Within Temptation

[Serena]

Album progress
It was a week beyond expectations. We are all a bit in seventh heaven (mmm nice title for a song). We planned to do a drumrecording test for one or two songs and ended up with five. And the best of all...we've never been so happy with the sound, it is exactly how we wanted it to sound and might just be even better.

For this album we are trying to find an organic, natural yet big drum sound. When trying to find this kind of sound, the sound of the room you are recording drums in is just as important as the sound of the drumkit and the drummer. We were searching for a studio with a big hall, that sounds rich and warm.

After visting and listening to many studio rooms, we decided to check the MCO studios, where we rehearsed and recorded orchestra for "The Black Symphony" and "Utopia" with the Metropole Orchestra. The MCO building is mainly used for classical music and has 5 different studios, from pretty big to huge rooms.

And yeah... we found the hall of our dreams. We ended up recording at the MCO studio 4, which is actually a hall used mainly for rehearsals of the Dutch Broadcast Choir (Groot Omroepkoor). They hardly do recordings there and we're sure we were the first ones to record drums there, ever. The sound of the hall is truly beautiful, exactly what we wanted.

We started on Monday, bringing all of the gear in and setting up, checking mics and drums 'till we got the sound right. We had a day off on the very first Kingsday on Tuesday and Mike started recording songs on Wednesday. He recorded drums for a new WT album for the very first time, and he did an amazing job. He played for ten hours in a row without loosing energy.

So here we are, having recorded drums for 5 songs. Damn we're looking forward to finishing the songs now! Next week we're finishing more lyrics and we will record some vocals... an exciting week once again.

A great weekend to ya'all!
 

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4g_HSEP8rA&

[Serena]

We have received many questions regarding the very last video of The Unforgiving Tour Vlog.

As many of you noticed, we still owe you one more video from our South American Tour: Brazil. Due to Elements and recording songs for Q-music every week, we weren’t able to collect all of our shots and post the video. However, at the start of the new festival season, we are presenting to you… The Unforgiving Tour Vlog: video #24! The very last one.

Check out the final video to watch Sharon take you to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, see if you can find yourself waiting in front of the venue and see if you can spot yourself in the crowd during the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXSJSzOeIrA

[Serena]

Album Progress
Robert's update on deadlines and the release of the first single:

This week we received the release schedule of the first single, album, videoshoot, photos, artwork, and everything else that needs to be created. Of course we already knew the schedule but damn…deadlines are coming closer all the time.

Luckily, we already got some work done this week. The drums are being prepared for recording Bass and Guitar, next week. Sharon and I are working on lyrics and we scheduled recording days with our producer Daniel.

It's defenitely going to be a hot sommer for us, taking place in the studio... We do really like recording a new record during the summer, though. It always gives us a lot more energy and good spirit.

Oh yeah, we can already reveal that we're finishing the first single at the 16th of June. Pretty close huh? We can't tell you the release date yet, though... Shall we tell you something about what the track is going to sound like?

Ok... next week ;-)

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation

[Serena]

Album progress
Robert's update: Panic and videos

Last  Monday was all about base recordings. Jeroen went to Graveland Studio and recorded base with Arno at the wheel of the studio for the first five songs. There was a lot of checking out different base guitars and then picking the right one for each song. Then time to slam them in! It was a long day for Jeroen but you don't have to feel sorry for us musicians...we never start early ;-)

Meanwhile Sharon and I have been busy with ideas for the first video, cause, due to reasons we have to be mysterious about, we already have to shoot it next month aaaaaaargh that's really quick and of course we never panic...I guess...

Altough it can also destroy things sometimes, pressure can be a creative force as well. Luckily we are also very lucky to have some very creative friends around us who can brainstorm with us and unbelievable but true, we have a great idea for the new video which fits the song so much.

Oh yeah and I promised to reveal something about the new album...well this first song is def no ballad, it's fast it's hard it's epic...and that's not even the best about it... I'm sorry we have to do it again and have to leave you in the dark a bit more on what that is but time's running fast so don't panic... 

So the heat is on cause with the videoshoot Sharon also has to start on thinking about the new styling..clothing and such, that's her fun department. Oeh so nice to have a girl in the band for that.

The boys and Sharon now first have a show in Poland on Saturday...lucky bastards and then Monday back to the studio.

Have a great weekend and till next week!
 

