View source for Within Temptation

{{short description|Dutch symphonic metal band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Within Temptation
| image             = Within Temptation-137-32.jpg
| caption           = Within Temptation at the [[Palau Sant Jordi]], [[Barcelona]] during the 2024 [[Bleed Out Tour]]
| landscape         = yes
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Symphonic metal]]|[[alternative metal]]|[[gothic metal]]<ref name=metallized>{{cite web|url =http://www.metallized.it/recensione.php?id=1443|title= Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything|author =Giuseppe Abbinante |website =Metallized |access-date = 16 August 2018|language=it}}</ref><ref name=Lithium>{{cite web|last1=Wu|first1=Samantha|title=Within Temptation – Hydra – Album Review|url=http://www.lithiummagazine.com/within-temptation-%E2%80%93-hydra-%E2%80%93-album-review|website=Lithium Magazine|access-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204211151/http://www.lithiummagazine.com/within-temptation-%E2%80%93-hydra-%E2%80%93-album-review|archive-date=4 December 2014}}</ref>|[[doom metal]] (early)}}
| works             = {{hlist|[[Within Temptation discography|Discography]]|[[Within Temptation videography|videography]]}}
| origin            = [[Waddinxveen]], [[South Holland]], Netherlands
| alias             = The Portal
| years_active      = 1996–present
| label             = {{hlist||[[DSFA Records]]|[[Spinefarm Records|UMG]]||[[BMG Rights Management|BMG]]|{{nowrap|[[Nuclear Blast]]}}|{{nowrap|[[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]}}|{{nowrap|[[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]}}|{{nowrap|[[GUN Records|GUN]]}}|{{nowrap|Within Temptation Entertainment BV}}}}
| website           = {{URL|within-temptation.com}}
| current_members   = * [[Sharon den Adel]]
* [[Robert Westerholt]] (studio only)
* Jeroen van Veen
* [[Ruud Jolie]]
* Mike Coolen
* Stefan Helleblad
* Vikram Shankar
| past_members      = * Michiel Papenhove
* [[Martijn Westerholt]]
* [[Dennis Leeflang]]
* Richard Willemse
* [[Ivar de Graaf]]
* Marius van Pyreen
* Ciro Palma
* Jelle Bakker
* [[Stephen van Haestregt]]
* [[Martijn Spierenburg]]
}}
'''Within Temptation''' is a Dutch [[symphonic metal]] band founded in April 1996 by vocalist [[Sharon den Adel]] and guitarist [[Robert Westerholt]].<ref name="bandbiography">{{cite web|last=Within Temptation|title=Official Biography|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/nl/index.php?c=band|access-date=12 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813134532/http://www.within-temptation.com/nl/index.php?c=band |archive-date = 13 August 2007}}</ref> They have been classified by critics as [[gothic metal]] and [[symphonic metal]], although each album contains other influences outside these genres. Critics have noticed the band's experimentation and musical versatility.<ref name="Daily Express">{{cite magazine|last=Crumlish|first=Callum|title=Within Temptation review: Earth shattering entertainment|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1698050/within-temptation-review-live-concert-the-o2-arena-london|magazine=[[Daily Express]]|date=17 November 2022|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Beat">{{cite magazine|last=Valcanis|first=Tom|title=Within Temptation|url=https://beat.com.au/within-temptation/|magazine=[[Beat Magazine|Beat]]|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Soundboard">{{cite magazine|last=Royle|first=Holly|title=Album review: Within Temptation - Bleed Out|url=https://thesoundboardreviews.com/2023/10/19/album-review-within-temptation-bleed-out/|magazine=The Soundboard|date=19 October 2023|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Metal Injection">{{cite magazine|title=Album review: Within Temptation Resist|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/within-temptation-resist|magazine=Metal Injection|date=10 December 2018|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Sharpe-YoungPage294">Sharpe-Young, "Metal: The Definitive Guide" (2007), p. 294</ref> In an interview, den Adel said they fell into a [[symphonic rock]] genre with various influences.<ref name="livemetal">{{cite web |url=http://www.live-metal.net/interviews_withintemptation.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519081853/http://www.live-metal.net/interviews_withintemptation.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=19 May 2007 |title=Live Metal interview ''Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel: A second youth'' |access-date=20 December 2007 |date=13 May 2007}}</ref> In another interview, den Adel stated that "We consider ourselves more an atmospheric melodic symphonic metal/rock band... In my opinion, we are not a gothic band but we have gothic elements".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/41001816 |title=3VOOR12 Interview – Within Temptation: muzikale vernieuwing als drijfveer |language=nl |publisher=3voor12.vpro.nl |date=3 December 2008 |access-date=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510045551/http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/41001816 |archive-date=10 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://community.within-temptation.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=4620&start=560&S=f92b11444f3c69139b05cd3b17ccf279] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510015844/http://community.within-temptation.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=4620&start=560&S=f92b11444f3c69139b05cd3b17ccf279|date=10 May 2009}}</ref>

After the release of their debut album ''[[Enter (Within Temptation album)|Enter]]'' in 1997, the band became prominent in the Dutch underground scene. It was not until 2001 that they became known to the general public, with the single "[[Ice Queen (song)|Ice Queen]]" from their second album, ''[[Mother Earth (Within Temptation album)|Mother Earth]]'', which reached No. 2 on the Dutch charts.<ref name="bandbiography"/> This was followed by the band winning the [[Buma Export Award|Conamus Exportprijs]],<ref name="conamus">{{cite web|title=Conamus Exportprijs|url=http://www.conamus.nl/index.php?p=page.php%3FpageAlias%3Dcona.nl.harpengala|access-date=12 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504004618/http://www.conamus.nl/index.php?p=page.php%3FpageAlias%3Dcona.nl.harpengala|archive-date=4 May 2006}}</ref> a Dutch music award, four years in a row, and a fifth in 2016. Within Temptation's next albums, ''[[The Silent Force]]'' (2004) and ''[[The Heart of Everything]]'' (2007), debuted at No. 1 on the Dutch charts and expanded their international recognition. In 2008, they released ''[[Black Symphony]]'', a [[live album]] recorded with the [[Metropole Orkest|Metropole Orchestra]]. This was followed in 2009 by ''[[An Acoustic Night at the Theatre]]'', another live album, this time with [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] renditions of the songs.

The band's fifth studio album, ''[[The Unforgiving]]'', was released in March 2011 and was one part of a [[transmedia]] effort, alongside both a [[comic book]] series and a series of [[short film]]s that together encompass a [[Concept album|story]]. The album saw the band increasingly venturing on new musical territories outside symphonic metal. The group advanced the exploration of other musical genres in their subsequent releases. Their sixth studio album, ''[[Hydra (Within Temptation album)|Hydra]]'', was released in early 2014, and featured guest appearances from various artists: Finnish singer [[Tarja Turunen]], who appears in the lead single "Paradise (What About Us?)"; [[Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones]], former vocalist of American metalcore band [[Killswitch Engage]]; [[Dave Pirner]], lead vocalist of American alternative rock band [[Soul Asylum]]; and American rapper [[Xzibit]]. Their seventh studio album, ''[[Resist (Within Temptation album)|Resist]]'', was released in February 2019 and incorporated influences from other musical styles such as [[industrial metal|industrial]] and [[Electronic dance music|EDM]]. ''[[Bleed Out (Within Temptation album)|Bleed Out]]'', their latest studio effort, was released on 20 October 2023, and contains influences from [[metalcore]] and [[djent]], alongside hints from their initial gothic metal inclinations.

By 2016, the band had already sold more than 3.5&nbsp;million albums worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAFw13FhPF8 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729011443/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAFw13FhPF8| archive-date=2013-07-29 | url-status=dead|title=Within Temptation @ De Wereld Draait Door (ENG SUB) |publisher=YouTube |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Records |first=Roadrunner |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/within-temptation-the-unforgiving-concept-album-coming-march-2011 |title=Within Temptation: 'The Unforgiving' Concept Album Coming March 2011 |publisher=Roadrunner Records |date=12 July 2011 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nl |first=Nu |url=http://www.nu.nl/muziek/4272609/within-temptation-wint-buma-rocks-export-award.html |title=Within Temptation wint Buma Rocks! Export Award |publisher=Nu Nl |date=6 April 2016 |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>

==History==
===Formation===
Long-term partners Robert Westerholt (guitar) and [[Sharon den Adel]] (vocals) began the band in 1996,<ref name="bandbiography" /> after Westerholt left his previous band, The Circle. The Circle renamed themselves Voyage and released an album called ''Embrace'', including a song featuring den Adel. Soon after that release, the band broke up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.popinstituut.nl/Encyclopedia/Artist.aspx?id=3127&name=Voyage |title=Muziek Centrum Nederland – Voyage |publisher=Popinstituut.nl |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=15 April 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=NWWT |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Westerholt then joined with den Adel in forming a doom metal band called The Portal, including former The Circle band members [[Jeroen van Veen (bassist)|Jeroen van Veen]] on [[bass guitar]] and Michiel Papenhove on guitar, as well as [[Martijn Westerholt]] on the [[keyboard instrument|keyboard]] and [[Dennis Leeflang]] on drums (later replaced by [[Ivar de Graaf]]). However, they renamed themselves Within Temptation, before they recorded their demo, ''Enter''. The ''Enter'' demo contained some songs that would later be released on their first album. They were offered a recording contract and signed to [[DSFA Records]]<ref name="bandbiography" /> later that year, beginning work on their first album.

