cosas como nuestra ropa y la forma en que nos comportamos siempre han sido así. Si la gente viera nuestra historia, se darían cuenta por sí mismos. Es siempre como un trago amargo que tenemos que pasar y no es justo. Desearía que las personas tuvieran la mente suficientemente abierta como para poder vernos como somosâ€â€œPero no es realmente frustrante porque sabemos que no es verdadâ€, continua Westerholt. “Al final, eso no es lo que se destaca. Lo que se destaca es la música, si es buena. De manera que, no es agradable ser comparado con otras bandas pero síé que, al final, la gente se olvidara de eso. Siempre serás comparado con alguien a menos que seas la banda más famosa y grande que hay – Entonces todos los demás son comparados contigoâ€Y, si no los están cuestionando por eso, entonces es por el hecho que tienen a una mujer en la banda. Otro tema de conversación que los hace suspirar del cansancio.“Siempre me preguntan si me tratan de manera diferente o si fue difícil al principio ya que era una de “las pocas mujeres en el metalâ€, dice den Adel, poniendo los ojos en blanco. “La respuesta es no. Nunca tuve ningún problema, las personas siempre nos han aceptado como somosâ€
Tanto Sharon den Adel como Robert Westerholt dicen que sus composiciones están influenciadas por cosas que ven a su alrededor o por sus propias emociones. Sharon den Adel dice que a menudo esas son cosas que les han pasado a ambos. Aun así, por extraño que parezca, ambos dicen que nunca escriben, uno sobre el otro.“Puede ser que pase subconscientemente,†reflexiona Westerholt. “Pero no creo que intencionalmente escribamos uno sobre el otro.‿Parece una cosa extraña que afirmen que su música es personal y aun así la cosa más personal para ellos – su relación de pareja – quede fuera de la música. Seguramente reprimen sus emociones en sus canciones; Seguramente, las cosas que no dijeron en sus peleas aparecen en las letras de las canciones?“Eso en realidad no sucede,†dice Sharon den Adel. “Somos Holandeses y eso significa que somos personas muy francas. Hay un dicho en Holandíés similar a uno en Ingles – dice, “Tenemos nuestro corazón en nuestra lenguaâ€. Decimos lo que pensamos, lo cual no es siempre bueno, por supuesto. Pero si aclara el ambiente. Significa que los problemas no se acumulan y no tenemos que ponerlos en nuestras canciones.â€Ni siquiera, dicen, el hecho de que están juntos, los hace los jefes de la banda; capaces de ganar casi todas las discusiones a fuerza del hecho de que comparten la misma cama.“Si el resto de la banda tiene algún problema con nosotros, entonces ellos nos confrontan con su problema,†revela Sharon den Adel. “Vernos como los jefes es la manera incorrecta de abordar las cosas. Creo que cada miembro en la banda sabe lo que quiere y tiene un rol con el que está feliz.â€Aun así son ellos dos son los que están siendo entrevistados, mientras el resto de la banda no está por ningún lado.“Ellos si participan en las entrevistas,†dice Sharon den Adel. “En este caso solo fuimos nosotros, pero a veces seria agradable si no fuíéramos solo nosotros. En realidad, Creo que los fans tienen más problema con eso que la banda en sí. Siempre están diciendo, “Hay más personas en la banda no solo Sharon, ¿porquíé siempre está solo ella en las fotos?â€. No es algo que elegimos, es solo algo que sucede y no tenemos ningún problema con eso.â€â€œSharon siempre va a obtener mucha mas atención ya que ella es la vocalista de la banda,†agrega Robert Westerholt. “Eso es lógico. Yo soy un compositor, Así que hablo de las canciones, pero Matjin tambiíén compone, simplemente a íél no le gusta hablar.â€Mientras pasean alrededor de las antiguas calles de Gouda, señalando la arquitectura e historia del lugar, meditan calmadamente sobre sus vidas. Dicen que obviamente seria agradable si se volvieran famosos en G.B y Amíérica – “Ciertamente no nos escucharás quejándonos si eso sucedeâ€, confiesa Robert Westerholt – pero no es lo principal, no es lo que los motiva. Pregúntales si estarían felices de vender 5 millones de copias de su nuevo álbum, y en vez de alegría, hay preocupación en sus rostros.“Estaría muy asustado si me volviera muy famoso,†responde Robert Westerholt. “No es algo que realmente deseemos.â€Y entonces, piensas que es una banda extraña. Una banda que prefiere llevarte en una caminata por los pueblos Holandeses en vez de hablar cosas sucias sobre la industria de la música, una banda que no quiere ser muy famosa. Una banda con planes alternativos, títulos universitarios y olfato para los negocios. Una banda que, tal vez por primera vez en la historia son creíbles cuando te dicen que están en el medio solo por la música.
