Artist: WITHIN TEMPTATION
Album: MOTHER EARTH (CD)

Release date: 2003
Media type: CD

Gothic-Doom Metal act WITHIN TEMPTATION has made serious headway into the European market with a series of adventurous releases. The band, founded during 1996, is fronted by the striking figure of vocalist Sharon Janny den Adel. Former THE CIRCLE and VOYAGE guitarist Robert Westerholt convened the act drafting his girlfriend den Adel and erstwhile band colleagues bassist Jeroen van Veen and guitar player Michiel Papenhove. Initially the former EJACULATE and NEAR DARK man Richard Willemse handled drums but subsequently NEMESIS candidate Dennis Leeflang would occupy the drum stool and Roberts brother David Martijn took over the keyboard role.

This line up recorded the ‘Enter’ demos and within a few months had various record company offers to choose from. Signing to the DSFA label WITHIN TEMPTATION would also at this juncture manouevere Ivar de Graaf onto the drum stool. Leeflang subsequently joined forces with TIME MACHINE and SUN CAGED.

The inaugural ‘Enter’ album was released in April 1997. An appearance at the ‘Dynamo’ festival led to a two week tour throughout Europe. However, by the close of the year de Graaf had made his exit. His replacement was Ciro Palma, a former member of Death Metal combo XENOMORPH. WITHIN TEMPTATION would perform at the ‘Dynamo’ festival once more the following year, this time promoted the main stage, and also appear at the ‘Noorderslag’ event. A mini-album ‘The Dance’, including three exclusive tracks 'The Dance', 'Another Day' and 'The Other Half (Of Me)', would be released to capitalize on this exposure.

In 1999 de Graaf made his return. WITHIN TEMPTATION would completely dispense with the Death Metal vocal style for the Oscar Holleman produced 'Mother Earth' album relying solely on den Adel's majestic vocal ability. The move would garner a whole new fanbase for the band. Meanwhile, outside activities for den Adel would see the vocalist acting in a guest capacity for AYREON and on the AFTER FOREVER 'Prison Of Desire' album.

Guitar player Michiel Papenhove would depart in mid 2001. For live work during August Ruud Jolie of BROTHERHOOD FOUNDATION filled in prior to Jelle Bakker, a member of FROZEN SUN, taking the position permanently.

During November WITHIN TEMPTATION announced a rather unique show performed with the Broerekerk Church in Zwolle complete with full choir and Opera singer. Fans received the news with such enthusiasm a second show had to be added to satisfy demand.

WITHIN TEMPTATION members van Veen, de Graaf and Papenhove would also be operational with the Avant Garde Rock outfit J.I.M. GENERATOR. By mid 2002 Ivar de Graaf was also ensconced in the Dutch / Belgian Doom 'Supergroup' LES FAIDITS assembled by ex-SENGIR members singer Jurgen Cobbaut and guitarist Kris Scheerlinck. Bakker too founded another band unit, re-uniting with his erstwhile FROZEN SUN colleagues bassist Yuenl Ee and drummer Richard van Leeuwen alongside Rotterdam's DJ Fader (Romeo Gambier), former CURFEW vocalist Bjцrn Chazz De Water and erstwhile RIPTIDE and BLOOD SESSIONS guitarists Ramon Sebastiлn in a brand new Metal cum Crossover Hip Hop act billed as CHEN MO. David Martijn Westerholt decamped to found DELAIN, another female fronted Gothic Metal band.

WITHIN TEMPTATION signed to the German G.U.N. Records label in December. The first fruits of this relationship would be a re-release of the 'Mother Earth' album, certified platinum in Holland and gold in Belgium, complete with new cover art and four additional tracks. The group also secured the opening slot to PARADISE LOST's February 2003 European dates.

The band made a major return in 2004, introduce their new album 'The Silent Force' with a special, one off performace at Le Batlaclan venue in Paris, France on 8th November. This show would be filmed and be broadcast live in several theatres around Europe. 'The Silent Force' duly debuted at the coveted no. 1 spot in Holland. February 2004 European shows saw the band supported by AUTUMN. As new single 'Memories' entered the German singles charts at no.17, the 2000 album 'Mother Earth' gained double platinum status in Germany for sales in excess of 200,000 copies.

A notable gig in March came with the band's inclusion on the 'Desert Rock' festival alongside THE DARKNESS, MACHINE HEAD and SEPULTURA held at the Dubai Rugby Country Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In May Martijn Westerholt recorded his solo project DELAIN's debut at Spacelab Studios in Kempen, Germany. Handling drums in the studio would be GOD DETHRONED's Ariлn van Weesenbeek. The band, having recently signed to Roadrunner Records for the UK, Australia and Japan, put in a high profile and unusual gig in July, headlining alongside AFTER FOREVER on the unique setting of Java Island in Amsterdam to 10,000 fans. The Summer found WITHIN TEMPTATION on the European festival circuit, appearing at events such as 'Pinkpop', 'Werchter', 'Rock Am Ring', 'Rock Im Park', 'Sweden Rock', 'Ruisrock', 'Aerodome', 'Wacken Open Air', and 'Gurten' plus supports to IRON MAIDEN in Zurich and Paris. The Roadrunner re-release of 'The Silent Force' for the UK, issued in August, included a bonus DVD disc. That same month the band received their first Scandinavian sales award, earning gold status for 15,000 sales of 'The Silent Force' in Finland. The band would be presented with the gold plaques by their record company during an appearance at the 'Ankkarock 2005' festival.

On 31st August the band's commercial success was recognised when they were honored with the 'Best Selling Dutch Artist' award at the World Music Awards, held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, adding to their previous accolades such as the Edison Award in the 'Best National Group' category, TMF Award for 'Best National Rock Band' and the Dutch Music Export Award. WITHIN TEMPTATION headlined the UK 'Bloodstock' on 3rd September.

Announcing a forthcoming DVD of 'The Silent Force' the band took the opportunity of also revealing further WITHIN TEMPTATION output was expected in the form of a new addition to the family, informing fans that Sharon den Adel was five months pregnant and she and guitarist Robert Westerholt were expecting a baby in January 2006. However, a baby daughter arrived on 7th December, some eight weeks early.

TRACKLIST:

1. Mother Earth
2. Ice Queen
3. Our Farewell
4. Caged
5. The Promise
6. Never-ending Story
7. Deceiver Of Fools
8. Intro
9. Dark Wings
10. In Perfect Harmony

Bonus Tracks:
11. Deep Within
12. The Dance
13. Restless
14. Bittersweet

LINE-UP:

Sharon Janny den Adel (vocals)
Robert Westerholt (guitar)
Michiel Papenhove (guitar)
Jeroen Van Veen (bass)
David Martijn Westerholt (keyboards)
Ivar De Graaf (drums)