Within Temptation - Resist

Within Temptation are a Dutch band that found success as part of the symphonic metal scene but their more accessible take on the genre continues to keep their appeal broader than most of their peers. The songs on this latest release vary between metal taking inspiration from modern pop, the band’s mission statement for this album, and what might simply be heavied-up pop. Whilst the material that falls into the former category tends to be the strongest (The Reckoning and Raise Your Banner for instance), there are certainly no filler tracks included to bump up the album’s length. Whilst on the surface there is little to separate Firelight from mainstream pop, there is an underlying eerie vibe that eventually flourishes during the outro which leads the song into Radiohead territory. Sharon den Adel’s vocal performance is as stunning as ever, displaying her fantastic range and including some angelic operatics that recall the band’s earlier material. Production-wise the guitar sound feels rather muted at times but the electronic aspects are well incorporated (the combination of synth and heavy guitar during closer Trophy Hunter being a prime example). In the end, the album doesn’t feel quite as monumental as it promised to be based on the first few singles but the band certainly haven’t lost their way and hopefully it’s a much shorter wait than five years for the next album.

Score: 8/10

Standout Tracks: The Reckoning, Raise Your Banner, Supernova