For the next two days we are in Paris doing interviews with the French press as well as an accoustic session for Q
Today, we met with Sharon den Adel in Paris. Robert, Ruud and her were there to promote their soon to be released new album: The Unforgiving. We talked about the concept of the album, about the story of the comics it’s based upon and also about the movies that will revolve round it. Since we were given the chance to listen to the new songs, we were able to talk about the big step that the band is taking by bringing us an all new sound, very different from what they’ve done until now, and yet, still perfectly true to what Within Temptation is. Metal-Ways: How did Steven O'Connell end up writing a comics for you? Sharon: What happened was that we wanted to write lyrics for a movie. We were searching for a good movie with a good story and everybody had different release dates. If something goes wrong, a movie can very easily be postponed for a year, and we couldn't take the chance to have to wait for that, otherwise we would have had to postpone our album as well. So we decided to take the matter in our own hands. We felt like we wanted to have a nice story, not a story that is very white and black, very easy, very superficial. We asked this comics writer that we met for The Heart of Everything. He was a writer for The Chronicles of Spellborn. He introduced us to Steven O'Connell. He is a very good writer for movies, for scripts, for comics, and he does the X-Men series in America also. So we called him, and he had some ideas, but it wasn't the kind of ideas that we like: we don't like zombies, we don't like fantasy, we don't like blablabla... at least not for this story. We want something totally different, we want a thriller, we want a detective, we want something that has several layers, and, you know, what you see is not completely what you get. When you are reading a book, it's nice to be surprised, so that is what we wanted also.So we told him what kind of movies we liked, what kind of books we read, and he thought about it and he came up with a basic idea, like 2 or 3 lines, the story is about people who have done bad things but not because they are bad, but because they made bad decisions. And they got a second life by Mother Maiden. They got recruited to find some redemption, but they have to pick up the bad guys. It sounds a little bit like a X-Men kind of story, but it is also a little bit like what you see is not always what you get. It is more a detective, a thriller, but that's something you will see when the comics comes in.So we chose a comics to keep the matter in our own hands, but also because we love comics. We grew up with comics. M-W: In which way do you think this comics connects to Within Temptation? I think in a way that we, as writers, always are looking for something new. And this is also part of us I think, that's why it suits us. But I think that a lot of people will have to get used to the artwork and stuff like that. They are so different from what we did previously... But for us, it is really necessary to get inspired again.And also because, in the past, when we were growing up as teenagers, in the 80's, when you bought an album, you were like: "Oooh, the album goes out!" and you looked at the artwork and wonder "Oh, what does this mean?" There were a lot of things to discover and people really were waiting until the album came out: "Only one week left!" and now everybody just download it, and it's just one song... We hope to bring a little bit the old magic back by bringing not just music but also a story behind it, and movies... M-W: Did you choose the name of the characters? Sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't. Siníéad for instance, she was called Maya and was from South America, which was beautiful and everything but we felt like: "Ok, we have a song already called Sinead" and I said "I can't hear myself singing "Mayaaaa". It doesn't fit you know (laughs). So we asked Steven if we could change to Siníéad, because it's a beautiful name... and Steven said: "ok that's a good idea! Let's bring her back to Dublin!" (laughs) M-W: Are there parts of the story or maybe some characters that have been inspired by some TV shows? No, not that we know of. M-W: At the end of the first short clip, Steven O'Connell and Tim Smit are credited for the script, and Joeri Holsheimer is named as the director. What part did you play in the creating process? Well, it is like adding small ideas that you have... But it was really a creative team altogether, from the story to