Within Temptation - Black Symphony review
| Band: | Within Temptation |
| Album: | Black Symphony |
| Style: | Symphonic metal |
| Release date: | September 22, 2008 |
| A review by: | Jeff |
Disc I [feat. Metropole Orchestra] [Live at The Ahoy on February 7th, 2008]
01. Ouverture
02. Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)
03. The Howling
04. Stand My Ground
05. The Cross
06. What Have You Done [feat. Keith Caputo]
07. Hand Of Sorrow
08. The Heart Of Everything
09. Forgiven
10. Somewhere [feat. Anneke van Giersbergen]
11. The Swan Song
12. Memories
13. Our Solemn Hour
14. The Other Half (Of Me) [feat. George Oosthoek]
15. Frozen
16. The Promise
17. Angels
18. Mother Earth
19. The Truth Beneath The Rose
20. Deceiver Of Fools
21. All I Need
22. Ice Queen
+ Backstage Report/Interviews
+ Documentary
+ Countdown Black Symphony
Disc II [Bonus Concert] [Live at The Beursgebouw on November 24th, 2007]
01. Intro
02. Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)
03. The Howling
04. The Cross
05. Hand Of Sorrow
06. The Heart Of Everything
07. Restless
08. Our Solemn Hour
09. Mother Earth
10. Jane Doe
11. The Truth Beneath The Rose
12. All I Need
+ What Have You Done
+ Frozen
+ The Howling
+ All I Need
+ The Making Of:
1 - Frozen
2 - The Howling
3 - All I Need
+ World Tour Impressions
+ Extras:
4 - What Have You Done [Live at the TMF Awards Belgium]
5 - All I Need [Live at the TMF Awards Belgium]
6 - The Dutch Pop Award Show
7 - Photoshoot Erwin Olaf
8 - Orchestra Recordings
Within Temptation is a bit like the clone of Iron Maiden when it comes to produce ton of DVDs, singles best-of and other merchandising stuffs but if the British band is still really popular among its fans, Within Temptation has clearly decided to focus on young girlies and newcomer metalheads now. We're not here to debate about this point today but I just wanted to say that I will write the review of the DVD/Live album of a "new" band that I don't really like anymore actually but I promise you that I will be honest and I won't let you wait any more time to tell you that this new DVD/Live album is an excellent piece of work. Fans of Within Tempation, this is a must!
"Black Symphony" was recorded at The Ahoy venue in February 2008. The particularity of this new live is that the band is not alone on stage and plays all their hits with the help of the Metropole Orchestra composed of talented classical musicians and choirs. The result is simply impressing, the songs are sublimed by the classical arrangements and it gives something really beautiful in the end. As you can see on the set-list, you'll be able to watch a long concert with twenty two songs (nothing is missing on the simple live album, that's cool!) and approximately two hours of concerts. This is not a basic concert as you can guess but one more time I regret that the band forgot to add more old songs which could be really great with the symphonic orchestra? Whatever, this is not a surprise anyway and we have to live with it now unfortunately.
For the simple live album or for the DVD, the recording and the production is simply exceptional. Definitely the band and its label have the financial means to produce something big which doesn't have to suffer of any comparison with the big popular bands (and I'm not only talking about Metal here). The musicians are really good and did a good performance this night but I think that the voice of Sharon has been better in the past. I remember that I saw the band live before that they become so popular and her voice was pure like crystal, this is not the case on this live. But it will be ok if you like Within Temptation and anyway the product really deserves your money if you like the combo.
When it comes to the DVD, the videos are excellent, this is well filmed, it's obvious that the audience is present and we can hear it a lot. The stage was a bit simple but the orchestra gives a classy touch to the images. Despites the ridiculous dresses of Sharon, I can tell you that the DVD worth its money too. Too bad that the band is a bit "too much" and a bit kitsch on a side but with a full length concert in bonus plus backstage stuffs, pictures and a lot of other good things, this is simply the best DVD that Within Temptation has ever done.
You know I cannot avoid whining a bit and I will say one more time that I regret that some songs are missing. I have to say too that the pseudo romantic "princess" stuffs that I saw on this DVD are kitsch has hell but I have to be objective and despites those negative points, I really think that "Black Symphony" is a great DVD. The orchestra gives something really positive to the music of Within Temptation and the production is simply amazing. I don't know if the old fans will enjoy this release but if you like "The Silent Force" and "The Heart Of Everything" this is a mega must. "Black Symphony" is highly recommended to the fans of the Dutch combo and to all the people who like Symphonic Gothic music.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | - |
| Originality: | - |
| Production: | 10 |
Written by Jeff | 27.10.2008
Comments
Comments: 12
Visited by: 293 users
| Katatronik Angel of Lust Posts: 1018  |
Special release... The Orchestra gives a great touch of solemnity and the performance is really good, especially Sharon who is an amazing singer IMO...
