Within Temptation is a
Dutch rock band. The band was founded in 1996
[5] by vocalist
Sharon den Adel and guitarist
Robert Westerholt.
[6] Their music is variously described as
symphonic metal, as well as
gothic metal in some media, although in an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a
symphonic rock genre.
[1]Directly after the release of their first album Enter, the band became prominent in the underground scene. It would however take until 2001, when they became known by the general public, with the single "Ice Queen" from the album Mother Earth, which reached _2 on the charts.[6] Since then, the band won the Conamus Exportprijs[7] five years in a row. Their next album The Silent Force immediately reached first position in the charts. Their latest album, The Heart of Everything, also reached this position immediately.
Long-term partners Robert Westerholt (on guitar) and Sharon den Adel (vocals) began the band in 1996, quickly adding Jeroen van Veen on bass guitar, Michiel Papenhove on guitar, Martijn Westerholt at the keyboard and (following a succession of short-lived drummers) Ivar de Graaf. They were quickly offered a recording contract and signed to DSFA Records[6] later that year, beginning work on their first release.
The sound of Enter was very melodic and doom paced, influenced by gothic doom metal, heavily relied on fast keyboards and drums and heavy guitar riffs.[9][10] Also prominent on this album are death grunts by Robert Westerholt and members of Orphanage.