the movies, because Tim and Joeri had interesting ideas about the film, and it didn't always match the story... So we had to go back to Steven and say "Ok Steven, we have to integrate this and this because it is really nice what they want to do, it really makes the story much better". That was really good to do. That's all creative people, including us, everybody was just adding things and ideas for the movies and for the story. M-W: Aesthetically, the first short movie is successfully studied and accomplished. The band parts of the video clip, on the other hand, are simple and sober. Was it a choice? Yes, we wanted to put all the money into the movies. You have a budget and then you have to make choices and, to be honest, MTV and everything, it is not so big anymore. And when you make videos, they always say "you can't use blood, you can't use guns, you can't use..." and we wanted to use everything: blood, guns... everything! (laughs)The special edition of the CD will have everything on it: the movies, and all three videos. M-W: You shot the 3 video clips within the same week. Will they look alike? No, there are really different things. One is in a club, and two of them were shot in an old factory. In one of them, you only see darkness, there's only black. M-W: There are two ways of watching the videoclip: either short film + video clip with only the band images, or only the video clip with mixed images from both the movie and the band. Is there a way that feels more natural to you? If I were a fan, I would watch the long version (first the movie and then the clip) otherwise you miss certain parts of course. M-W: Who wrote the Mother Maiden's speech from the first movie? That was Steven O'Connell. M-W: In which way this concept gave you the inspiration to come up to a new approach of your sound? Well, we have been writing this kind of music since late 80's, beginning 90's. It is a long time; it's more than ten years, and with The Heart of Everything, we felt like it was finalized. It was the best album we could have done. We finalized our sound and everything, and we were always like this: "Ok, we have a goal and that is what we have to write", and, when you have done it, you feel like you've done everything, more or less, and probably, you can't do better. Then, it was like "Oh! What now?"So we stopped with everything, just let all music boundaries go and see what comes. This was the only way to open up again to new ideas. We were a little bit afraid of that because you never know what will come up, and, at the beginning, we were like: "Ooh it's going to be an 80's album, only going to be 80's!" And in the end, it just became a little more old Within Temptation and very new things from the 80's, you know, when we were growing up.So we went back to our roots, and also to bands we grew up with: Metallica, Iron Maiden, but also Siníéad O'Connor, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Chris Isaak (not that I was a huge fan of Chris Isaak, I liked him very much, but I appreciate him more now actually than I did when I was growing up, although I did love Wicked Games, Blue Hotel and similar kind of songs that he wrote...) M-W: Actually, Faster sounds a bit like Wicked Games... Yes, it has the same atmosphere. It has similar, almost the same, accords, but it is different... So, we've been going like: "Ooooh we have re-written Wicked Games" and then "No, the chords scheme is different, we don't have to worry. And it's a written song!" (laughs) "Yay!". M-W: You said that the diversity of the songs comes from the concept itself. Can you explain that? Well, not only from the concept, but also because every inspiration differs from one another, like Iron Maiden is totally different from Chris Isaak! So that made it very diverse. Fire and Ice was more Frankie goes to Hollywood inspired. M-W: By getting your inspiration from metal, rock and also pop hits from the 80's, you don't have a lot of room for symphonic elements which have always been a big part of Within Temptation. So, you are taking a big step, and some people might even call it a big risk. Do you feel anxious, or does it just feel natural? Yes, it feels natural, it feels liberating also, but I don't think we left the orchestra part that much behind. It's less present, it's a new kind of mix. I think this way it becomes heavier. Because it is very difficult to have your strings, you know, the orchestra over there, and also guitars. They are always in the same frequency. So you always have to choose orchestra or guitars. And in the past, we said: "ok, bye