===''Enter'' and first national tour (1997–1999)===
{{main|Enter (Within Temptation album)}}
''[[Enter (Within Temptation album)|Enter]]'', the debut album, was released in 1997. The album was well received and the band embarked on a four-gig tour across the country, after which they performed at the [[Dynamo Open Air]]<ref name="dynamo">{{cite web|url=http://www.dynamo.nl/history.html|title=Dynamo Open Air 2005|author=Andre|date=18 February 2005|publisher=[[Dynamo Open Air]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413235052/http://www.dynamo.nl/history.html|archive-date=13 April 2010|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> festival in [[Eindhoven]]. The band rounded out 1997 by embarking on their first international tour of Germany and Austria. Also, subsequently Ivar de Graaf left the band and was replaced by Ciro Palma.<ref name="Sharpe-YoungPage294"/>

The sound of ''Enter'', whilst melodic, was doomily paced, and influenced by gothic doom metal, heavily reliant on slow keyboards and drums and repetitive guitar riffs.<ref name="musicaldiscoveries">{{cite web|last=Farrell|first=Charlie|title=Within Temptation at Musical Discoveries|url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/wt.htm|access-date=12 May 2007}}</ref><ref name="vpro">{{cite web|last=Bijl|first=Peter|title=Utrechts metaltrots Orphanage uit elkaar|url=http://3voor12lokaal.vpro.nl/magazines/news/index.jsp?portals=6337&magazines=6338&news=202326|access-date=1 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060322145236/http://3voor12lokaal.vpro.nl/magazines/news/index.jsp?portals=6337&magazines=6338&news=202326 |archive-date = 22 March 2006}}</ref> Also prominent on this album are [[death grunts]] by Robert Westerholt and George Oosthoek, ex-member of [[Orphanage (band)|Orphanage]].

In 1998 the band continued to tour – their profile had elevated them to the main stage at Dynamo for the 1998 event. However, Within Temptation had released no new material (and did not have plans for a second album at this point), to which end they elected to release an [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[The Dance (EP)|The Dance]]'', with three songs (plus two remixes) that would further mature the sound from ''Enter''.

The band was largely on sabbatical for 1999. They took the opportunity to construct their own studio, as well as returning to personal pursuits, with plans to return to the fold the next year.

===''Mother Earth'' and national breakthrough (2000–2003)===
{{Main|Mother Earth (Within Temptation album)}}
2000 was an eventful year for the band as they returned to touring, playing three Dutch festivals: Waterpop, Bospop and [[A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise|Lowlands]]. In addition, they went to work on their second album, releasing ''[[Mother Earth (Within Temptation album)|Mother Earth]]'' in the [[Low Countries]] on 1 December. The album was a moderate success in the Dutch charts the first few weeks after its release.<ref name="AlbumTop100-MotherEarth">{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Within+Temptation&titel=Mother+Earth&cat=a |title=Mother Earth in the Dutch Charts |publisher=Dutchcharts.nl |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref>
[[Image:Within temptation sharon den adel.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Lead vocalist [[Sharon den Adel]] at the 2004 [[M'era Luna|M'era Luna Festival]].]]{{listen 
 | filename     = Within Temptation - Mother Earth.ogg
 | title        = Within Temptation's "Mother Earth" (2000)
 | description  = Rapid orchestral strings move to the forefront on the chorus of this title track from Within Temptation's second album, ''[[Mother Earth (Within Temptation album)|Mother Earth]]''.
 | format       = [[Ogg]]
}}

The band released the single "[[Our Farewell]]", which never entered the charts. The second single from Mother Earth, "[[Ice Queen (song)|Ice Queen]]", was regarded as the breakthrough release for the band; in March 2002 it climbed to No. 2<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Within+Temptation&titel=Ice+Queen&cat=s |title=Ice Queen in the Dutch Charts |publisher=Dutchcharts.nl |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> in the Netherlands but was their first No. 1 single when it climbed to the top in Belgium. The success rebounded to ''Mother Earth'', which continued to climb in the Dutch album chart, ending the year at No. 3.<ref name="AlbumTop100-MotherEarth" />

2001 saw a number of changes in personnel; [[Ruud Jolie]] was added as a second guitarist, drummer [[Ivar de Graaf]] was replaced by [[Stephen van Haestregt]], and [[Martijn Westerholt]] (suffering from [[infectious mononucleosis]]) was replaced by [[Martijn Spierenburg]]. Westerholt later started the band [[Delain]].

In 2002 they had their first concert in France and a headline gig in [[Mexico City]]. They attained their first major award, the Dutch Silver Harp. They bolstered this by embarking on a major international tour supporting Paradise Lost in 2003 and re-releasing ''Mother Earth'' on the [[GUN Records]] label across more European countries; it was a success in Germany, where it went platinum and reached No. 7 in the charts. The re-release of "Ice Queen" also charted well in the top 30. In turn the [[Benelux]] regions got a different release, a cover of [[Kate Bush]]'s "[[Running Up That Hill]]". The band headlined music festivals across the Netherlands, while their ''Mother Earth'' tour DVD claimed the prestigious [[The Edison Award|Edison Award]]. Promotion of ''Mother Earth'' in newer markets continued well into 2004 with various international festival appearances (such as [[M'era Luna]], [[Rock Werchter]], and [[Pukkelpop]]) and other headline gigs, which also saw the band make their [[United Kingdom|UK]] live debut in [[London]] in September of that year.

===''The Silent Force'' and further recognition (2004–2006)===
{{Main|The Silent Force|The Silent Force Tour (Within Temptation tour)}}
[[Image:Within Temptation Metalway 2006 cropped.jpg|thumb|right|The band presented at several big European festivals, which led the band to perform to great major audiences.]]
Plans for the band's third album came to fruition in 2004, with the release of ''[[The Silent Force]]'' on 15 November 2004, across Europe. It was produced by Daniel Gibson and an instant No. 1<ref name="AlbumTop100-SilentForce">{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Within+Temptation&titel=The+Silent+Force&cat=a |title=Within Temptation – The Silent Force |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> in the Netherlands and charted well in many European countries. In support of the release they embarked on another large [[The Silent Force Tour (Within Temptation tour)|international tour]] in 2005, with dates across Europe (including their first festival appearance in the United Kingdom headlining the [[Bloodstock Open Air#Bloodstock Indoor Festival|Bloodstock festival]]) and a one-off show in [[Dubai]]. As of early 2005, the album had already sold more than 400.000 copies only in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40428 |title=Within Temptation: 'The Silent Force' Certified Gold In Finland |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=14 August 2005 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> "[[Stand My Ground]]" and "[[Memories (Within Temptation song)|Memories]]", the first singles from the new album, continued the band's run of chart success, culminating in a second Edison Award. The third single was "[[Angels (Within Temptation song)|Angels]]". "Stand My Ground" was later to be promoted on the trailer for the film ''[[Blood and Chocolate (film)|Blood and Chocolate]]''. The band also provided some of the soundtrack to the video game ''[[Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade]]'' released in March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/knights-of-the-temple-infernal-crusade/cover-art/gameCoverId,38137/ |title=Within Temptation provide knights of the temple video game soundtrack |publisher=mobygames.com |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref>

In January 2006, Within Temptation won the Dutch Pop Prize (best Dutch contribution) and Dutch Export Prize (best-selling Dutch artist outside the Netherlands), the latter one given to them for the third time in a row. The band also reported that they were busy working on their next album, due to be released during the fall and that they would start playing at festivals starting in April, in addition to going on an international tour at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=47539 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – WITHIN TEMPTATION Receive Awards For Success at Home And Abroad |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509204541/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=47539 |archive-date=9 May 2009 }}</ref> Although already successful in Europe, it was not until 5 August 2008 that both ''Mother Earth'' and ''The Silent Force'' albums were released in the North American market for the first time, through [[Roadrunner Records]].

===''The Heart of Everything'', international recognition and first world tour (2007–2008)===
{{Main|The Heart of Everything|The Heart of Everything World Tour}}
[[File:Within Temptation by AccidentAndEmergency.jpg|thumb|The band longest line-up, as pictured in 2007: Jeroen van Veen, Stephen van Haestregt, Ruud Jolie, Martijn Spierenburg, Sharon den Adel, Robert Westerholt.]] 
The album ''[[The Heart of Everything]]'' from Within Temptation was released on 9 March 2007, in the Netherlands, and in the United States on 24 July. Two tracks, called "The Howling" and "Sounds of Freedom", were recorded as promotional material for the video game ''[[The Chronicles of Spellborn]]'', and the first of these opens the album. The full track listing was revealed on 10 January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/story.aspx?newsitemID=14606 |title=Roadrunner Records |publisher=Roadrunner Records |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 1 in the Dutch Album 100, making it their second number-one album. It reached No. 2 in Belgium, No. 2 in Finland, the top 10 in eight countries and top 100 in eleven countries.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Within+Temptation&titel=The+Heart+Of+Everything&cat=a |title=Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

The song "[[What Have You Done]]" was the first single released from the album. Its initial [[music video]] was recorded on the 12, 13 and 14 December 2006 at the Koko club in London, and a CGI studio in Windsor. It features [[Keith Caputo]] of [[Life of Agony]] on guest vocals. Fans were allowed to participate in the making of the video, although this first version left the band feeling disappointed (comments made by the band at their March show in Lyon). Shortly after, a completely new video for the song was made. The second single, released across Europe in June, was "[[Frozen (Within Temptation song)|Frozen]]". The video, filmed in Romania, deals with child abuse, and sales of the single was to raise money for a children's charity, Child Helpline International. "The Howling" was chosen as a digital single release for the UK (not to be confused with the US EP release), and another video was also shot. The extended version of the "Frozen" single features an unreleased b-side, "Sounds of Freedom", as mentioned the second song written for the promotion of the computer game ''The Chronicles of Spellborn''. [[Roadrunner Records]] also released an [[Enhanced CD]] limited edition [[Extended play|EP]] called ''[[The Howling (EP)|The Howling]]'', which was available only at [[Hot Topic]] stores in the [[United States]], containing the title track plus popular tracks from their former album ''[[The Silent Force]]'' and music video of the US edit of the song "What Have You Done".

