CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Black Symphony (CD/DVD)

by: Within Temptation

Release Date September 23, 2008
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 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

The Heart of Everything

by: Within Temptation

Release Date July 24, 2007
Outstanding! I'm a newbie to this genre of music, but in the short time I've been into it I've been exposed to Within Temptation, Evanescence, Nightwish, Epica, and several others, and Within Temptation is my favorite of them all.

My background is guitar shred music, jazz, and classical. While in the past I've enjoyed the poorly labeled neo-classical shred genre, which is a sad misnomer of the term neo-classical, it was inevitable I'd outgrow it when every other artist out there offered too little substance once I actually did start listening to "real" classical music. In the end, I liked the gothic sound but was put off by the too often poor thematic development and harmonic motion that just became too predictable and derivative of one another. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Mother Earth

by: Within Temptation

Release Date August 05, 2008
This may not mean much to those who have only gotten the US releases. But to those of us who used to buy imports just so we could listen to the fantastic band known as Within Temptation before they came stateside, this particular album may have had a black sheep reputation.

When this album was available by import only, there used to be an annoying copy protection. This made it so the only way we could listen to this album on our computer or MP3 players was to install an unwanted player (having been stung myself by Sony's infamous rootkit virus fiasco, I'm hesitant to install any such thing from cd's anymore). Even then, what we got on the computer were inferior digital copies of the songs.

That problem has been fixed with this US reissued/remastered ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Silent Force

by: Within Temptation

Release Date August 05, 2008
This album is epic and powerful, but at the same time hauntingly beautiful. Most songs begin with a peaceful prelude that elegantly fades into a wall of sound. Just when you think you might not be able to stand the force of it, you hear this mesmerizing voice that is both ethereal and intense. The more you listen, the more you begin to pick up the subtle fusion of music and voice. This is truly an epic and magnificent album.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

The Silent Force

by: Within Temptation

Release Date November 22, 2004
Here is a case of a splendid band going criminally unnoticed.

Female-fronted bands are all the rage right now (and it's not showing any signs of letting up) and a good majority of the bands that are getting noteriety for that fact are led by a less-than-stellar vocalist. Then there's Within Temptation. Everything about WT screams 'CLASSIC!'. From their amazing use of strings, choirs, what-have-you, everything they do they do tastefully and to perfection. Nothing is overdone, nothing feels forced--I'm looking squarely at you Nightwish--not a single song overstays its welcome.

Thus is the formula WT have had from the get-go (mind you I'm relatively new to WT, I've heard most of their catalog). However, The Silent Force is where they, more or less, streamlined ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Enter

by: Within Temptation

Release Date September 18, 2007
If you like Evanescence, you'll like Within Temptation. They just get better and better with each CD they put out! I'm already looking forward to the next one.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Dance

by: Within Temptation

Release Date September 18, 2007
je suis vraiment très satisfait de mon achat, les CD sont arrivés en excellent état malgré la distance parcourue ^^ merci encore

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Black Symphony

by: Within Temptation

Release Date September 24, 2008
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 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Mother Earth

by: Within Temptation

Release Date April 14, 2003
After just a first listen (which isn't really enough for forming a strong opinion) I will say that this album is excellent; just what I was expecting, based on other reviews and on the fact that I own (and love) _The Heart of Everything_. I'll update this portion of my review at a later date.

What I write to share with you now is a word about copy-protection. I think the key may be in not installing the software that is included on the CD. My computer gave me a message saying something like "some files will need to be added, do you wish to continue?" and I said no. Then I proceeded to open Audiograbber (v 1.82) and rip all the tracks from the CD for encoding to mp3 (well, ogg vorbis, actually) for use on my Iriver Clix2. Then, just to see, I tried playing it with Windows Media Player and it plays fine. So I guess I would ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Heart of Everything

by: Within Temptation

Release Date March 19, 2007
This cd was not as good as the Silent Force CD but lets face what cd is? That was just an exceptional cd. Still do I love most of the songs on the heart of everything disc. The crossing is one of my favorites because of its unusual style.