bye guitars!", and the orchestra was all "BOOOW" big and everything... But that's something we always missed and now we have guitars and a lot of solos! M-W: On the whole album, your way of singing is almost never soprano but more rock like and more aggressive than before. Is it only because it fits the concept better, or have you reached a point where it's safer for your voice this way? No, it's more because it's needed for the emotions that I want for certain songs. M-W: Your voice is very soft in Siníéad because "for the first time, life is gonna turn alright" whereas it's clearly darker in Murder (dark Ice Queen style). You've reached a point where you're able to perfectly inflect your voice in order to make the characters feelings come to life. Is it well-thought or did it just come naturally? No, it just came naturally. I think that Murder is a little bit like a wacko kind of song. So I needed a wacko kind of voice, like if it was a crazy person singing. And I'm singing about a murderer. And Siníéad, it's lyric, it's a heavy song. In the beginning, it starts very soft and then it's like... party time! (laughs) ... which I also like, because it's nice to have uplifting songs! Usually, it's always dark... M-W: Since we have time to talk about some of the songs, I'll ask bluntly: where the hell did In The Middle Of The Night come from? In The Middle Of The Night... (starts singing it...) I love that song. It's one of my favourites. It just came up... we always had problems writing uptempo songs. Somehow it was always easier to write mid tempo songs and still make them heavy... I'm just trying, and trying, every time again, to have a heavy song... And then, I sat down with Daniel this time, and we were trying and trying, and it just happened! And I love it! I'm so proud of this song! M-W: And I suppose your neck is definitely healed... because it's going to have to work perfectly! Yeah! (laughs) I'll let everybody else headbang because I have to sing perfectly, and it's not a very easy song, breathing wise. There is not much time to breathe. M-W: Another heavy song on the album is Iron. It's really power metal spirit. How did it come to that? Well, that was more Robert and Daniel. Robert is really an Iron Maiden fan, Ruud also of course, and the guys have written a beautiful guitar solo for that. With this song, it's again the same thing: going back to our roots. It's very difficult to write a good song in that tempo but it works somehow. M-W: And it's funny to hear your voice on this kind of music, because even at the beginning, when WT sounded more metal, it was gothic metal, kind of sweet, and sad... And now it's more like : kick your balls! (laughs) M-W: And it's nice! I like it too because I like the new me! (laughs) M-W: Since there's a large musical diversity within this album, are there one or two songs that you particularly enjoy? I like everything. That's because I don't like only one kind of music. I like In The Middle Of The Night because it's so metal and it kicks ass! I like Fire and Ice because it's so beautiful and also very sad and pure emotion... But also other songs, they all have something special. I like Siníéad because it's so upper lifting... like: "no matter what happens to me, I'm gonna turn my life around", that kind of feeling. M-W: How do you think you're going to tell the story of your album through live performances? Well, the good thing is that I'm pregnant now (laughs) so we have more time to develop this. We're going to try to bring the story of the comics and the films on stage. I'm not sure yet how we're going to do it, maybe through projections or something. We just have to see what we're going to do. M-W: And, in order to respect the story, do you plan on playing the songs in the same order as they are on the album? No, because then it would be a very short show I think, because it's only a small hour... So we'll integrate some other songs as well... maybe just complete album and then old songs, or maybe integrate the old songs with the new ones. I'm not sure yet. M-W: And since the concept idea is very important, do you plan to do special concerts where you'll perform the entire album in a row? Maybe... It's maybe an idea, something we will be playing around with. M-W: To conclude, there's an article on the website entitled "From now on, nothing will be the same". Was this only a teaser thing, or do you profoundly feel that way? Well, we feel like we've made a major step in a different direction. We're not leaving everything behind but just adding a new flavour to our songs.
