With millions of records sold and several tours that toured the world, Within Temptation decided to change the direction of compositions
There are exceptions to the rule, obviously, but heavy metal is not a musical style notorious for debating social and political dilemmas in its lyrics. The most recurring themes in the genre’s compositions are fantasy and personal issues.
Even so, the Within Temptation he was not famous for touching on the topics he now sets out to address. Formed in 1996, the Dutch symphonic metal band led by vocalist Sharon den Adel and her husband, the guitarist (studio only) Robert Westerholt stood out for other types of messages.
This began to change on their seventh studio album, resist, released in 2019. But the next album, Bleed Out, with release announced for October 20th, should represent an even greater shift in the debate on sociopolitical issues — as defined by them in a press release, “global injustices and the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or reluctant to do ”.
Two songs from the work, for example, directly discuss the war in Ukraine: “We Go to War” It is “Wireless”, the latter is already known to the public. In a statement to publicize the new record, den Adel states:
“The war in Ukraine influenced us a lot. As artists, we are inspired by the world and we have this platform. We are storytellers and I think as human beings these are things we should be talking about.”
Another single already revealed, “Don’t Pray for Me”, it deals with a woman’s right to choose, including pregnancy, and how religions propose to interfere with this. There are verses that, translated, say things like: “For my confessions I don’t need a church; I don’t need salt to know where it hurts.” In an interview with the Igor Miranda website, Sharon reflected:
“I lived in many countries during my childhood and saw different religions, but from religion come topics like abortion, how people see this issue. Sexuality is still more accepted in the West, for example. I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that people can have such different feelings. I was interested in religions, even though I was raised without any. I’ve always been interested in thinking about where people come from and how they base their ideas and identities. It was always a trigger for me and also one of the reasons why I wrote this song.”
Within Temptation and “Bleed Out”
Another song available as a single, the title track “Bleed Out” draws attention because it addresses a specific character: Mahsa Amiri, young Iranian Kurdish woman who was murdered in 2022 because her hijab (traditional Islamic clothing) did not meet standards imposed by her country’s government. In the following days, women from Iran and across the planet staged protests. Sharon den Adel, in a note, he comments:
“I lived in Yemen when I was a child. My parents lived in several Middle Eastern countries and I visited them a lot when they were there. It’s a different world. Because of my time there, I feel connected to that part of the world. I was so struck by the bravery of the young women who burned their scarves knowing they would be thrown in prison or worse – it’s heartbreaking.”
In addition to Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt, O Within Temptation count with Jeroen van Veen (low), Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards), Ruud Jolie (guitar), Mike Coolen (battery) and Stefan Helleblad (guitar). The band will come to Brazil to perform at the Summer Breeze 2024 festival, scheduled to take place at the end of April in São Paulo.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