Within Temptation started their very first United States tour a few months after the European release of ''The Heart of Everything'', supporting [[Lacuna Coil]], and appearing alongside [[In This Moment]], [[Stolen Babies]], [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]], and [[Kylesa]]. The tour, dubbed [[The Hottest Chicks in Metal Tour 2007]], was largely a success. ''The Heart of Everything'' was then released there on 24 July, and the promotional single of "What Have You Done" shipped to rock stations on 2 of July. This was the band's first album to be released in America followed by the previous albums ''Mother Earth'' and ''The Silent Force'' a year later.

[[File:Bevrijdingsfestival 2008 - Within Tempation 02 cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Within Temptation at the 2008 edition of the Bevrijdingsfestival, in [[Groningen]], Netherlands.]] In support of the new album, Within Temptation kicked off their first headlining US tour in Fall 2007. The band played 13 shows, starting on 5 September 2007, in [[Boston]] and ended on 23 September 2007, in [[Tempe, Arizona]].

On 19 October 2007, Within Temptation released the video for their third single, "[[All I Need (Within Temptation song)|All I Need]]". The single was released in Europe around 12 November and features the single and album versions of the title track plus demo versions of "The Last Time" (a previously unreleased track), "Frozen" and "Our Solemn Hour".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=27018_0_2_0_C |title=Brand new single for Within Temptation |publisher=Side-line.com |access-date=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510020930/http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=27018_0_2_0_C |archive-date=10 May 2009 }}</ref>

In November 2007, the band released a statement that their concert at Beursgebouw, in [[Eindhoven]], was filmed for possible inclusion on a new concert DVD (either parts or all of the show). On 7 February 2008, the band performed a 10,000 audience show entitled ''[[Black Symphony]]'' at the Ahoy in Nederlands together with The Metropole Orchestra, a choir and several guest artists, and it was later revealed that this show would be filmed in its entirety for DVD and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] together with a double CD, which was to be released on 22 September 2008 (international) and 23 September 2008 (in the US). The trailer for the DVD (containing the entire live performance of the song "Our Solemn Hour" from the show) was released on the band's Opendisc feature on 16 July 2008. Another single from ''The Heart of Everything'', [[Forgiven (Within Temptation song)|Forgiven]], was released to promote the Black Symphony release. Later, Black Symphony was certified Gold in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net//news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116912 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710015740/http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net//news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116912 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - WITHIN TEMPTATION: 'Black Symphony' DVD Certified Gold In Holland |publisher=Legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=16 November 2012 }}</ref>

===''An Acoustic Night at the Theatre'' (2009–2010)===
On 3 November 2008, [[Ruud Jolie]] stated on his blog, "After the Theater Tour, that will start next week, me and the rest of Within Temptation are gonna take a whole year off. For the last 7 years, we've been hopping from studio to tour bus to airplane to boat to studio again to tour bus to bicycle to airplane to an occasional swimming pool on the top of a hotel to tour bus again. We all really needed a break from the band..." From that tour, On 11 August 2009, on their official website, [[Sharon Den Adel|Sharon]] announced that an acoustic album would be released in late October/early November called ''[[An Acoustic Night at the Theatre]]''. It would include several acoustic songs from their tour in November 2008. On 30 October the album was released, the single was released with the album called "[[Utopia (Within Temptation song)|Utopia]]". The song is a duet between Sharon and [[Chris Jones (British singer)|Chris Jones]] and was released on 23 October.

Their song "What Have You Done" is on the video game ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]'' and was present on a TV promo of a ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' episode, "The Truth Beneath The Rose" was featured in the commercials for ''[[The Tudors]]'', season 3, on Showtime. The song "[[All I Need (Within Temptation song)|All I Need]]" was featured in the American television show ''[[The Vampire Diaries]]''.<ref name=within-temptation.com />

===''The Unforgiving'' and second world tour (2011–2012)===
{{Main|The Unforgiving}}
[[Image:Within Temptation live at Q Music.jpg|thumb|right|Members of Within Temptation doing an acoustic performance at the Q-Music studios]]
In November 2008, the band announced that they would begin working on their new studio album in 2009, and that the Heart Of Everything Tour was drawing to an end.<ref>[http://www.within-temptation.com/en/index.php?c=news&command=show_item&id=122] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216012035/http://www.within-temptation.com/en/index.php?c=news&command=show_item&id=122|date=16 December 2008}}</ref> On 1 June 2009, it was announced that Sharon had given birth to a boy, her second child with Robert Westerholt.
In 2010, the band embarked on a second Theatre Tour, their last with drummer Stephen Van Haestregt.<ref name="within-temptation1">{{cite web |url=http://en.within-temptation.com/ |title=Within Temptation |publisher=En.within-temptation.com |access-date=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413155625/http://en.within-temptation.com/ |archive-date=13 April 2010 }}</ref>

In the meantime, the band continued work on their new studio album. In an interview with Metal Ways at Appelpop 2008, guitarist Robert Westerholt stated that the new album was "probably going to be kind of a concept, but it's so early still that nothing is really sure yet. But we're trying to look in that direction."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-ways.com/163/13/interview-within-temptation-interview-appelpop-tiel.html |title=Within Temptation – Interview @ Appelpop (Tiel) 13.09.2008 |publisher=Metal Ways |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref>

On 18 November 2010, the band announced via their website that their new album, entitled ''[[The Unforgiving]]'', was released on 29 March 2011. The concept of the album would be based on a comic book series, written by Steven O’Connell (BloodRayne & Dark 48), and illustrated by Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness and X-Men). Each song on ''The Unforgiving'' was written along Steven's narrative, with characters in the songs reflecting the protagonists of the comic.
On 26 July 2010, the band announced that they would be embarking on a European tour at the beginning of 2011 in support of their new release. However, on 26 November 2010, it was announced that due to Sharon's third pregnancy, the tour dates would be moved from early 2011 to fall 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/sharon-important-news/ |title=Sharon: Important news |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref>

On the official website, den Adel shared that they have recorded three music videos for the album within the course of a week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/sharon-three-in-one/ |title=Sharon: Three in one |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031848/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/sharon-three-in-one/ |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref> "Where Is The Edge", a promotional video, was released on 15 December 2010 featuring scenes from the Dutch movie ''Me & Mr Jones''. The first new single, "Faster," was released 21 January and the video for the song was released 31 January 2011. The track was played in heavy rotation (at least once in each show) on UK classic rock station [[Planet Rock (radio station)|Planet Rock]].
[[File:Within Temptation Live in Paradiso (6198650488).jpg|thumb|left| Stefan Helleblad (pictured) took [[Robert Westerholt]]'s place during Within Temptation tours (starting from ''The Unforgiving Tour'' to date), enabling Westerholt to raise his and den Adel's children at home.]]

On 22 February 2011, the band announced that Mike Coolen had joined as full-time drummer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/blacky-is-out-mike-is-in/ |title=Blacky is out, Mike is in! |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814201630/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/blacky-is-out-mike-is-in/ |archive-date=14 August 2014 }}</ref> However, the studio album had been recorded with Swedish drummer Nicka Hellenberg.

On 14 March 2011, Sony BMG organized an online-listening session of the upcoming album on a Polish website that only people from Poland could access. However, every song was soon after leaked onto the Internet. Within Temptation tried to prevent the leak before the release date. Limited promotional CDs were sent strictly to journalists who had to come to a listening session. Later that month, the second short film entitled "Sinéad" was released without an accompanying music video. However, it is available on the special edition CD/DVD set of ''The Unforgiving'' along with the remaining short film "Triplets" and music video for "Shot in the Dark". During the album promotional phases, the birth of Logan was reported on the Within Temptation website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/ |title=Official site of Within Temptation |publisher=Within Temptation |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref>

