Any goth metal band fronted by a woman post-2003 is going to be compared to Evanescence, whether they like it or not. And while they're probably sick to death of hearing this comparison, Within Temptation's fourth full-length overall, 2007's The Heart of Everything, will especially garner some comparing/contrasting to Amy Lee and company. But here's the catch for newcomers to the band: Within Temptation has been around longer than Evanescence. That said, give a listen to the male-female duet "What Have You Done," which sees Within Temptation frontwoman Sharon Den Adel paired with Life of Agony's Keith Caputo -- and guess what song it sounds a bit like (yes, you guessed it: "Bring Me to Life"!). Elsewhere, the sextet isn't afraid to get downright symphonic, even on the ballad "Frozen" plus the metallic rock of the title track and "Hand of Sorrow" (the latter of which combines both approaches, sounding a bit like Meat Loaf's latter day epics). And you've got to love a song that was inspired after a viewing of Braveheart (the aforementioned title track), which explains the sweeping "cinematics" that are on display throughout The Heart of Everything. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Frozen and The Truth Beneath the Rose are among their best work. However, the added whispers on The Howling and The Heart of Everything detract horribly from those songs.
this is more Nightwish-sounding than Evanescence. I've been a long-time Ev fan, and I must admit, that the "they stole Ev's style" stuff is annoying. WT came BEFORE Ev. but since some of us Americans heard of Ev before WT (I had no clue about this band until May 2007), we tend to judge like that. oh well. but as long as we like this music...
Why do half the people here make comments as though WT copied Evanescence when it's the other way around? Is it because they're not an "American" band?
"But here's the catch for newcomers to the band: Within Temptation has been around longer than Evanescence. " thats from the About this album, just look up. Im still a fan of Evanessence, just saying people seem to think WT copied the sound of others, when WT had albums out before the others.
I do think a few of these songs sound too much like Evanescence's style, but on the other hand the rest of the songs definitely stand on their own feet with a powerful, unique quality.
This band is a lot like evanescense which is why i listen to and like them. This cd is awesome but they will always be in the shadow of evanescense. Sorry, just the way it is. Evanescense is number 1!!!!