Our resident concert goer Phil has been to another gig, here’s his review, looks like he had another good time.
It’s been four years since Within Temptation last toured the UK, which culminated in a sold-out show at London’s prestigious Wembley Arena.
The long break for the Dutch symphonic metallers has been brought about in part by singer Sharon Den Adel spending time raising a family and some record company issues resulting in a delay to the release of their seventh studio album, Resist.
A couple of new songs with accompanying videos have been released on-line and they definitely have a more keyboard influenced, dystopian feel as the band continue to develop and move into different creative areas.
Great anticipation is in the air of a packed Brixton Academy tonight as the road crew dress the stage and briefly test some of the lighting effects to be used in the show.
As the house lights go out and a keyboard riff fills the speakers and each band member take their place throughout the stage in typically emphatic fashion with an incredibly stunning stage setup resembling the inside of an extra-terrestrial ship. It is unusual to tour an album before it released these days but the audience were soon singing the irresistible chorus along with the pitch-perfect vocals of band leader. Sharon Den Adel was dressed in a flowing white cape waving a huge flag for the opening number, Raise Your Banner from the upcoming new album.
Two more songs follow in quick succession and are both lapped up by the crowd, but it is the more familiar older material that brought about the biggest reaction. Lots of billowing dried ice and a stunning lighting display greeted The Middle Of The Night as the faster paced number saw the band loosening up and moving around the stage more freely. Stand My Ground continued the journey through their back catalogue, with plenty of horns being raised along with the band. The huge video walls now displaying a more urban backdrop rather than the sci-fi themes of the newer material.
Tracks such as Faster and Shot In The Dark from The Unforgiving album felt huge but material from the more symphonic The Heart Of Everything LP were a real highlight. All I Need was excellent as was the more commercial sounding What Have You Done? The truly gorgeous piano led Forgiven showed the sheer quality and range of Sharon’s beautiful vocal ability. Quite why people around me were talking loudly and taking photos whilst this sumptuous acoustic moment was taking place I really don’t know, just enjoy the moment people and show some respect!
The set closed after a brief break with Stairway To The Skies as Sharon floated above the stage in a billowing gown in front of the stunning circular lighting rig / video screen. Overall an excellent, well-choreographed and professional show which should help raise the band’s profile as a superb live act.
Let’s wait and see what the new album brings and how it is received by critics and more importantly the fans of the band.
Resist is scheduled to be released on December 14th.
Text by Phil Ashdown.
Setlist
Raise Your Banner
The Reckoning
Endless War
In The Middle Of The Night
Stand My Ground
All I Need
Supernova
Shot In The Dark
The Promise
Faster
Mercy Mirror
Paradise (What About Us?)
The Heart Of Everything
Waht Have You Done
Forgiven
Mother Earth
Stairway To The Skies
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