The album debuted at No. 2 in the Netherlands, while the two previous albums, ''[[The Heart of Everything]]'' and ''[[The Silent Force]]'', debuted at No. 1. ''The Unforgiving'' also debuted in the Top 10 of Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Within+Temptation&titel=The+Unforgiving&cat=a |title=Within Temptation - The Unforgiving |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref> The single "Faster" did not chart as well as other Within Temptation singles like "[[Stand My Ground]]" and "[[Ice Queen (song)|Ice Queen]]", though in the digital music store [[iTunes]] the song placed on the common charts, entering the Top 5 in the Netherlands (#4), while the single reached No. 11 so far. On the digital Rock Charts, "Faster" became a hit, reaching the No. 1 in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, No. 2 on Sweden, No. 5 in Germany, No. 6 in Austria, No. 8 in France, No. 10 in Luxembourg, No. 11 in Denmark, No. 13 in the US and No. 18 in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.music-chart.info/song/606962/Faster-%28Radio-Edit%29 |title=Faster (radio edit) by Within Temptation - Song Analysis - ITunes Music Chart Archive |publisher=Music-chart.info |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401172917/http://www.music-chart.info/song/606962/Faster-%28Radio-Edit%29 |archive-date=1 April 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.music-chart.info/song/621279/Faster |title=Faster by Within Temptation - Song Analysis - ITunes Music Chart Archive |publisher=Music-chart.info |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713033536/http://www.music-chart.info/song/621279/Faster |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following that, the band announced that the new single would be "[[Sinéad (song)|Sinéad]]." Later, the band was awarded "Best Other Media Music" for its album ''The Unforgiving'' on the new solenity "Buma Music in Motion", that awards creative and innovative methods to make music.<ref name="within-temptation.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/the-unforgiving-2/the-unforgiving-concept-wins-buma-music-in-motion-award/ |title="The Unforgiving" concept wins "Buma Music in Motion" award |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928201656/http://www.within-temptation.com/the-unforgiving-2/the-unforgiving-concept-wins-buma-music-in-motion-award/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref>

On 10 June 2011, the music video of "Sinéad" was officially released to promote the same single, that had its physical release on 15 July. The single was a little different from the others, including three remixes of the music made by three different [[DJ]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/official-videoclip-sinead/ |title=Official videoclip: Sinéad |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318071057/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/official-videoclip-sinead/ |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Within Temptation - Sofia Rocks cropped.jpg|thumb|right|Within Temptation in 2012 performing at the Sofia Rocks Festival, Bulgaria.]]

Proceeding on promotion of the album, the band presented at the [[Sziget Festival]], but [[The Unforgiving Tour]] officially started 12 August, at the Huntenpop Festival, where the band played the whole ''The Unforgiving'' album among other albums hits, in a special show as "The First Challenge". During August, the band performed at several Summer Festivals as [[M'era Luna]] and [[A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise|Lowlands]] and started an indoor tour in September, first in the North America and then crossing Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/to-tour-again/ |title=To tour again |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816163923/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/to-tour-again/ |archive-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In early September, the album reached Gold status in Poland.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.facebook.com/wtofficial/posts/10150286975412986  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/7185342985/10150286975412986 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited| title = Within Temptation - Facebook post | website = [[Facebook]] | access-date = 24 October 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Later that month, it was announced that Robert would step down touring with the band (except for occasional shows) as there was no-one to look after Robert and Sharon's three children. Robert will focus on production and songwriting, while Stefan Helleblad is taking his place on stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/robert-to-focus-on-production-and-songwriting/ |title=Robert to focus on song writing and production |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001051047/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/robert-to-focus-on-production-and-songwriting/ |archive-date=1 October 2011 }}</ref>

In early 2012, to continue promoting the album, the band started a [[South American]] tour, passing through Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador. Right after coming back to Europe, the band presented a semi-acoustic Dutch theater tour in March 2012, called [[Sanctuary (tour)|Sanctuary]], much like their previous live album ''[[An Acoustic Night at the Theatre]]'', in which they played many songs never played before, like "Say My Name", "The Last Dance", "Overcome", "Bittersweet" and some that they don't play often, like "Restless", "Sounds Of Freedom", "The Swan Song" and "Our Farewell". Most of them were played in acoustic version. On 8 May 2012 Sharon den Adel and Ruud Jolie appeared on [[De Wereld Draait Door|DWDD Recordings]] to perform an acoustic cover of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana's]] song "[[Smells Like Teen Spirit]]". The band embarked on a second leg of festivals, headlining several of the biggest European 2012 Summer Festivals, such as [[Sonisphere Festival|Sonisphere]], [[Masters of Rock (festival)|Masters of Rock]], [[Rock Werchter]], [[Summer Breeze Open Air|Summerbreeze]] and [[Gods of Metal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/ontour/ |title=On tour |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122043041/http://www.within-temptation.com/ontour/ |archive-date=22 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/tour-archive/ |title=Tour archive |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=16 November 2012}}</ref> Later, the band officially announced a very special show called ''Elements''. The sold-out<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/elements-sold-out/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105074638/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/elements-sold-out/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2013|title=Elements Sold Out|publisher=Within Temptation|access-date=16 November 2012}}</ref> special show celebrated the band's 15-year anniversary at the [[Sportpaleis]], Belgium, and the band was accompanied by the Il Novecentro Orchestra and other special guests, such as band's ex-members.<ref>{{cite web |author=WTofficial |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/announcement-15-year-anniversary/ |title=Announcement: 15 year anniversary |publisher=Within Temptation |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116101206/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/announcement-15-year-anniversary/ |archive-date=16 November 2012 }}</ref><ref name="radiometal.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/within-temptation-is-ready-for-the-next-step,74130 |title=Within Temptation is ready for the next step |publisher=Radio Metal |date=4 July 2012 |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201121559/http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/within-temptation-is-ready-for-the-next-step,74130 |archive-date=1 February 2013 }}</ref>

===''Hydra'' and various influences (2013–2016)===
{{Main|Hydra (Within Temptation album)}}
[[File:Within Temptation M'era Luna 2014.jpg|thumb|right|The band performing at the 2014 edition of the [[M'era Luna Festival]] with a ''Hydra''-themed stage.]]
In the run up to the 15th anniversary of Within Temptation, the band was asked by Belgian [[radio station]] Q-Music to choose and perform an existing track in a "Within Temptation style" once a week during fifteen weeks during their special program ''Within Temptation Friday''.<ref name="within-temptation2">{{cite web|url=http://www.within-temptation.com/qcovers/ |title=Within Temptation |publisher=Within Temptation |access-date=13 October 2013}}</ref> The covers were mostly [[pop music|pop]] songs, which the band transformed into a more [[symphonic rock|symphonic]] form. Lead vocalist [[Sharon den Adel]] stated that “Our approach was to really make the cover a new Within Temptation song. So not going the easy way by using only a piano or an acoustic guitar for example, but really trying to put all the elements of a Within Temptation track in this new version. It was quite a challenge because we had only one week to get it right, while recording an original Within Temptation song can sometimes takes up half a year! But this pressure also gave us an {{sic}} creative boost and it was very rewarding to get it done in time each week. Also, we learned a lot from the in-depth analysis we needed to make on these hits, written by others, in combination with implementing our own sound and style in each new cover. We are glad that we’ve taken up this challenge and are very proud of the result."<ref name="within-temptation1"/> They covered artists such as [[Imagine Dragons]], [[OneRepublic]], [[Lana Del Rey]], and [[The Who]], among others.<ref name="within-temptation2"/> On 19 April 2013, 11 of the 15 covers made by the band were released in a cover album entitled ''[[The Q-Music Sessions]]''.<ref name="blabbermouth.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=188112 |title=Within Temptation To Release Covers Album |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=29 March 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> On the same day, the band released the official music video of their cover of "[[Titanium (David Guetta song)|Titanium]]".