How long have you wanted to do a concept album?We've wanted to do it for some years, we wanted to really develop the group and our career, but also our creativity.Why is there a linked comic book?As I said before, we wanted to reach a new level in our career. We wanted to do something new with a story and lyrics inspired by that story, not just lyrics limited to our imaginations, so we needed an over-arching theme/structure and to have a new approach to composition. It needed to be cohesive, and that's why it's focused on a story or a film. Because we have been comic book fans since we were children, we went for the option that was the most logical and natural.Was it your idea, or did it come from the label?It was really our idea. We spoke to the label many times and it was decided. We have the fortune to work with people who understand our desires and let us work while overseeing everything really well, and with our best interests at heart.You said that you and the rest of the band are fans of comic books, but how did did you write without being too much like your influences? [sorry, stilted sentence!!]We didn't question ourselves, we just let our imaginations run wild.How did the collaborations with Romano Molenaar an Steven O'Connell come about?In reality, we had already worked with them. Romano had worked on a video game in 2004 (Knights Of The Temple) where we supplied some music. We've known him for a long time, like Steven. We trusted him with our basic ideas and he took care of the writing. We acted like production managers telling him what we wanted from the comic. We thought it would happen all at once, but it doesn't! The Unforgiving is like a skeleton of work that is coming together over many months of hard work. Besides, not everything is finished: Steven is still working on the third comic (out of six).Thanks to the fantastic work of the French postal system and its legendary punctuality, I didn't receiver a copy of the album in time to be able to listen to it before this interview. Therefore, I shall confine myself to issues and questions related to things already known to fans... In an interview with French magazine "Rock Hard" in October 2009, Sharon made it clear that Daniel Gibson would not be your producer, that you wished to change or even produce the album yourselves, but Daniel is back on The Unforgiving. At that time Daniel was really exhausted and no longer felt capable of producing again. He needed to regain the energy and dynamism that we value so much.Did you not feel, like other groups have, the need change everything to produce this album? I mean by that a change in producer, studio, country, in short everything that surrounds this creative process? Daniel also has to be near our changes, our desires. He knows us and indeed, once he refound his drive, we did not ask to go elsewhere. It's simply a question of feeling. You wrote on your site that TU will be influenced by many things, in particular the 80s. I do not recall having read or heard in the past that you were fans of this new wave period. It turns out that we have evolved in the metal scene ever since our inception, even though we have not seen ourselves as a part of this scene for some time. The problem is that when you talk of the 80s, many people think of the new wave, but of the beginnings of the "heavy wave". I was born in 1975, and I grew up in this time, bathed in the music of Sisters Of Mercy, Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, A Ha but Van Halen or even Europe. Too often, we reduce the eighties to only pop music. You have to see these years as a mixed bag. I agree, but the real expansion of metal as a musical trend occurred in the late eighties. There were hits and a lot of newcomers from 1984 onwards, but nothing can justify that to the large majority, this was the decade of metal. In the eyes of many the advent of the metal has not happened yet [yeah...I'm not sure either] I know, but we must not forget that at this time, metal had a certain "bite", it was something decidedly novel, heavy and very creative music. It was the time of Queen solos. What justifies their presence in songs on this album, and the return of massive and punchy guitars that I could hear the short but very promising extract of "In The Middle Of The Night"? You have said it all. The 80s cannot be simply reduced to synths, even though that is something that is very prominent and very much associated with that era, but it's more than that. Our new sound, this new approach that we've been talking about for some time does not only comprise the pop music from the 80s, we also take into account the metal aspect of this period, though of course we can consider Van Halen or Europe as being a part of the metal sound of the time, as well as groups like Metallica or Scorpions.So you've partially answered my next question was whether you were a true fan of this musical era or just a new fan of the music of your youth. Returning to solos, Sharon said a year and a half ago that she was learning to play the guitar. Might she be able to treat us to a guitar solos? (Laughs) It might be the case for the next album, who knows?Many fans have noticed