---- "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." Howard Phillips Lovecraft
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| Abattoir Staff Posts: 3700  |
I didn't buy this stuff yet, but I'm planning to in near future. So, what I read from review, this DVD is something that will make my day better 
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| Shadowcross The Summoner Posts: 481  |
Yes excellent release. I bought it for my friend on DVD, will have to wait a bit longer myself because I want the Bluray. It is a shame songs like Enter and Dark Wings aren't included, but you can always pick these up on the earlier dvd releases anyway.. I think you can expect more DVD/BR releases like this from bands in the future, hopefully including Epica! 
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| corrupt With a lowercase c Admin Posts: 3594  |
I didn't even know about this DVD. But I'm with you on the point that many of their old songs are missing there. 'The Silent Force' never worked for me, which is why I never even looked at 'The Heart of Everything'. But seens as they didn't put a single song from 'Enter' into that live set, this seems to be the direction they want to go. But the concept sounds good, plus I usually agree with you Jeff when it comes down to album and DVD ratings. So I might give it a try. Hopefully this will spread to reach other bands too. I would L O V E to see say the old Tristania with Morten and Vibeke on stage with a huge orchestra. Or old Theatre Of Tragedy with Liv Kristine. Songs can be completely rediscovered. I still like to listen to Metallica's 'S&M' on a quite evening even though I never liked a single studio song from anything after 'Master of Puppets'.
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| corrupt With a lowercase c Admin Posts: 3594 |
I've seen it now, and I'm stunned. Cudos to Sharon to keep her voice that powerful during a two hours set. I quickly got bored in the first half, but they really turn it. Anyone who likes symphonic with simple harmonics will have to love this DVD.
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| Arcesse Eum Posts: 268  |
Definitly not my thing, but maybe I will check it out.
---- As above, so below.
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| Bas Retired Staff Elite Posts: 5591  |
I always get bored from concert dvds but i'll definitely try to get the cd version of it
---- BAS - Beautifully Accented Sexiness
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| Enissa Posts: 816  |
ITS FANTASTIC!!!!!! This Concert is very f**king awesome.... Especially Mother Earth, HAnd Of Sorrow, The Truth Beneath The Rose, & The duet With Anneke The Orchetstra did a really good job with such an great performance by WT (Especially Sharon's vocals) So great to watch this DVD on & on about not seeing old songs, thats because those "old" songs are not in the vein of Symphonic Metal, like from the Enter album they are in the Gothic vein, so its hard to play Symphony. It would be better to play Restless & Enter instead of The Other half of Me, but thats not a must.... And about Jeff saying that he doesnt like WT anymore cause of their changings, and saying that they have decided to focus on young girlies and newcomer metalheads, well, thats not true! I Discovered WT with The Silent Force, and they are so much better in it than the album Enter (Which I only like Restless, Enter & Candles in it, and hate that Deep Within song) & hell better than The Dance (Aweful Release) Mother Earth is The Start for Their good Music, then it all went better... Thats my opinion
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| corrupt With a lowercase c Admin Posts: 3594 |
Written by Enissa on 03.11.2008 at 13:20 And it's also the start of their music getting simpler and what is popularly called "poppier". Which is fine, and it definitely payed off for them. But listening to 'Enter' I find myself much more taken along by the music. There are more melancholic moments there, and Sharons voice perfectly emphasizes the mood of the album. Everything after that is just plain predictable and never caught me anywhere near that. Which is why I would like to see them play those songs too. At least so that people can see where they come from.
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| Enissa Posts: 816 |
Written by corrupt on 05.11.2008 at 15:05 I Like some songs in Enter like i said before, but not the whole album.... Restless & Enter are good songs but not as Stand My Ground & The Promise In Enter, I didnt find the unique melody like The Silent Force & Mother Earth, just like any other Gothic /Doom Release, Enter has simply those Melancholic moments & The Drums are so weird like drumming on some dry wood! Sharon vocals are sometimes very good, and sometimes are aweful and very aweful like on Grace & Gatekeeper, and that song "Deep Within" is so aweful that i didnt believe that they wrote such song! thats why I dont like Enter like the other albums
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| Fat & Sassy! Elite Posts: 3857  |
This concert is nothing short of epically beautiful. The production costs must of been through the roof for this show. The direction is great. I even enjoyed their songs on their albums after Mother Earth on this DVD. But I do hate the whole jumping in place bullshit that most mainstream/pop rock groups do. It's very annoying.
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