The writing process of the band's next studio album began in 2012, and at the first half of the year the band has six songs written already.<ref name="radiometal.com"/> The album was scheduled to be released worldwide in September, by their new label, [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Frank Janssen |url=http://www.entertainmentbusiness.nl/nieuws/2013-W05/within-temptation-tekent-bmg |title=Within Temptation tekent bij BMG &#124; Nieuws &#124; Entertainment Business |publisher=Entertainmentbusiness.nl |date= 28 January 2013|access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmg.com/category/news/?n=intl-within-temptation-sign-deal-with-bmg |title=News &#124; BMG Music Rights Management |publisher=Bmg.com |date=28 January 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> and in the Netherlands by [[Universal Music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://umusicpub.nl/#/nl-NL/Artists/W/Within-Temptation.aspx|title=Universal Music Publishing - Netherlands|website=umusicpub.nl}}</ref>  On 16 June, the band went on to record the first music video for the new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WTofficial/status/345985322124988417 |title=Twitter / WTofficial: On our way for the 1st videoshoot |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> During a series of statements about the recording progress of the album, Westerholt stated that the album would contain [[Death growl|growls]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.donttearmedown.info/2013/06/album-progress-part-7/ |title=11/15/2013 - DTMD2.0 &#124; Within Temptation Fan Site |publisher=donttearmedown.info |access-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620014419/http://www.donttearmedown.info/2013/06/album-progress-part-7/ |archive-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> At the middle of May, bassist [[Jeroen van Veen (bassist)|Jeroen van Veen]] went to the studio to record the bass base for the first five songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.donttearmedown.info/2013/05/album-progress-part-4/ |title=11/15/2013 - DTMD2.0 &#124; Within Temptation Fan Site |publisher=donttearmedown.info |access-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928212740/http://www.donttearmedown.info/2013/05/album-progress-part-4/ |archive-date=28 September 2013 }}</ref> On 12 July, the band released a [[teaser trailer]] of the upcoming studio album, but without any names revealed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/wtofficial/posts/10151545478857986  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/7185342985/10151545478857986 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Check Out The First Bit of the New Album! - Within Temptation |publisher=Facebook |access-date=13 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/within-temptation-teaser-new-single-music-video/ |title=Within Temptation Unveil Teaser for New Single + Music Video |publisher=Loudwire.com |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=192406 |title=Within Temptation: Teaser For New Single, Video |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> On the next month, the band announced the title of the lead single, in which is "Paradise (What About Us?)", also uploading a teaser trailer revealing some lyrics and a guitar solo in anticipation for the release. The band eventually got a [[North American]] sign deal with [[Nuclear Blast]] and, about that partnership the company's president [[Monte Conner]] stated that 
"There are very few bands out there today who continually deliver on such a high and consistent level as Within Temptation. That is why they have such an incredibly loyal worldwide fan base. I am thrilled they chose Nuclear Blast Entertainment as their US partner. Their fans are in for a real treat come later this year!". The band also established a licensing deal with [[Dramatico]] for the United Kingdom release of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-new-single-title-lyrics-unveiled/ |title=Within Temptation: New Single Title, Lyrics Unveiled |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> Once the drumming and vocal recording was complete, the final guitar recordings started on 26 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/stefanhelleblad/posts/10151883796014783  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/752329782/10151883796014783 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Restringing my guitars- tomorrow i´ll... - Stefan Helleblad |publisher=Facebook |access-date=13 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
[[File:Within Temptation - Wacken Open Air 2015-2116.jpg|thumb|left|den Adel and Helleblad at the 2015 [[Wacken Open Air]].]]
On 30 August, the band announced that the lead single "Paradise (What About Us?)" would be released as an [[Paradise (What About Us?)|EP]], which is also set to feature three tracks from the upcoming album in their demo form: "Let Us Burn", "Silver Moonlight" and "Dog Days". Upon making this announcement, den Adel said: "By releasing these demos we want to invite you in our home studio and show how we capture song ideas at an early stage of creating a new album. These demo versions are far from their final sound on the album, but will give you a hint of what we're working on. It will be fascinating to hear how the end result will sound like, once the album is released.". After announcing that the lead single would contain a guest musician, on 13 September the band officially announced that [[Tarja Turunen]] was set to appear as a special vocalist on the title song.<ref>{{cite web |author=WTofficial |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/within-temptation-paradise-what-about-us-featuring-read-more/ |title=Paradise (What About Us?) featuring…… (read more) |publisher=Within Temptation |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118002324/http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/within-temptation-paradise-what-about-us-featuring-read-more/ |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> The EP was released on 27 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-paradise-video-featuring-tarja-turunen-released/ |title=Within Temptation: 'Paradise' Video Featuring Tarja Turunen Released |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=27 September 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> On 25 and 26 October, den Adel and Westerholt presented an unknown number of songs of the upcoming album to the press.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WTofficial/status/393768552752513024 |title=Twitter / WTofficial: end of the first press day |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WTofficial/status/394129054959677440 |title=Twitter / WTofficial: end of day 2 .., going home! |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> The second promotional single, "Dangerous", was released on 20 December and features ex-[[Killswitch Engage]] singer [[Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/within-temptation-announce-new-album-hydra-reveal-more-special-guests/ |title=Metal Hammer &#124; Louder |access-date=8 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216001731/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/within-temptation-announce-new-album-hydra-reveal-more-special-guests/ |archive-date=16 December 2013 }}</ref> ''[[Hydra (Within Temptation album)|Hydra]]'' was finally released on 31 January 2014, in mainland Europe and on 4 February on North America and United Kingdom, and was met with critical and commercial success. In the Netherlands, ''Hydra'' marked the band's return to the first position on the charts since the release of ''The Heart of Everything'' in 2007, also reaching the first spot on the Czech Republic album charts, making it their first number-one album outside the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=b&cat2=a&search=within+temptation |title=Dutch charts portal |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=4 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=ds |url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php |title=Čns Ifpi |publisher=Ifpicr.cz |access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> The band had their first album on a top 10 position in the [[UK Albums Chart]], debuting at six<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/bombay-bicycle-club-score-first-ever-number-1-album-2283/ |title=WT for the first time ever on the UK Top 10 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref> and the first top 20 position on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], debuting at the number 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptations-hydra-cracks-u-s-top-20/ |title=Within Temptation's 'Hydra' Cracks U.S. Top 20 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=4 August 2015}}</ref>

To promote the album, the band embarked on their [[Hydra World Tour]], which was originally planned to start in January 2014, but was postponed so the band could polish the songs more before releasing the album and had a try-out show at the [[Effenaar]], in [[Eindhoven]], [[Netherlands|NL]], which sold out on the same day it was put on sale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundscapemagazine.com/withintemptationpostponetour/ |title=Within Temptation Postpone European Tour |publisher=Soundscape Magazine |date=6 October 2013 |access-date=4 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203170741/http://www.soundscapemagazine.com/withintemptationpostponetour/ |archive-date=3 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/tournews/hydra-try-out-show-sold-out/ |title=Hydra Try Out Show – Sold Out |publisher=Within Temptation |date=30 January 2014 |access-date=4 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082549/http://www.within-temptation.com/tournews/hydra-try-out-show-sold-out/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref> The first official show happened on 26 February, in [[Helsinki]], Finland, and the arena tour passed primarily in Europe, covering a few summer festivals. Due to the great reception of ''Hydra'' in the United States, the band decided to tour again in North America, travelling from [[Los Angeles|West]] to [[New York City|East]] coast and passing through twelve cities, two in Canada, and having some sold-out venues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-to-tour-north-america-this-fall/ |title=North American tour announced |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=4 August 2015|date=31 March 2014 }}</ref> On 2 May, the band announced through their [[Facebook]] page that they were going to record the concert at the [[Heineken Music Hall]], [[Amsterdam]], and most of the concert later appeared on the DVD ''[[Let Us Burn - Elements & Hydra Live in Concert]]'' together with some parts of the previous tour ''[[The Unforgiving Tour|Elements]]'' 15th anniversary show. As the end of the European leg, the tour had an attendance of over 120.000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-to-release-let-us-burn-elements-hydra-live-in-concert-dvd-blu-ray-2cd/ |title=Within Temptation to release DVD |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=4 August 2015|date=October 2014 }}</ref>

===Den Adel's solo project and ''Resist'' (2017–2019)===
{{Main|Resist (Within Temptation album)|My Indigo (album)}}
[[File:Within Temptation - 2019214194539 2019-08-02 Wacken - 0264 - 5DSR3762.jpg|thumb|right|Within Temptation performing at Wacken Open Air in 2019.]]
On 3 November 2017, the band changed their website and social media to display only a message announcing that a statement from Sharon den Adel would be coming soon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/fans-within-temptation-nerveus-ik-hoop-niet-dat-ze-uit-elkaar-gaan~a8f9ee42/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl}}</ref> A video statement appeared 7 days later, in which Sharon announced a new solo project entitled "[[My Indigo]]". The project came by a [[writer's block]] she had while starting to composing new songs for the band's next album, besides also dealing with personal problems, which led her to get some time apart from the band and compose for herself.<ref name="loudwire.com">{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/within-temptation-sharon-den-adel-my-indigo-solo-project/|title=Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel Reveals My Indigo Solo Song|website=Loudwire|date=12 November 2017 }}</ref> Later, she decided to release these songs publicly via the aforementioned project.<ref name="loudwire.com"/> During this process, she regained inspiration to write again for the band, and songs for a new Within Temptation album are currently in the demo phase, with new material to be released in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockhard.de/artikel/within-temptation_-sharon-den-adel-gruendet-soloprojekt-my-indigo_379562.html|title=Within Temptation: Sharon Den Adel gründet Soloprojekt My Indigo|website=ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin}}</ref>

At the end of November, the band announced a [[The Resist Tour|European tour]] for the end of the next year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/within-temptation-announce-uk-and-european-tour|title=Within Temptation announce UK and European tour|first=Metal Hammer2017-11-20T09:00:00 323Z Metal|last=Hammer|website=Metal Hammer Magazine|date=20 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parool.nl/stadsgids/within-temptation-staat-volgend-jaar-in-afas-live~a4540318/|title=Within Temptation staat volgend jaar in Afas Live - Stadsgids - PAROOL|website=Het Parool|date=20 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://live-arena.uk/within-temptation-announce-massive-2018-uk-tour/|title=Live Arena - Infos Concerts, Musiques et Festivals en Europe|website=live-arena.uk|date=20 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-announces-fall-2018-european-tour/|title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Announces Fall 2018 European Tour|date=20 November 2017}}</ref> At the beginning of December, almost a year before the tour, two concerts were already sold out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/muziek/5035604/within-temptation-kondigt-twee-extra-optredens.html|title=Within Temptation kondigt twee extra optredens aan - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|date=5 December 2017}}</ref> The tour commenced before the release of the album, and saw the band playing selected songs in order to promote it.<ref name="rockantenne">{{cite web|url=https://www.rockantenne.de/programm/podcasts/whole-lotta-talk/episode-11-sharon-den-adel-within-temptation|title=Whole Lotta Talk - Episode 11: Sharon den Adel / Within Temptation |date=9 October 2018|website=Rock Antenne|access-date=9 October 2018}}</ref> By the end of 2018, it was reported by the Dutch media that the first European leg of the tour had an attendance of 125,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/2933813/within-temptation-succesvol-in-duitsland|title=Within Temptation succesvol in Duitsland|date=18 December 2018|website=[[De Telegraaf]]|access-date=3 January 2019|language= nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ditjesendatjes.nl/succes-within-temptation-in-duitsland/|title=Succes Within Temptation in Duitsland|date=18 December 2018|website=ditjesendatjes|access-date= 3 January 2019|language= nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.entertainmentbusiness.nl/muziek/within-temptation-scoort-in-duitsland/|title=Within Temptation scoort in Duitsland|date=19 December 2018|website=Entertainment Business NL|access-date=3 January 2019|language= nl}}</ref>

