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| The Heart of Everything | 
 enlarge | Artist: Within Temptation
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $9.75
You Save: $8.23 (46%)
New (33) Used (12) from $6.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 1580
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 180212
UPC: 016861802127
EAN: 0016861802127
ASIN: B000ROALIU
Release Date: July 24, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Album of the year! July 26, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Within Temptations's 4th album has finally been released in America (it was released in Europe since March). This album is incredible from start to finish. Songs like Frozen, Forgiven, Hand Of Sorrow, and the title track showcases Sharon's beautiful operatic voice backed by heavy guitars, strings, and choirs, which makes the songs very epic. They will be headlining their first US tour in September so make sure to check them out. If you like Evanescence or Nightwish, you'll love Within Temptation.
 This is the Heart of Everything! August 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I thought this band was just going to be another evanescence or nightwish rip off. After listeniong to this CD I was blown away. I admit the first 2 songs on the album did not grab my attention at first, but now I am hooked. Sharon Den Adel voice has many ranges and pitches.Her voice sounds harder on songs such as "The Howling" and "Final Destination." Altogether her voice is pretty good and especially since there is a lot of competition out there.
The Howling- Is one of those songs that grow on you, but Sharon voice is unforgetable and demands to be heard.
What have you done- I wouldn't release this as the first single because it isn't the best song on the album. I like this song, but it doesn't stand out.
Frozen- I love this song its one of my favorites. The lyrics are about loss. A tear dropper definitely.
Our solemn hour -This song sounds like nightwish espeically in the chorus "Sanctus Espiritus" This isn't the greatest song, but it will probably grow on me.
The heart of everything- I like Sharon voice in this song it is powerful and rougher. This song has memorable lyrics.
Hand of sorrow- This song is very religious and spiritual.Good chorus and well put together lyrics.
The cross- I think this song is close to being the best song on this album. Good tragic love song. " Why have you waited to embrace me my dear." "I'm still wondering why I'm still calling your name through my tears."
Final Destination- Sharon voice is very distinctive. The chorus is memorable and filled with fear. Not a bad song.
All I need- This song is one of my favorites and the lyrics are passionate. "Can you still see the heart of me" "Don't tear me down for all I need." "Make my heart a better place."
Stand my ground- This song is strong and inspiring. Very catchy.
The truth beneath the rose- This one sounds like nightwish especially the choir. Its a great song. The chorus is upbeat and Sharon voice is angelic.
Forgiven- This another tear dropper. The best song on the album. " You gave up the fight." "You left me behind" Very sad but I love it.
I am hooked on this band. Must listen to" Frozen", The cross", "Forgiven", "the heart of Everything."
Within Temptation's Best September 30, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Some people have been claiming that with "The Heart of Everything", Within Temptation has been becoming more mainstream, which I don't think is necessarily true. Yes, "What have you Done Now" is more radio-friendly than much of WT, but I think that many songs on this album still hold that very unique, beautiful sound of WT. This album is certainly much more polished than previous albums but I think that this is really a step forward. It is an amazing piece of work, especially because every single song on the album stands out.
WT has been compared to Evanescence, lately. Don't be fooled. I used to be a pretty hard-core Evanescence fan but I've certainly noticed the decline in Evanescence while WT has been getting better and better. Moreover, WT is a similar style but far more unique. Sharon Den Adel is, without a doubt, my favorite female singer (and ties as my favorite overall singer with Roy Khan of Kamelot). She's got an absolutely gorgeous, strong voice. But what really sets her apart from other singers is the amount of variety she can sing with. She sings every song with a very different style. My boyfriend, while listening to the song, "The Heart of Everything" even asked, "Is that still her?" In my opinion, "Mother Earth" and "The Silent Force" (previous WT releases) showcased Sharon's voice in much different ways. "The Heart of Everything" really combines different elements of her voice - she can sing with a very soft tenderness in "Frozen" and in a cruel, almost growl in "The Heart of Everything."
I'll briefly go through each song:
1. The Howling: 10/10. This song has steadily grown on me since I got the album. It's a fairly heavy song, Sharon belts out the chorus, "When we start killing, It's all going down right now." It is very catchy, and has a great music video to go along with it (I highly recommend watching it, Sharon is absolutely beautiful).
2. What Have You Done Now: 10/10. Probably the first song that really caught my attention the first time I listened to the album. I've now listened to it almost a sickening amount so I've come to like other songs on the album better but I still recognize this as a great song. Inevitably, it's compared to Evanescence because it's much more radio-friendly than most WT. Features Keith Caputo and the duet between the two is very nice.
3. Frozen: 10/10. A little more slow and ballad-y than the previous two songs. This is another one that has grown on me since I've gotten the album. It's a very sad song (especially is you watch the music video to it). I love the way Sharon sings this song with so much emotion.
4. Our Solemn Hour: 10/10. I would have given this less than a 10/10, originally. I feel like I'm giving too many but I just can't bear to rate any of the songs less so far. This song has really, really grown on me since I saw them live (It was the first song they sang). It is truly showcases the Within Temptation sound. Parts of the chorus are latin, the chant which pretty much makes the song. I have a hard time placing this song as heavy or not. I'd say more towards the heavy side but not very fast.
