Within Temptation Live at the First Direct Arena, Leeds 19th November 2024
Dutch Symphonic Rockers, Within Temptation, made a welcome return to the First Direct Arena in Leeds where they co-headlined with Evanescence two years ago to this very day. This time they returned on their own with a couple of surprise guests as sole headliners on the closing night of their current UK tour.
A spirited opening slot from German Post Hardcore warmed things up nicely with the harsh growls of Rudi Schwarzer contrasting starkly with guitarist Christoph Wieczorek`s melodic, clean voice on songs such as ‘Calamity’ and ‘Throne Of The Sunset’ as well as a lively romp through Linkin Park`s ‘One Stop Closer’. In something of a surprise move, Sharon Den Adel, lead singer of Within Temptation joined the band on stage in her regular street clothes for a romp through ‘Like A Parasite’.
Most bands these days seem to balk at playing new material preferring instead to rely on a tried and trusted back catalogue. Within Temptation however, are no run of the mill band and instead launch into now fewer than five songs from their latest ‘Bleed Out’ opus. It`s easy to why with the immediate impact of ‘We Go To War’, ‘Ritual’, ‘Don`t Pray For Me’ and the title track, all built on soaring melodies and powerful delivery with some heavy weight riffs providing a stirring foundation.
Of course, the Within Temptation classics were all present and correct from the frantic ‘Faster’, ‘Stand My Ground’ and a wonderfully bombastic ‘Our Solemn Hour’ with Den Adel`s powerful yet supremely melodic vocals taking the chorus to another level.
With a stage set featuring Greek style pillars and stunning lighting and video visuals this was one impressive spectacle befitting such grandiose songs such as ‘A Shot In The Dark’ and ‘The Reckoning’.
The first surprise of the evening was an appearance by Ukrainian vocalist, Alex Yarmak, on ‘A Fool`s Parade’. Even better was to follow when original Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen joined Den Adel for ‘The Promise’ and a cover of Tarja`s ‘I Feel Immortal’ from her 2010 release ‘What Lies Beneath’.
Astonishingly they managed to top even that when Tarja returned during the encores for a stunning take on ‘Paradise (What About Us?)’ and what a treat it was seeing the two First Ladies of Symphonic Rock up on stage together.
There was only one place to after such a high and the vintage ‘Mother Earth’ delivered the killer blow of an outstanding evening.
Review and Photos By Mick Burgess
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