In July 2018, Within Temptation signed a new recording contract with [[Vertigo Records]] Germany, which was selected to release their seventh studio album worldwide, except in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/within-temptation-sign-with-vertigo-records-germany/073156 |title = Within Temptation sign with Vertigo Records Germany}}</ref> The first single from the album, titled "[[The Reckoning (Within Temptation song)|The Reckoning]]" and featuring [[Jacoby Shaddix]], was released on 14 September of that year. The music video for the song marked the first time the band got nominated again for the [[Edison Award]] since 2005.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.artiestennieuws.nl/102897/genomineerden-edison-pop-2019 |title = Edison Pop 2019 nomineert o.a. Nielson, Haevn en Wende|date = 4 December 2018}}</ref> The second single, titled "Raise Your Banner" and featuring [[Anders Fridén]], was released on 16 November and the third, "[[Firelight (song)|Firelight]]", featuring [[Jasper Steverlinck]], was released on 23 November. The album, titled ''[[Resist (Within Temptation album)|Resist]]'', was officially announced through ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' magazine by the end of 2018 and released on 1 February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/within-temptation-announce-new-album-resist|title = Within Temptation announce new album Resist|date = 13 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/12/within-temptation-2019-tour-in-flames/|title= Within Temptation announce 2019 North American tour with In Flames, push album release date to February  |last=Ham|first=Robert|date=10 December 2018|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref> The fourth single, "In Vain", was released on 11 January 2019. A music video for "Supernova", a song off of the album, was released on 5 February 2019. A lyric video for "Mad World" was released on 15 April 2019.

After the album release, the band went back on [[The Resist Tour]] to perform fifteen concerts in [[North America]] and later on European summer festivals.<ref name="ustourdates">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/12/within-temptation-2019-tour-in-flames/|title= Within Temptation announce 2019 North American tour with in Flames, push album release date to February  |date=10 December 2018|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> During the 2019 festival season, the band was scheduled for the first time as one of the headliners for the [[Graspop Metal Meeting]], one of the biggest European heavy metal festivals.<ref name="graspop">{{cite web|url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/festival-news-within-temptation-headline-graspop/|title= FESTIVAL NEWS: Within Temptation to Headline Graspop |date=22 October 2018|website=All Things Loud|access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref>

=== ''Worlds Collide'' tour and ''Bleed Out'' (2020–present) ===
{{main|Bleed Out (Within Temptation album)}}
[[File:Within Temptation live at the O2 LOndon - 52504155330.jpg|thumb|left|285px|Within Temptation performing in 2022 at [[The O2 Arena]], in [[London]].]]
On 17 September 2019, the band had originally announced that they would be embarking on a [[Worlds Collide (tour)|co-headlining tour]] with [[Evanescence]] in April and May 2020 titled [[Worlds Collide (tour)|Worlds Collide]].<ref name="kerrang20190917">{{cite news |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-announce-2020-uk-and-european-tour/ |title=Evanescence And Within Temptation Announce 2020 UK And European Tour |work=[[Kerrang!]] |date=17 September 2019 |access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="metham20190917">{{cite news |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-announce-co-headline-european-tour |title=Evanescence and Within Temptation announce co-headline European tour |work=Metal Hammer |first=Scott |last=Munro |date=17 September 2019 |access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], both Within Temptation and their co-headliner had postponed the tour to September 2020, later postponing it again to fall 2021, and then postponing again to spring 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Evanescence And Within Temptation Postpone UK/European Tour|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-postpone-uk-european-tour/|work=Kerrang!|date=13 March 2020|access-date=19 March 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Evanescence And Within Temptation Postpone Worlds Collide Tour To 2021|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-postpone-worlds-collide-tour-to-2021/|work=Kerrang!|date=22 June 2020|access-date=22 June 2020|language=en}}</ref> During the outbreak, the band took part in the [[Together at Home]] movement, where artists make online live performances in order to encourage people to stay home and prevent more infection cases.<ref name="togetherathome">{{cite news |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-performs-live-show-on-instagram-as-part-of-togetherathome-series-video/ |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Performs Live Show On INSTAGRAM As Part Of #TogetherAtHome Series (Video)  |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=25 March 2020 |access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> The band also opened for [[Iron Maiden]] at selected European and North American dates of the [[Legacy of the Beast World Tour]] during 2022.<ref name="legacyofthebeast">{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/iron-maiden-tour-dates-2022-1265428/ |title=Iron Maiden Plan Beastly North American Tour for Fall 2022  |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>

On 30 April 2020, the band announced the release of a new single on 8 May 2020, "[[Entertain You]]", scheduled to be part of the band's upcoming eighth studio album.<ref name="entertainyou">{{cite news |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/within-temptation-announce-new-single-entertain-you/ |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, ENTERTAIN YOU  |work=[[Kerrang]] |date=30 April 2020 |access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="hetparool">{{cite news |url=https://www.parool.nl/kunst-media/zangeres-within-temptation-relevant-nummer-kan-soms-niet-wachten~b5548b3d/?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |title=Zangeres Within Temptation: 'Relevant nummer kan soms niet wachten' |work=[[Het Parool]] |language=nl |date=30 April 2020 |access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> A music video was later released for the single.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/within-temptation-share-video-for-new-single-entertain-you|title=Within Temptation share video for new single Entertain You|publisher=Louder|date=28 May 2020|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> A second single titled, "The Purge", was released on 20 November 2020 along with a music video.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation Announce New Single, The Purge |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/within-temptation-announce-new-single-the-purge/ |website=Kerrang |date=12 November 2020 |access-date=15 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Emily |title=Within Temptation Search For Redemption On New Single The Purge |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/within-temptation-search-for-redemption-in-new-single-the-purge/ |website=Kerrang |access-date=5 December 2020 |date=2 December 2020}}</ref> Sharon den Adel confirmed on 18 February 2021 that the band plans on releasing more singles, stating that "they are working on it".<ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Is 'Looking For The Right Time' To Release Another New Single |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-is-looking-for-the-right-time-to-release-another-new-single/ |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=6 March 2021 |date=18 February 2021}}</ref> A third single, "[[Shed My Skin]]", which features German metalcore band [[Annisokay]] as special guests was released on 25 June 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Announces 'The Aftermath' Immersive Event, 'Shed My Skin' Single |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-announces-the-aftermath-immersive-event-shed-my-skin-single/ |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=1 June 2021 |date=1 June 2021}}</ref> The band had also announced on 1 June 2021 that they would be performing two [[virtual reality]] concerts on 15 and 16 July 2021, entitled "The Aftermath", in which they performed a variety of older and new material.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation reschedule their online spectacular The Aftermath: A Show In A Virtual Reality to mid-July |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/within-temptation-reschedule-their-online-spectacular-the-aftermath-a-show-in-a-virtual-reality-to-mid-july |website=Metal Hammer |date=July 2021 |access-date=8 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> A music video for "Shed My Skin", which consists of the song being performed on the virtual concert, was released on 14 July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Releases Official Music Video For 'Shed My Skin' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-releases-official-music-video-for-shed-my-skin/ |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=14 July 2021 |date=14 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Announce The Aftermath - A Show In Virtual Reality; New Single "Shed My Skin" Due This Month |url=https://bravewords.com/news/within-temptation-announce-the-aftermath-a-show-in-virtual-reality-new-single-shed-my-skin-due-this-month |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] |date=June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Later that year, the re-imagined version of "[[The Silent Force|Forsaken]]" also performed on the concert was released on streaming platforms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation release Forsaken from The Aftermath online show  |url=https://bravewords.com/news/within-temptation-release-forsaken-from-the-aftermath-online-show |website=Bravewords |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The band's first concert with public attendance after the decrease in the pandemic infection cases took place on 29 July 2021, as one of the main acts of the [[Kuopio Rock]] open air festival, in [[Finland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Katso kuvat: Metallisuuruudet Suomesta ja Hollannista vetivät Kuopiorockin täyteen yleisöä – maskeja alkaa nyt näkyä myös ulkotapahtumissa juhlivilla|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12042008 |website=[[Yle]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=30 July 2021|language= Finnish}}</ref>

In an interview with Audio Ink Radio, vocalist Sharon den Adel had confirmed that the band is planning to release more new music in the coming months, stating: "We've only recorded two songs, and we have a lot of demos, which are very far, so we can finish them quite quickly. So we're just gonna start with that — we're gonna make those demos real songs, and eventually, next year, we're gonna release also a few songs again. Eventually there will be an album, but the album is not complete yet, so we have to start writing also some extra new songs to make the whole album complete".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-is-planning-to-release-more-new-music-in-coming-months/|title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Is Planning To Release More New Music in Coming Months|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=28 May 2020|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref>

The band's next musical release came in May 2022 from a collaboration with [[Asking Alexandria]] on a new version of their song "Faded Out" from ''[[See What's on the Inside]]''. This new version was released alongside a music video featuring promotional scenes leading to the release of the movie ''[[The Retaliators (film)|The Retaliators]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asking Alexandria have released a new version of Faded Out featuring Within Temptation|work=Rock Sound Magazine |url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/asking-alexandria-have-released-a-new-version-of-faded-out-featuring-within |access-date=24 May 2022 |date=20 May 2022}}</ref> The song is also part of its official soundtrack. The band released another single, "[[Don't Pray for Me]]", on 8 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Announces 'Don't Pray For Me' Single |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-announces-dont-pray-for-me-single |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=23 June 2022 |language=en |date=22 June 2022}}</ref>