5. The Heart of Everything: 10/10. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. I love the way Sharon sings the verse: very cruel, harsh, letting her phrases almost growl off. The contrast with the sweet way she sings the chorus is just great. "Open up your eyes," she says, "Save yourself from fading away." That chorus is truly catchy, just great. There is a far amount of soft growly stuff in the background and Sharon "ahhhh"ing.
6. Hand of Sorrow: 9/10. This is the song that tends to be forgotten in the mix of all the other songs around it. It's no less a good song. The verse is fairly slow, with just a piano and Sharon at the beginning. The chorus is very catchy and great.
7. The Cross: 11/10. My absolute favorite song on the album, even from the first time I listened to it. It's slower than many of the other songs on the album but still fairly heavy. The background is part of what makes it so good. Sharon sings this really haunting melody before the verses and behind the chorus. There is a hint of "Mother Earth" style in this song.
8. Final Destination: 7.5/10. I'll listen to this song and enjoy it but for some reason, it just doesn't stand out for me the way pretty much all the rest of the songs do. It's pretty typical WT sound, on the heavier side. I think it only pales in comparison to what it comes after.
9. All I Need: 9/10. A ballad and the slowest song on the album. WT Temptation ballads are always great stuff and they always show Sharon's voice at her best. This isn't quite as good as "Our Farewell" from Mother Earth or "Pale" from The Silent Force but it is still a very pretty song.
10. The Truth Beneath the Rose: 9/10. The longest song on the album, clocking in around 7 minutes, but unlike some other similar bands (*cough* Nightwish *cough*), they actually fill up the whole time with the song. This song is on the epic side for Within Temptation, it all runs together very smoothly. It's very nice.
11. Forgiven: 9.5/10. I had forgotten about this song when I said "All I Need" was the slowest song. This is slower, even more of a ballad. The entire song is acoustical, all piano and Sharon. I pretty much ignored this song the first couple times I listened to the album but it is a very beautiful song, especially the chorus and Sharon sings it so gently.
12. Bonus track: What have you Done Now (Rock Version): I've already rated the original and I don't think this is really different enough to warrant a different rating. The beginning is a little more distorted and heavier but besides that, it is pretty hard to tell the difference. I wonder why it says "Rock Version" because no one can argue that the original is rock. Go figure.
This is great stuff, a very strong album from an amazing band. I know I tend to focus on Sharon (it's hard not to) but the rest of the band is very good, too. I highly recommend seeing these guys live, as I did recently. You will not be disappointed. They sound even better live (if that's possible) and Sharon is just a bundle of energy and beauty (although, I will admit, she has rather bizarre characteristic dance moves). But of course, get the album, too.
Outstanding: creative, emotional, powerful January 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm a very picky, 46-year-old American connoisseur of finely crafted
heavy metal, especially bands with female leads. I've been a big fan of
Nightwish for many years, but I also listen to Epica, Evanescence,
Edenbridge, After Forever, Without Face, Dark Moor, and so on. I own an
impressive collection of prog. metal, from Stratovarious, Dream Theater,
Avantasia, Freedom Call, Angel Dust, you name it. What do I like to
experience in my music? Depths of emotion.
Recently a friend of mine introduced me to Within Temptation by
lending me this CD. It absolutely blew me away, and believe me, it
takes a lot to impress me. This CD is fantastic.
In my opinion the lead singer, Sharon den Adel, is far better than
any other female singer I listen to, including Amy Lee of Evanessence
or any other singer from any genre (I don't care if it's Celine Dion,
Annie Haslam of Rennaissance or Barbara Streisand.) From the first
note to the last, you are under Sharon's spell. She portrays
incredible depths of emotion. She pulls you from the heights of fear
(The Howling), to the horrific aftermath of war (The Truth Behind the
Rose). She pulls you back up to the heights of piety (Our Solemn
Hour), and back down to the depths of despair (Forgiven).
She explores both self-doubt (Frozen) and personal conflict (What Have
You Done) but also strength and determination (Stand My Ground). Her
beautiful voice will take you there. If you like your metal laden with
lots of creativity and emotion, buy this CD.
Even without Sharon, this album stands alone. It has an excellent
mix of orchestration, sound effects, tinkling pianos, violins, and of
course, pounding heavy metal. The music is mature, complex,
well-thought-out and very well executed. The best purchase I've made
in many years of collecting "art-metal".
A musical masterpiece February 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the album of the year. Every song in this album is amazing. It's clear that these guys put a lot of work and time on each and every song they write. The production values are over the top, and the song writing is phenomenal. Within Temptation makes most other rock bands sound bland, simple, and weak. The unslaught of instruments and melodies will overload your senses. The lyrics are poetic and passionate-just listen to "Forgiven" and try not to feel her pain. Sharon Den Adel is simply the best singer in the business. I've seen them in concert, and yes, she sounds as good as in the album. Every person I've introduced to Within Temptation has gotten hooked on them. With a singer like that, it's amazing these guys don't get airplay. I guess their music is simply too sophisticated for American radio. I just hope they don't dumb down their music to get airplay. Just do yourself a favor and buy this album, you'll be one of a select few to enjoy this masterpiece the rest of America is missing out on.
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