Music 


Within temptation

Ivar de Graaf (drums)
Michiel Papenhove (guitars)
Martijn Westerholt (keyboards)
Jeroen van Veen (bassguitar)
Sharon den Adel (vocals)
Robert Westerholt (guitars/vocals

"Within Temptation" started in 1996 as a metal-grunge band. Their debut album Enter got good reviews and this cd was very popular with the metal scene. The money they earned with this album they used for building their own studio, in which they recorded their second album Mother Earth - released about half a year ago. No more grunge music, but a mixture of soft-metal songs with folk influences and ballads about kings and spirits. They did not intend to record a "non-grunge" cd, but when they wanted to add the grunge voice they didn't think it would add anything to the music and left it out. This decision made the album much more suitable for a bigger audience and this is probably one of the reasons why both metal, folk, pop and John Denver listeners like Mother Earth. 

Central to their music are the vocals by lead singer Sharon. She has a high-pitched voice, both powerful and innocent, that compels you to listen to her. Both in the songs in which she is haunted by electric guitars and in the songs in which she sings her mystical lyrics accompanied by harp music, she and the musicians manage to create music that makes you feel as if you are in the middle of a great adventure. Guitar-player Robert Westerholt told me that this is exactly what they want. The band is much influenced by movies such as Braveheart and Robin Hood. These movies are overwhelming and that is exactly what the band want to achieve with their music. It was also one of these movies that made them start listening to folk-music. Clannad had recorded the soundtrack for Robin Hood, and the melodies they used impressed the band and inspired them to use folk influences on their latest album. 

"Within Temptation" do not just take traditional melodies and mix them with electric music. They write all their material themselves and the traditional instruments you seem to hear all come out of a keyboard. Why not come to Holland and see them play at Folkwoods?! According to Westerholt they will play their songs the way they would do at a metal concert. The fact that they will be performing at a folk festival does not mean that they will play any differently than they usually do. He can imagine them focussing on the songs most influenced by folk music, but that will be their only concession as their music is their music. 

"If people like our music that is great, but if they don't they can just leave and listen to the musicians performing on one of the other stages", Westerholt said. 

After Forever

Make out meaning of, interpretation of cipher document are a few of the definitions you will find in the Oxford dictionary for the word ‘Decipher’ the title of the new album of the Dutch metal group AFTER FOREVER. The music may contain numerous hidden meanings and it will undoubtedly be necessary to listen intently a number of times to fathom the deeper meanings of the lyrics, there is no mystery whatsoever as for the immense popularity of the six band members. It is a proven fact that quality will always out, also in 2001.

‘Decipher’ is the second CD of the band, who practically from nowhere, burst upon the rock scene with their debut ‘Prison Of Desire’. The band made a profound impression with their epic combination of metal and influences from classical music, gothic and prog rock, and versatile singer Floor Jansen playing the part of leading lady. 

AFTER FOREVER are the living proof that in metal no longer longhaired men with guitars, bass and drums as their only tools are calling the shots. Straying off the well-trodden paths is no longer a crime. AFTER FOREVER is one of those rare examples of bands that have managed to transpose the acquired musical freedom into devastating music.

AFTER FOREVER starts, as any other indiscriminate band, with covering their heroes. At first they call themselves Apocalypse, but that name is changed into the more appropriate AFTER FOREVER and own material takes over the place of covers. The horizon of the band is broadening all the time, especially once soprano Floor Jansen has made her entrance. In 1999 they produce a demo that causes something of a battle between recording companies. TRANSMISSION succeeds in signing up the still very young – the average age of the band members is 19 - band.

The expectations are high, but nonetheless everybody is surprised when AFTER FOREVER succeed in gaining a top position in the Dutch metal hierarchy with their debut album right from the start. The band performs a lot – both in clubs and at festivals – and is live just as convincing as on the album. Moreover Floor Jansen can be heard on the CD ‘Universal Migrator Part 1’ of the musical jack-of-all trades Arjen AYREON Lucassen.

In 2001 AFTER FOREVER are working on their important second album in the renowned RS29 studio in Waalwijk. As a pinnacle for these exhausting sessions the band flies to Mexico for a performance at a prestigious festival at the end of August. In Mexico the band sees itself confronted with a huge number of enthusiastic fans. It is the ideal start for a new phase in the existence of AFTER FOREVER.

Compared to their first CD AFTER FOREVER has hugely progressed. The classically trained Floor Jansen excels more than ever against a background of guitars, keyboard, drums, bass, violins and even a sitar. The music is full of tempo increases, unexpected side-roads and differences in dynamics. The musical palette contains more colours than ever before.

The band don’t content themselves with samples of digitally multiplied vocal parts, but uses strings of flesh and blood for the classical parts and engage a fully fledged choir to top things off. The result sounds more solid – more natural, more mature and more self-confident.
‘DECIPHER’ is an exciting adventure translated into music. 

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