On 27 July, den Adel confirmed in an interview that the new album is expected to come out in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION Vocalist SHARON DEN ADEL Confirms New Album Will Be Released In 2023 (Video) |url=https://bravewords.com/news/within-temptation-vocalist-sharon-den-adel-confirms-new-album-will-be-released-in-2023-video |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] |access-date=5 August 2022 |language=en |date=27 July 2022}}</ref> On 20 December, the band released the official music video for their track "The Fire Within", a song originally written in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation Shares 'The Fire Within' Music Video |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-shares-the-fire-within-music-video |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=20 December 2022 |language=en |date=20 December 2022}}</ref>

Another single, "Wireless", was released on 18 May 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation Shares New Single 'Wireless' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-shares-new-single-wireless |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=19 May 2023 |language=en |date=18 May 2023}}</ref> On 17 August 2023, simultaneously with the release of the single of the same name, Within Temptation announced their eighth studio album, ''[[Bleed Out (Within Temptation album)|Bleed Out]]'', which was released on 20 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation Announces 'Bleed Out' Album, Shares Title Track |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-announces-bleed-out-album-shares-title-track |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=18 August 2023 |language=en |date=18 August 2023}}</ref> A European tour of the same name was later announced on 4 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Within Temptation have announced a massive UK and European arena tour |url=https://www.kerrang.com/within-temptation-have-announced-a-massive-uk-and-eu-arena-tour/ |website=Kerrang! |access-date=4 October 2023 |language=en |date=4 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zukowski |first=Zenae |date=2023-12-14 |title=Interview: Sharon den Adel on Within Temptation's unfiltered journey through chaos, creativity, and optimism with 'Bleed Out' {{!}} Metal Insider |url=https://metalinsider.net/interviews/interview-sharon-den-adel-on-within-temptations-unfiltered-journey-through-chaos-creativity-and-optimism-with-bleed-out |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=metalinsider.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2024, Sharon den Adel came to [[Kyiv]] to create a new music video together with [[Alex Yarmak]] for the song "A Fool's Parade".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aldersladepublished |first=Merlin |date=2024-03-25 |title="The war doesn't stop. I know a lot of people are tired of it, but Ukraine doesn't have that luxury." Why Sharon den Adel travelled to Kyiv to film Within Temptation's new video for upcoming single A Fool's Parade |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/sharon-den-adel-talks-ukraine-video-exclusive |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=louder |language=en}}</ref> On April 11, 2024, the band's official channel released the video "A Fool's Parade".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBWeMivsraA |title=Within Temptation - A Fool's Parade feat. Alex Yarmak (Official Music Video) |language=en |access-date=2024-04-11 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> In June 2024, after winning several export awards throughout the years, Within Temptation was honored by the Dutch organization [[Buma Cultuur]] with a Life Achievement Award. The organization stated that "the band undeniably provided the blueprint for a unique metal genre, which has inspired many and brought the sextet significant success far beyond their home country".<ref name="lifetime">{{Cite web|url=https://bumastemra.nl/en/highlights-of-the-buma-awards-2024/|title=Highlights of the Buma Awards 2024|website=Buma Stemra|date=6 June 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

Spierenburg departed from the band on 9 December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Longtime Within Temptation Keyboardist Martijn Spierenburg Announces His Departure From Band |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/longtime-within-temptation-keyboardist-martijn-spierenburg-announces-his-departure-from-band |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=9 December 2024 |language=en |date=9 December 2024}}</ref> Vikram Shankar was later announced as his replacement in July 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqETbEt8Y6/ |website=Instagram |access-date=17 August 2025}}</ref>

==Musical style==
The band's first album, ''Enter'', was released in 1997, which music critics classified as two [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] subgenres, [[gothic metal]] and [[doom metal]]<ref name="WTStil1">{{cite web|author=musicfolio.com|title=Within Temptation Discography - Album / CD Reviews|url=http://www.musicfolio.com/modernrock/withintemptation.html|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="WTStil2">{{cite web|author=metalkingdom.net|title=Within Temptation - Enter|url=http://www.metalkingdom.net/album/1100_within_temptation_enter|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> classifying the release as "gloomy, doomy, slow moving, atmospheric, symphonic gothic metal." and compared it with [[Tristania (band)|Tristania]] and [[Theatre of Tragedy]], two other bands in the genre.<ref name="WTStil3">{{cite web|author=metalstorm.net|title=Within Temptation - Enter review|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=4950|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> The guitar riffs and keyboard work were also praised, as were the contrasting voices of the two lead vocalists, Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt.<ref name="WTStil5">{{cite web|author=chroniclesofchaos.com|title=Within Temptation - _Enter_|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-456_within_temptation_enter.aspx|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>[[Image:Sharon-den-adel-within-temptation-1212428011.jpg|thumb|left|For a time, [[Gothic clothing|gothic visual]] was a common part of Within Temptation's style, as the [[gothic metal]] influences were part of their sound, mainly in their early years.]] The band's next record, an EP entitled ''The Dance'', released in 1998, was described as "important in the development of the band" presenting "the band's musical growth as they explore the parameters of orchestral, neo-classical metal."<ref name="WTStil8">{{cite web|author=cduniverse.com|title=Within Temptation - Dance CD|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7498223|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>

With the release of the band's second album, ''Mother Earth'', their musical style came to a point of inflexion,<ref name="WTStil9">{{cite web|author=musicaldiscoveries.com|title=Within Temptation - album, dvd and ep reviews and artist reflections|url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/wt.htm|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> where only den Adel remained as lead vocalist<ref name="WTStil11">{{cite web|author=metal-archives.com|title=Reviews: Within Temptation - Mother Earth|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Within_Temptation/Mother_Earth/6061/|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> leading the band to more melodic and Celtic songs and more [[Folk music|folk]] influences. Critics approved of the changes in musical direction and suggested that the album "reveals new dimensions in the concept of metal."<ref name="WTStil13">{{cite web|author=tartareandesire.com|title=REVIEW: Within Temptation - Mother Earth|url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Within_Temptation/Mother_Earth/1336/|access-date=13 August 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011338/http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Within_Temptation/Mother_Earth/1336/|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>

With Daniel Gibson as its main producer, the album ''The Silent Force'' was classified as "very melodic, catchy and relaxing".<ref name="WTTSF3x">{{cite web|author=sputnikmusic.com|title=Within Temptation - The Silent Force|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/8204/Within-Temptation-The-Silent-Force/|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=wt-tsf|title=Ground and Sky - 404<!-- Bot generated title -->}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>[[Image:Sharon den Adel Live @ Paradiso.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Sharon den Adel wearing a [[nightclub|nightclub jacket]] while performing ''The Unforgiving''{{'}}s "[[Sinéad (song)|Sinéad]]" in 2011.]]

With the release of ''The Heart of Everything'', in 2007, critics were divided on the band's new direction,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=4185|title=Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything review - Metal Storm|website=www.metalstorm.net}}</ref> though some appreciated the new direction and found it more varied.<ref name="WTTH5">{{cite web|author=sputnikmusic.com|title=Review: Within Temptation – Heart of Everything|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/12038/Within-Temptation-The-Heart-of-Everything/|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> ''[[About.com]]'' agreed with both opinions, stating that the album had "the depth and complexity of classical music and the dark edge of gothic metal."<ref name="WTTStilH2">{{cite web|author=about.com|title=Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/withintemptatio.htm|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] commented that the band "isn't afraid to get downright symphonic".<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato |first=Greg |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heart-of-everything-r1024273/review |title=The Heart of Everything - Within Temptation : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=12 March 2007 |access-date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

In 2011, the band released their fifth studio album, ''The Unforgiving'', the biggest change in their musical direction to that point.<ref name="WTTStilU1">{{cite web|author=roadrunnerrecords.com|title=WITHIN TEMPTATION - The Unforgiving (Special Edition CD/DVD)|url=http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/WITHIN-TEMPTATION-The-Unforgiving-Special-Edition-CD-DVD_2|access-date=13 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120218072424/http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/WITHIN-TEMPTATION-The-Unforgiving-Special-Edition-CD-DVD_2|archive-date=18 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="WTTStilU2">{{cite web|author=about.com|title=CD Review: Within Temptation ~ The Unforgiving|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/withintemptation/fr/Within-Temptation-The-Unforgiving-Review.htm|access-date=13 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116082537/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/withintemptation/fr/Within-Temptation-The-Unforgiving-Review.htm|archive-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> Although largely well received by critics,<ref name="WTTStilU3">{{cite web|author=metacritic.com|title=The Unforgiving - Within Temptation|website=[[Metacritic]]|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-unforgiving|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> some reviewers disliked the changes, with [[Q magazine]] calling the album "The metal [[T'Pau (band)|T'Pau]]".<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite journal | title = Within Temptation: The Unforgiving | journal = Q Magazine | date = April 2011 | issue = 297 }}</ref> Besides that, some critics found the "1980s pop, rock and metal" influences a good thing for the band.<ref name="WTTStilU6">{{cite web|author=grumpyrocker.co.uk|title=Within Temptation - The Unforgiving Review|url=http://www.grumpyrocker.co.uk/within-temptation-the-unforgiving-review|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="metalholic">{{cite web|url=http://metalholic.co/cd-review-within-temptation-the-unforgiving/|title=Codes promo et réductions - LesCodesPromo.com|website=metalholic.co}}</ref>