a certain similarity between "Where Is The Edge" and songs on your previous album "The Heart Of Everything". Was it disappointing for you to hear this about the first single from your upcoming album, which was part of your new sound? It is true that that song is similar to what we have done in the past but that does not reflect the rest of the album, I can guarantee that. Same question, but rather to focus on the striking similarity between the melody of "Faster" and that of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak. True, there are similarities, the feeling of the two songs are similar, but our song is not a copy. It may be that, like any artist, we were inspired unconsciously by what has shaped our culture and musical tastes, but the similarity wasn't on purpose. Which do you prefer? The original or HIM's version? The original of course, Chris Isaak is a great musician. The version of HIM is great,but the original is unbeatable. The first reviews available for TU are very impressive, some even evoke this album as your masterpiece. Were you expecting such praise? You know more than me, to be honest. I did not know that some people had talked TU like that (ndl: metal merchant, emp). Of course we are proud of this album, we are extremely happy to know that were are positive reviews, but we have already dealt with less kind reviews. You've already recorded 3 videos. It's rare to record everything at once. What is the reason? Is it because Sharon is pregnant and want to spare her the pressure? This is one reason but not the only one. In fact, all our videos - or rather, our movies - will be available on the CD/DVD edition of The Unforgiving which is set to be released in March and it was necessary to record everything at once. On Twitter, one of the extras on one of your videos mentions shooting in a German club. Is this place where you shot the video for your second single, "Sinead"? That's right. When will it be posted? Probably at the end of the month. Now a crucial question about your drummer: Is he a ghost? Does he really exist? In the video for "Faster", he is hidden, and he is also hidden in videos that have surfaced of your participation in the Vrienden van Amstel tour. Mike Coolen, your session drummer, said in the latest edition of your fan club magazine that the final replacement for Stephen had not yet been decided. I want to reassure the fans: he is not a ghost. Our future drummer will be a creature of flesh and bone. The auditions are still ongoing and we should have chosen someone for the position by the time the summer festivals start. He is hidden because we didn't want a session drummer to appear in a videoclip. Also, the idea that he is hidden is comparable to our concept album, they all come together, and you will understand the reason for this choice by reading the comics.The decision hasn't been made? Is it possible for someone outside The Netherlands to apply?Of course, but we need to finalise it soon, as I said, so don't delay!Have you ever thought about your future stage set-up? Will you be dressed as a superhero? (Laughs) We've already talked about it, but nothing is set in stone yet. We are currently busy with promotion. We will try to deal with the staging next month. Logically, our decor will be an extension of the world in the comics, but I don't know anything for sure right now. Your next live appearance will take place this summer at M'era Luna Festival: a festival that you particularly like and which you were headlining a few years ago. Are other festivals planned? Most likely, it is still up in the air. The only thing I can say now is that if we do other festivals, it will be in August. Any idea of what will be performed on stage? Not at all. Enter? Not the entire album, even though I'm not against that, but at least a few songs? We must be patient. Will the M'era Luna setlist be representative of what will be played on your September tour? It will be a good opportunity to present part of the album, to test the live tracks, but I don't think it will be the final set list, although will be possible to make rough estimations from it.As I mentioned before, you opened the show at Vrienden van Amstel: Have you missed the stage? Terribly so, it's a real addiction, especially for Sharon. Was not that a bit annoying to leave after playing only 4 songs? No no it was a good warm-up, a soft landing back into live performances, we weren't frustrated to leave so quickly. Your previous album was released in March 2007, and since then you've played in many countries, made a DVD and an acoustic album. Should we still expect to wait four long years before your next album? The album is not out yet we are already on the next one, my god (laughs) I admit, our pace is not very fast, we like to take our time and give our best. It takes 3 years minimum, it is a good average I think, between each CD. It's a pace that suits us and I hope that fans will endure. Do they have a choice? Not really (laughs). But we are perfectionists and do not like to rush our work. In recent years, you've for opened Metallica, Iron Maiden, both groups of which you are a fan. You've played with an orchestra and