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 enlarge | Artist: Within Temptation
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $17.90
You Save: $7.08 (28%)
New (42) Used (8) from $15.99
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 924
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 179082
UPC: 016861790820
EAN: 0016861790820
ASIN: B001DPC52C
Release Date: September 23, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 32
 Best live album I've ever listened to September 24, 2008
Stephen M. Sturgeon (Indianapolis, IN United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I'm usually wary of live performance albums. The goal of live performances is to give a fantastic performance for the audience attending with a CD/DVD release being secondary. Most live recordings I hear suffer from the fact that you just can't have a microphone everywhere. This causes the mix between vocals, instruments and audience to be very uneven. Sometimes an artist will get cute with their songs. Sometimes it's simply the fact that it is a live album and mistakes will be made that you simply can't edit out.
Sometimes you get a performance that breaks the mold and delivers a good CD/DVD performance as well: Simon and Garfunkle's concert in the park, Metallica's S&M concert. But these breakings of the mold are usually the exception to the rule.
Within Temptation doesn't just break the mold with Black Symphony, they shatter it. This is quite easily the best live performance album I've heard, bar none. The mix between symphony, singing and audience is amazing. It could very well rival what would come out of a studio. Sharon's singing is flawless from beginning to end of this more than 2-hour concert. If there were any mistakes made, I certainly didn't notice them.
The lighting, the pyrotechnics, the orchestra, camera movement, Sharon's own knowledge of how to please the crowd, all of it works together to deliver an amazing event. If it was this amazing in my own living room, I could only imagine what it was like really being there. A previous review says he wouldn't describe the entire concert in his review because he didn't want to ruin it. I won't describe the entire concert in my review simply because words fail.
No, this is not an exaggeration. This is not just the sycophantic praise of a fan that thinks WT can do no wrong. This is an honest review of someone who has listened to many a live recording and has been left cold by all but a few. The production costs to make this album must have been through the roof, because nowhere have I heard an audio mix from a live show work as well as this. Nowhere have I seen camera work done as flawlessly. No were have I seen a live event get captured so well on camera. This is a must have for Within Temptation fans. I'd say it's a must have for anyone who wants to see definitively how live recordings should be done.
FABULOUS September 24, 2008
Music Freak (USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm usually disappointed in live recordings, but this is the exception. It's incredible. "Within Temptation" is a tremendous band, but this recording is beyond words ... if you like this kind of rock, buy this, get this, download it ... I don't care how, but you have to have it. it's absolutely mind-blowing.
At Last, a Rock/Symphony Project That Works! October 30, 2008
David S. Jenkins (On the Road)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This will be a very pure review in that up until last week I'd never heard of this band, and I still know nothing about them except what I've gathered from the documentary within this fantastic DVD. Which is not much since I'm not fluent in their language.
I'm not into Goth Metal and, y'know, I'm old. I don't read KERRANG but I saw an intriguing ad for this in the UK's MOJO magazine, went to the band's website and was totally knocked out by the sample video. On the strength of that exposure alone I ordered the CD/DVD that night, and with great pleasure I can tell you that it's a KNOCK-OUT. The most exhilarating, absorbing and awe-inspring concert video I've seen since Pink Floyd's PULSE.
Aside from the instant and obvious reaction of falling head over heels for the lovely Sharon, founder and lead vocalist, great praise must go to the band for writing some curiously beautiful and haunting music, to the superbly refreshing Metropole Orchestra, the only symphonic assemblage I've ever thought of as THRILLING... and the Choir Pa'dam, who fly very high, right up your spine.
And BRAVO to the set designer and technical crew whose stage and visuals are as majestic as anything I've ever seen on a stage. Even the stilt walking angels who appear briefly are mesmerizing. I know, even I can't believe I'm saying that...
Quite seriously, this is an extraordinary visual and auditory treat. Great extras as well. All in all a tremendous bargain and a disc set I'll long treasure. There'll be a lot of "Hey, you gotta sit down and watch this" evenings with my friends...
To non-metalheads like me, let me say this - don't be put off by the "Goth-Metal" tag - this isn't dark - it isn't all the things you assume it will be. Don't rob yourself of something joyous and bright. There's great talent and intelligence at work here.
Oh, and there's a CD as well. I haven't listened to it yet. I can't get my eyes off the screen.
Stunning! September 29, 2008
Allison
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I checked out Within Temptation because I heard they were similar to the goth rock band Evanescence. I bought the Heart of Everything and, as much as I love Evanescence (Amy Lee has such a beautiful, lush voice), these guys top them and take things to a whole other level. I have almost all of WT's albums now.
I looked forward to their latest concert on CD/DVD and I was blown away. This show is both a visual and auditory feast for the senses. I love the visuals and lead singer Sharon de Adel has the most heart-breakingly beautiful voice. Singing effortlessly, she sounds like an angel. Sharon also knows how to connect with her audience and wears some really stunning outfits.
The band is superbly accompanied by the Metropole Orchestra and the Pa'dam Choir, and the concert features three guest performers--George Oosthoek, Anneke van Giersbergen, and Keith Caputo. Each is a talented singer, and the three add greatness to the show.
The only flaw is that the CD does not, for some reason, contain all the tracks from the concert. I wanted to hear the whole concert!!
I would recommend Anywhere But Home by Evanescence and End of an Era by Nightwish if you enjoy this CD/DVD set.
 Blu-Ray and (2) DVD and (2) CD Versions Available October 8, 2008
awarlock (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I typically order many things through Amazon but I was disappointed with this offering because there appears to be several versions available. I realize that Amazon is offering the US release, which may not be their fault, but the European versions include so much more. I am not trying to deter money away from Amazon with this post and who knows, maybe Amazon will offer these additional import versions in the near future.
Anyway, there is a Blu-Ray version available along with a DVD (PAL). There is also a (2) DVD version which maybe PAL which includes a (2) audio CD version as well, which is the entire concert and not selected songs from the concert like the US version on only (1) Audio CD.
My 3 Star rating is based only what version the US is getting and not on the actual content/concert itself which I expect to be fantastic.
I ordered the Blu-Ray version and (2) DVD and (2) CD version directly from the Within Temptaion site at www.within-temptation.com. They are rather pricey in comparison though to the Amazon US version. The Blu-Ray was around $32.50 while the (2) DVD, (2) CD version was around $39. Shipping on top of that was another $25. Ouch! There may also be some concern whether or not the Blu-Ray is Region specific and whether or not it is going to play in a US PS3 or a US Blu-Ray player. There is no mention on the Within Temptation site whether or not the Blu-Ray is Region Specific plus they do ship to the US. I do know that PAL DVD's will play in a XBox 360 as I have Within Temptation PAL DVD's that play just fine. In the end, I just wanted the Blu-Ray and the (2) CD's of the entire concert plus the extra DVD's include an additional concert that was filmed in 2007.
Time will tell if all of this works out for me and the Blu-Ray plays fine or not. It is just unfortunate, that US fans are subjected to an inferior product, just because Within Temptation, overall, is not as popular in the US as it is in Europe. I would certainly hope that this would indicate my support for the group by willing to dish out over $90 for these recordings.
**UPDATE**
Today, 10/13/08, I noticed on Amazon that they now have a version available that depicts a Blu-Ray cover for $53.99 although it lists the format as DVD. This appears to be the Blu-Ray version and is listed as an import. There are not any details listed whether this includes the extra DVD or not although I assume it would. Thanks Amazon for those imports!! It is great to have more choices!!
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