In order to celebrate the band's 15th anniversary, the Belgian radio station Q-music invited the band to make 15 covers of famous songs. Later, the band released ''The Q-Music Sessions'' album, another divergent genre variation from their original sound. The album featured reworked covers of several famous [[pop music|pop]] songs, such as "[[Titanium (David Guetta song)|Titanium]]" by [[David Guetta]] featuring [[Sia]], "[[Grenade (song)|Grenade]]" by [[Bruno Mars]], "[[The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)|The Power of Love]]" by [[Frankie Goes to Hollywood]] and also such [[indie rock|indie]] and [[folk rock]] songs as [[The Who]]'s "[[Behind Blue Eyes]]" and [[Passenger (singer)|Passenger]]'s "[[Let Her Go]]".<ref name="blabbermouth.net"/>

The name of the band's sixth studio album, ''Hydra'', refers to this great variation in the band's main sound, as Westerholt said: {{"'}}Hydra' is a perfect title for our new album because like the monster itself, the record represents the many different sides of our music.”<ref>{{cite web|author=WTofficial |url=http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/pre-order-new-album-hydra-starts-today/ |title=Pre-order new album HYDRA starts today |publisher=Within Temptation |date=8 November 2013 |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Aquarian Weekly]]'' considered the title highly appropriate and compared it to the band's diverse musical history, alleging that they were able to find the right balance between all the musical changes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaquarian.com/2014/01/22/an-interview-with-within-temptation-the-art-of-balance/|title=An Interview with Within Temptation: The Art Of Balance &#124; The Aquarian|first=Bryan|last=Reesman|website=www.theaquarian.com|date=2 June 2023 }}</ref> and, during the [[Hydra World Tour|following tour]], the sextet was also referred to as "a band that defy stereotypes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crypticrock.com/within-temptation-amaranthe-take-over-terminal-5-nyc-10-10-14/|title=Within Temptation & Amaranthe take over Terminal 5, NYC 10-10-14 - Cryptic Rock|website=crypticrock.com|date=7 November 2014}}</ref>

==Band members==
<gallery perrow="5" caption="Within Temptation lineups" widths="180" heights="180">
Within-temptation-all.jpg|Within Temptation's 2002–2010, from left to right: van Haestregt, van Veen, Jolie, den Adel, Spierenburg, Westerholt
Within Temptation @ Circo Voador.jpg|Within Temptation touring line-up between 2011 and 2024. From left to right: van Veen, Jolie, Spierenburg, Coolen, Helleblad, den Adel
</gallery>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Current'''
*[[Sharon den Adel]] – lead vocals (1996–present)
*[[Robert Westerholt]] – rhythm guitar, [[Death growl|unclean vocals]] (1996–present, studio only since 2011)
*Jeroen van Veen – bass (1996–present)
*[[Ruud Jolie]] – lead guitar (2001–present)
*Mike Coolen – drums (2011–present)
*Stefan Helleblad – rhythm guitar, occasional backing vocals (2011–present)
*Vikram Shankar – keyboards (2025–present; live 2025)

'''Session'''
*Nicka Hellenberg – drums (2010)
{{col-2}}
'''Former'''
*[[Dennis Leeflang]] – drums (1996)
*Richard Willemse – drums (1996)
*Marius van Pyreen – drums (1998)
*Ciro Palma – drums (1998–1999)
*Michiel Papenhove – lead guitar (1996–2001)
*[[Martijn Westerholt]] – keyboards (1996–2001; live 2025)
*[[Ivar de Graaf]] – drums (1996–1998, 1999–2001, live bass 2022)
*Jelle Bakker – lead guitar (2001)
*[[Stephen van Haestregt]] – drums (2002–2010)
*[[Martijn Spierenburg]] – keyboards (2001–2024)
{{col-end}}

'''Timeline'''
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:125 bottom:100 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1996 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1997
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1996

Colors =
  id:Vox     value:red          legend:Lead_vocals
  id:Harsh   value:claret       legend:Harsh_vocals
  id:Lead    value:teal         legend:Lead_guitar
  id:Rhythm  value:brightgreen  legend:Rhythm_guitar
  id:Keys    value:purple       legend:Keyboards
  id:Bass    value:blue         legend:Bass
  id:Drums   value:orange       legend:Drums
  id:studio  value:black        legend:Studio_album
  id:live    value:gray(0.8)    legend:Live_album
  id:ep      value:gray(0.5)    legend:EP

LineData =
 layer:back color:studio
  at:07/04/1997
  at:24/12/2000
  at:15/11/2004
  at:24/07/2007
  at:29/03/2011
  at:04/02/2014
  at:01/02/2019
  at:20/10/2023
 color:live
  at:22/09/2008
  at:02/11/2009
  at:14/11/2014
 color:ep
  at:21/06/1998
  at:01/05/2007
  at:17/10/2011
  at:27/09/2013
  at:23/05/2014

BarData =
  bar:Adel text:"Sharon den Adel"
  bar:Pape text:"Michiel Papenhove"
  bar:Bakk text:"Jelle Bakker"
  bar:Joli text:"Ruud Jolie"
  bar:RWes text:"Robert Westerholt"
  bar:Hell text:"Stefan Helleblad"
  bar:MWes text:"Martijn Westerholt"
  bar:Spie text:"Martijn Spierenburg"
  bar:Shan text:"Vikram Shankar"
  bar:Veen text:"Jeroen van Veen"
  bar:Leef text:"Dennis Leeflang"
  bar:Will text:"Richard Willemse"
  bar:Graa text:"Ivar de Graaf"
  bar:Pyre text:"Marius van Pyreen"
  bar:Palm text:"Ciro Palma"
  bar:Haes text:"Stephen van Haestregt"
  bar:Cool text:"Mike Coolen"

PlotData =
  width:11
  bar:Adel from:01/01/1996 till:end color:Vox
  bar:Pape from:01/01/1996 till:30/06/2001 color:Lead
  bar:Bakk from:30/06/2001 till:30/09/2001 color:Lead
  bar:Joli from:30/09/2001 till:end color:Lead
  bar:RWes from:01/01/1996 till:31/08/2011 color:Harsh width:3
  bar:RWes from:31/08/2011 till:end        color:Harsh width:3
  bar:RWes from:01/01/1996 till:end color:Rhythm
  bar:Hell from:31/08/2011 till:end color:Rhythm
  bar:Veen from:01/01/1996 till:end color:Bass
  bar:MWes from:01/01/1996 till:30/06/2001 color:Keys
  bar:Spie from:30/06/2001 till:09/12/2024 color:Keys
  bar:Shan from:28/02/2025 till:28/07/2025 color:Keys width:3
  bar:Shan from:28/07/2025 till:end color:Keys
  bar:Leef from:01/01/1996 till:31/05/1996 color:Drums
  bar:Will from:01/06/1996 till:31/08/1996 color:Drums
  bar:Graa from:31/08/1996 till:31/05/1998 color:Drums
  bar:Graa from:01/06/1999 till:30/06/2001 color:Drums
  bar:Pyre from:01/06/1998 till:31/08/1998 color:Drums
  bar:Palm from:31/08/1998 till:01/06/1999 color:Drums
  bar:Haes from:01/01/2002 till:29/04/2010 color:Drums
  bar:Cool from:22/02/2011 till:end        color:Drums
}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Within Temptation discography}}
<!--ONLY studio albums belong here. See Within Temptation's full discography at its own article.-->

'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Enter (Within Temptation album)|Enter]]'' (1997)
*''[[Mother Earth (Within Temptation album)|Mother Earth]]'' (2000)
*''[[The Silent Force]]'' (2004)
*''[[The Heart of Everything]]'' (2007)
*''[[The Unforgiving]]'' (2011)
*''[[Hydra (Within Temptation album)|Hydra]]'' (2014)
*''[[Resist (Within Temptation album)|Resist]]'' (2019)
*''[[Bleed Out (Within Temptation album)|Bleed Out]]'' (2023)

==Tours==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Headlining concerts'''
* Mother Earth Tour (2000–2003)
* [[The Silent Force Tour (Within Temptation)|The Silent Force Tour]] (2004–2006)
* [[The Heart of Everything World Tour]] (2007–2008)
* [[The Unforgiving Tour]] (2011–2013)
* [[Sanctuary (tour)|Sanctuary]] (2012)
* [[Hydra World Tour]] (2014–2016)
* [[The Resist Tour]] (2018–2019)
* [[Bleed Out Tour]] (2024–2025)
{{col-2}}
'''Co-headlining concerts'''
* [[Worlds Collide (tour)|Worlds Collide]] (with [[Evanescence]]) (2022)

'''Supporting concerts'''
*[[Somewhere Back in Time World Tour]] (opening act for [[Iron Maiden]]) (2008)
*[[Legacy of the Beast World Tour]] (opening act for [[Iron Maiden]]) (2022)
{{col-end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Within Temptation}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Official website|http://www.within-temptation.com/}}
*{{allMusic}}

{{Within Temptation|state=plain}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Dutch & Belgian Act}}
{{World Music Award for Best-Selling Benelux Artist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Within Tempation}}
[[Category:Within Temptation| ]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Dutch musical sextets]]
[[Category:Dutch symphonic metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Dutch gothic metal musical groups]]
[[Category:GUN Records artists]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1996]]
[[Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners]]
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender musical sextets]]