sold millions of CDs. Do you still have dreams left? Of course. We realize how lucky we have been and all that we have done. It's still amazing. In an interview with the Dutch magazine Aardshock back in 1998, you mentioned wanting to live your passion for music, which is the case today. What more can you want? Perhaps even more than a simple positive reception for your next CD? The music scene is a perpetual challenge. We want to deliver concerts that people will not forget. Real shows. That's our motto at the moment, give the best of ourselves on stage, and to surpass ourselves each day is our challenge. But it's not a challenge in the etymological challenge sense of finding an even to win, in this case, it's more a goal that is facing us, as well as a competition. We want to excel, I repeat, to give the best. What is your opinion on Stephen's group, My Favourite Scar? Like many people, I have not seen them on live but I like their music. It is really very good. Stephen is an excellent drummer but he is also a very talented producer. Same question on Ruud's project.I listened to a little of "For All We Know", but as a fan of Iron Maiden, I was more interested in his project "Maiden United", which, in addition to being original, is very good . It is a very good group idea and they have a really talented singer (ndl: Daniel Gildenlí¶w Pain of Salvation). Have you ever thought of launching your own a solo career without neglecting or even leaving Within Temptation? It crossed my mind, but not more than that because Within Temptation takes so much of my time, but it does not bother me because I can blossom with this group which has given me so much. A more informal question now: Do you prefer Twitter or Facebook? Who is in charge of writing messages on your accounts on those networks? I like, no I love them. I am truly hooked. We like the ease of contact that they afford. You know, we have always been close to our fans and this gives us a certain way to present information on a daily basis, looking for news that we like to distribute. The messages are written by both the group and management. We share the password and give information and news as often as possible.Such a scattering of information must be off-putting to some people? Yes but not everyone goes to our site, Facebook, Twitter, Hyves, etc.. Social networks are important nowadays. We can not do without. Two hours ago, you posted pictures of yourself at the local station "Oui" on these very same social networking sites. You mentioned the recording of an acoustic session that will be broadcast on Sunday. Can we have any more information? Has it already been recorded?If yes, what was the set list? It has already been recorded, and we played "Faster," "Where Is The Edge" and "What Have You Done". Did you play the same songs on Kerrang Radio last week when you were promoting the album in England? If I remember correctly, it was a similar setlist, with Stand My Ground as well. A final word about the tragic news this weekend about the passing of Gary Moore? He was one of the greats. Wild Frontier is an album that I particularly appreciate. I never saw him on stage, unlike Sharon, who attended one of their concerts. Fortunately, his music is eternal.
Since the release of “Faster†everything is going faster and faster. The Unforgiving are starting to leave their mark more and more.The first movie and the video of “Faster†reached the number 2 spot in the top 10 of most viewed music video’s worldwide on Youtube. “Faster†also skydived into the iTunes charts in USA at the same day it was released. Amazing highlights, please add your local news about “Faster†if you find any….Besides that we’re running a busy promo schedule right now with a lot of interviews and visits to radio stations throughout Europe. Last week we were in the UK & France and the upcoming weeks we’ll travel to Germany, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria.For all of our Dutch fans: Monday morning we’ll visit the studio of Radio 3FM for Giel Beelen’s show, next Friday you can hear us at Radio 538 (Edwin Evers) and in the evening on 3FM again during “Ekstra Weekend“.Be sure to check it out and of course keep visiting our website, a lot of special announcements will be posted in the weeks to come
You can vote for the dutch 3FM Awards again!As it is a Dutch site, we made a list you can use for voting. This is an example!Beste Band (best band)Within TemptationBeste Zanger (best male singer)Marco BorsatoBeste Zangeres (best female singer)Sharon Den AdelBeste Artiest Pop (best artist pop)3j'sBeste Artiest Rock (best rock artist)Within TemptationBeste Artiest Dance (best dance artist)Armin Van BuurenBeste Artiest Hip-hop (best artist R&B)De Jeugd van TegenwoordigBeste Artiest Alternatieve (best alternative artist)Within TemptationBeste Single (best single)Utopia of FasterBeste Album (best album)An Acoustic Night at The Theatre or The UnforgivingBeste Live Act (best live act)Within TemptationBeste Nieuwkomer (best new artist)Laura JanssenYou can vote every day, so lets bring WT back to life in the Netherlands!!!http://www.3fm.nl/nieuws/detail/349748/Wie-wil-jij-nomineren -voor-de-3FM-Awards/0/
