Roadrunner
2011
1. Why Not Me
2. Shot In The Dark
3. In The Middle Of The Night
4. Faster
5. Fire And Ice
6. Iron
7. Where Is The Edge?
8. Sinéad
9. Lost
10. Murder
11. A Demon's Fate
12. Stairway To The Skies
Within Temptation set a high bar for me with the last album. The Heart Of Everything really did strike all the right chords with me as it was passionate and epic... beautifully symphonic yet completely metal. Really this band has been like a fine wine for me and has improved with age. I've always liked them, but that last album sealed the deal in a serious way as it just seemed heavier and more intense. The questions for me had to be if they could maintain this new standard they had set and where the ceiling was.
Well, I'm still not sure where the ceiling is because the arrow is still pointing upwards. The Unforgiving does not disappoint at all and the band continues to grow in sound. This is not just a rehash and once again the band finds a new sound within it's own trademark. This is the kind of thing I love to hear. Familiar in that it won't alienate fans, but not just the same old.
While The Heart Of Everything seemed to focus on being larger than life, this one takes a little different approach. There's still a big feel to this one as it is a concept album with varied moods, but at the same time this seems smoother and more geared at being catchy. I might add that this album absolutely succeeds at it. The choruses are addictive, the rhythms are energetic, and the hooks grab you. Really, I think the songwriting and production of this album are completely top notch. The nuances are great as well. A prime example would be the perfectly placed acoustic solo section in Lost that brings a lot of feeling to the tune and just gives it that extra something to push the song over the edge. Also worth noting is the great feeling some of these songs bring to the table and I have to point to a song like Murder for atmosphere. That song's creeping nature is positively dark and I love it.
Some of the songs surprised me a bit by being more upbeat than I'm accustomed to as well. An example of that would be In The Middle Of The Night which just moves along with a pace I'm not familiar with from this band. Very fast paced with some nice symphonic touches that give this a serious metal punch. I can't stress enough how gratifying it is when a band branches out to give you something new and interesting while not forgetting their own sound.
In conclusion, this a new high for Within Temptation who really set quite a high standard with The Heart Of Everything. In a way this album feels slightly more commercialized with more single ready tracks, but the songs work and the band does not lose who they are. This album kinda reminds me of Lacuna Coil's Comalies in a way. Not so much in sound as much as the point of the band's career. Great ideas and songs stepped up with smooth production that benefits this kind of a band. Let's just hope they keep remembering who they are and where they came from better than Lacuna Coil. I may be a bit of a Lacuna Coil apologist and still like their music, but I wouldn't deny they've strayed and were better in the past. Remember your fans Within Temptation... and they will keep loving you.
Highlights - In The Middle Of The Night, Shot In The Dark, Faster, Murder, Lost
Rating - 4.5/5
2. Shot In The Dark
3. In The Middle Of The Night
4. Faster
5. Fire And Ice
6. Iron
7. Where Is The Edge?
8. Sinéad
9. Lost
10. Murder
11. A Demon's Fate
12. Stairway To The Skies
Within Temptation set a high bar for me with the last album. The Heart Of Everything really did strike all the right chords with me as it was passionate and epic... beautifully symphonic yet completely metal. Really this band has been like a fine wine for me and has improved with age. I've always liked them, but that last album sealed the deal in a serious way as it just seemed heavier and more intense. The questions for me had to be if they could maintain this new standard they had set and where the ceiling was.
Well, I'm still not sure where the ceiling is because the arrow is still pointing upwards. The Unforgiving does not disappoint at all and the band continues to grow in sound. This is not just a rehash and once again the band finds a new sound within it's own trademark. This is the kind of thing I love to hear. Familiar in that it won't alienate fans, but not just the same old.
While The Heart Of Everything seemed to focus on being larger than life, this one takes a little different approach. There's still a big feel to this one as it is a concept album with varied moods, but at the same time this seems smoother and more geared at being catchy. I might add that this album absolutely succeeds at it. The choruses are addictive, the rhythms are energetic, and the hooks grab you. Really, I think the songwriting and production of this album are completely top notch. The nuances are great as well. A prime example would be the perfectly placed acoustic solo section in Lost that brings a lot of feeling to the tune and just gives it that extra something to push the song over the edge. Also worth noting is the great feeling some of these songs bring to the table and I have to point to a song like Murder for atmosphere. That song's creeping nature is positively dark and I love it.
Some of the songs surprised me a bit by being more upbeat than I'm accustomed to as well. An example of that would be In The Middle Of The Night which just moves along with a pace I'm not familiar with from this band. Very fast paced with some nice symphonic touches that give this a serious metal punch. I can't stress enough how gratifying it is when a band branches out to give you something new and interesting while not forgetting their own sound.
In conclusion, this a new high for Within Temptation who really set quite a high standard with The Heart Of Everything. In a way this album feels slightly more commercialized with more single ready tracks, but the songs work and the band does not lose who they are. This album kinda reminds me of Lacuna Coil's Comalies in a way. Not so much in sound as much as the point of the band's career. Great ideas and songs stepped up with smooth production that benefits this kind of a band. Let's just hope they keep remembering who they are and where they came from better than Lacuna Coil. I may be a bit of a Lacuna Coil apologist and still like their music, but I wouldn't deny they've strayed and were better in the past. Remember your fans Within Temptation... and they will keep loving you.
Highlights - In The Middle Of The Night, Shot In The Dark, Faster, Murder, Lost
Rating - 4.5/5
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