Within Temptation - Mother Earth Tour

Year of Release: 2002
Label: BMG
Catalog Number: 74321 961823
Format: DVD
Total Time: 150:00:00

It is now common for bands to release a DVD as they would normally release a CD. Just a short time ago, it was nearly impossible for bands to afford to do this, but now it's almost strange for a band not to release a DVD along with their ?breakout? CD. The competition now is not ?who? can release a DVD, but how much video bands can squeeze onto the discs and sell them for not much more than the average CD price.

Within Temptation releases their latest DVD called Mother Earth Tour, riding the waves of their successful CD of the same name. However, Within Temptation is one of those bands that has gone beyond the norm and is being more than generous to their fans with the incredible package they have offered up. The package contains a 3-disc set including following:

Live Concerts at 3 different locations (The Netherlands)
3 Music Videos ("The Dance," "Ice Queen," "Mother Earth")
Backstage interviews, band personals
The Making Of: Mother Earth Album / Cover, Mother Earth Music Video, Credits
Impressions and Interviews, various award shows, photo gallery
?Ice Queen? video multi-angle
Live CD of the shows

All of this packed into almost 2.5 hours of video for not much more than some CDs. It doesn't stop there though; the band has sought to obtain the best audio and video possible for all of the above and both fall nothing short of spectacular. On the video side, the pictures are incredibly rich and vibrant, and truly bring out and emphasize what this band is all about. The band has shot their performances at various festivals throughout The Netherlands, and has spared no expense to provide the best visuals I've seen recently on a DVD set. From the awesome stage sets, which surround the band in large green vines / trees (no doubt to accent the Mother Earth theme), to the pyrotechnics, the incredible lighting affects, and the beautiful gowns that Sharon Den Adel wears during her shows, the colors absolutely leap off your screen. The light show in itself is a visual feast, drenching the band in gorgeous colors which accent the mood of the music being played perfectly.

The audio is another added attraction that assaults the senses perfectly. While some bands claim that their show is recorded in surround sound, I've heard more than one show collapse to the center channel completely in ProLogic mode. Within Temptation has once again made sure that the audio is as incredible as the video portion, providing a complete surround sound package that will have you raising your fist and banging your head to the show, making you wonder how you ended up in The Netherlands in such a short time. Clarity is fabulous, precise and crisp while the bass is deep and accommodating without being boomy. Every instrument can be heard as clearly as the next with an emphasis on the drums, which sound phenomenal.

The band, which consists of Sharon Den Adel (vocals), Robert Westerholt (guitar), Ruud Jolie (guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Martin Spierenburg (keyboards), and Stephen van Haestregt (drums), plow effortlessly through songs from The Dance EP, Within, and mostly from Mother Earth. The band manages to stay extremely heavy and powerful while Sharon Den Adel croons out the smooth, beautiful vocal melodies. Her presence alone is enough to make the visual most satisfying, but throw in the beautiful gowns she wears along with her accented face makeup and fluid movements through the songs and you will be mesmerized instantly.

For my money, I have not seen many DVDs that rival the quality of this one. If you are not a fan of Within Temptation and you watch this DVD, you will be. If you are a fan, you will be brought to another level by the band, and taken to a surreal place in your mind of which there is no return. Visually and sonically stunning, and absolutely essential.

Tracklisting:
Disc One: Deceiver Of Fools / Caged / Mother Earth / Enter / Our Farewell / The Dance / The Promise / Intro / Dark Wings / Restless / Deep Within / Never-Ending Story / Ice Queen / Music Videos: The Dance / Ice Queen / Mother Earth

Disc Two: Backstage / The Making Of (album, video, credits) / Impressions and Interviews / Extras

CD: Deceiver Of Fools / Caged / Mother Earth / Enter / Our Farewell / The Dance / The Promise / Intro / Dark Wings / Restless / Deep Within / Never-Ending Story / Ice Queen / Music Videos: The Dance / Ice Queen / Mother Earth

Musicians:
Sharon Den Adel - vocals
Robert Westerholt - guitar
Ruud Jolie - guitar
Jeroen van Veen - bass
Martin Spierenburg -keyboards
Stephen Van Haestregt - drums

Discography:
Enter (1997)
The Dance (EP) (1997)
Mother Earth (2001)
Live On Air (2002)
The Silent Force (2005)
The Heart Of Everything (2007)
See Who I Am (EP) (2007)
The Howling (EP) (2007)
All I Need (EP) (2007)
Black Symphony (2008)
An Acoustic Night At The Theatre (2009)

Mother Earth Single (DVD) (2000)
Mother Earth Tour (DVD) (2002)
Stand My Ground (DVD) (2004)
The Silent Force Tour (DVD) (2005)
Black Symphony (DVD) (2008)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin NL

Added: July 7th 2003
Reviewer: Larry "LarryD" Daglieri
Score:
Artist website: www.within-temptation.com
Hits: 2106
Language: english