[Serena]

Setlist Cracovia

[Serena]

Mother Earth @ Cracovia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6lPUPXfXNo

[Serena]

Sharon en el nuevo disco de Timo Tolkki

Shine

[Serena]

European Summer Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0652yMJZr-o

[Serena]

Album progress
It has been a busy but rewarding week. Sharon has been recording the final lead vocals for the first single. Ruud and Stefan have been recording guitars in their studios. Great feeling that things start to speed up and the end result is getting closer.

     

We also went to Wisseloord Studios (great studio there) to let our record company hear a few demo songs. Luckily they didn’t panic, started crying or run away when they heard them. Actually, they were very happy with the songs and so were we cause there is nothing better than everybody working on this record getting energy from it.

We also had a nice dinner with them and as we met for the first time we had the chance to get to know eachother a bit. It was a great evening. We had amazing italian food, talked a lot about music, other countries and cultures, cars… technical and musical developments. All in all a great evening with great people with a big musical heart which we really look forward to work with.

Next day we had to get back to work with the directors to finalise the idea for the video. Next stop will be getting some ideas for the cover of the album, maybe a title would be handy too. Let’s see where we get with that next week! For now, have a smashing weekend, make sure you survive it and till next week!

Horns up,

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation

[Serena]

The Dutch charity Mannen voor KiKa, which raises money for medical research, the fight against cancer amongst children, and ways to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, is auctioning off a Within Temptation package including merchandise and signed items.

Mannen voor KiKa tries to raise money using auctions amongst other tools. We donated a package to help them raise money for children with cancer. You can place bids on the package here. Bids can be placed until the 9th of June. The money raised by the Within Temptation collection will be used to help Mannen voor KiKa in their fight against cancer.

[Serena]

We are performing at Nirwana Tuinfeest in the Netherlands this summer. The festival takes place in Lierop, and is the third Dutch festival we’re visiting during this year’s festival season. Nirwana Tuinfeest will take place from the 2nd of August until the 4th of August.

We’ll be playing at Friday the 2nd of August, following up the Dutch bands Navarone and DeWolf amongst others. Other acts that will be performing at this year’s edition of Nirwana Tuinfeest are Handsome Poets, Kensington and Ugly Kid Joe, amongst others.

[Serena]

Album progress
Update by Robert: Ruud and Stefan been recording a lot of guitars this week; Acoustics, picking, heavy strumming, slow chunky rifs, fast finger breaking solos... I heard it all pass by this week. It's pretty amazing if you think about how many different sounds and emotions you can get out of a guitar. I guess that's problably also why it has become such a popular instrument the past decades.

In the mean time, Martijn finished string arrangements for two songs, which are now ready for the recording of real strings.

Sharon, Daniel and I have been working on one song pretty much all week to get the feel there. The basic demo idea was (don't be shocked now.... count to ten...) in a swingy dance beat with rap in all verses. Now, we really love to experiment, but this was a bit too much out of our comfort zone, so we turned the song into a big symphonic, and heavy guitar cranking song.

So nothing to panic about, despite the fact this song holds pretty cool and big surprises you have most defenitely never heard on a WT record before...

It was an exciting week, exciting enough to celebrate it with a smacking  weekend!

Enjoy yourselves and 'till da next!!!!

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation

[Serena]

We can confirm another festival for this summer. We’re playing at En Vivo in Spain this festival season!

The festival takes place from the 29th until the 31st of August, in Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona. Three different locations, with a shifting line up. We are playing at Bilbao on Friday the 30th of August, and in Barcelona on the 31st of August.

Other acts that are playing at the festival are The Offspring, The Toy Dolls, Berri Txarrak, and many others. Check www.envivofestival.com for more information on the festival and the complete line up.

[Serena]

Album progress
Robert: "Talking about a studio report... I'm actually writing this report in the studio in the middle of working with Daniel on a new song I'm soooo excited about! It's fast, dark, catchy and lost of rifs and double kick. It also begs to have grunts on it... Mmm who are we gonna call for that cause no, I ain't gonna do that... It deserves much better.

Allright back to the song now yeahaaa!!!"
 

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation

[Serena]

Album progress
This week was a short studio week, as we had to leave on Wednesday evening for Greenfield festival and Novarock in Austria. We did spend a lot of time in the studio at the start of the week, though.

Sharon finished vocals for a track, while she was also working on the styling for the first music video we are shooting this weekend! Robert was writing on a new track which hopefully nailed the last song we need to complete the album.

Also, as we've been working on the album for quite some time, the album title suddenly revealed itself to us! We're sorry, we're not revealing it yet... but the new album has a face now (more than one)... it has come to life... be aware!

Sharon, Ruud, Stefan, Martijn, Jeroen, Mike and Robert

Within Temptation