Album a Day: Within Temptation - The Silent Force

In 2004 Dutch symphonic band Within Temptation released this junior album, The Silent Force. According to lead singer Sharon den Adel the title was taken from a book by Dutch poet/novelist Louis Couperus and the majority of the album takes from said book. Though I do love the most recent work of Within Temptation, I think that this album still stands as my favorite. I had heard Within Temptation sitting in my buddy Kilean's place listening to albums and watching PAL DVDs that he managed to get a region-free DVD player for, but this album was the first one of their that I owned and really took the time to make my way through. There's so much heart on this album that this is a perfect album to share with someone you love for all the emotions involved. Sharon den Adel's vocals are so passionate but not just one note. In fact the entire band really knows when to play up the heavier guitar moments and throw in an entire orchestra and when to sit back and just let the vocals and a piano (or keyboard anyway) do their job. Really there are no bands doing exactly what Within Temptation does, though there are plenty that try. One of my favorite aspects about this album is not only in the hooks of the songs but also the positive message on a song like "Stand My Ground". Its interesting that when you see Within Temptation play live you get the sense that this is somehow a fantasy metal band like so many that are out there but I think this album is very much grounded in reality making it all that more accessible. The album has solid production that lends itself well to a myriad of sound that at times can include the six regular musicians in the band and an orchestra. In fact the addition of an orchestra is really amazing. A number of bands such as Metallica and Wolfsheim have used orchestras before but usually when performing a special version of an existing song, here Within Temptation finds particular moments to deploy the Ego Works Session Orchestra to enhance songs rather than take focus away from the music. Within Temptation is generally good about finding a balance between spectacle and substance. My only complaint about this album is that there a variety of different versions with different bonus tracks and so its difficult to hear all of them without spending a fortune to buy each different one (especially when most of them are imports. My version is the UK version which includes the bonus tracks, "Destroyed (Demo Version) and "Jane Doe". "Jane Doe" (written by Guus Eikens of Orphanage) feels much more like a classic Within Temptation song which is to say more of a metal edge and the addition of more distorted vocals that the band used to employ. Its fascinating how many singles are on this album and really how many of the songs have become staples of Within Temptation's live show with various versions appearing on other releases including the band's live CD Black Symphony and later acoustic session An Acoustic Night At The Theatre. I think this really speaks not only to Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt's lyrics, or the music that backs it, but also the bands connection with the fans that make the songs so popular. If you watch the live DVD from the tour to support this album you can see so many people singing along to songs that hadn't been out for that long but as if they had been for years. I also love the artwork on this album as there's something minimalist but very powerful about it. This is a great album and a must have if you are a Within Temptation fan or fans of similar music. Favorite Tracks: See Who I Am, Jillian (I'd Give My Heart), Stand My Ground, Angels, Memories, and Jane Doe