The Silent Force

The Silent Force is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation, released on 15 November 2004, by GUN Records. On 5 August 2008, The Silent Force along with Mother Earth were released in the United States by Roadrunner Records. This album is the first to feature Ruud Jolie on lead guitar, as well as Martijn Spierenburg on keyboards, after Martijn Westerholt had to leave the band due to illness. It is also the first to feature Daniel Gibson as their producer. The album deepened the band symphonic approach, this time featuring more atmospheric songs that resemble the predominant fantasistic lyrics, inspired both by literature and the band members personal lives.

This article is about the Within Temptation album. For the Dutch band, see Silent Force. For the television series, see The Silent Force (TV series).

The Silent Force
Studio album by
Within Temptation
Released11 November 2004
29 August 2005 (UK)
Recorded10 May–29 August 2004
StudioWisseloord Studios, Hilversum
Sound Park Studios, Schiedam, Netherlands
ICP Studios, Brussels, Belgium
Studio #5 and Documentary Studio, Moscow, Russia
GenreSymphonic metal[1][2]
Length46:34
LabelGUN (Europe)
Roadrunner (rest of the world)
ProducerDaniel Gibson, Stefan Helleblad
Within Temptation chronology
Mother Earth
(2000)		 The Silent Force
(2004)		 The Heart of Everything
(2007)
Singles from The Silent Force
  1. "Stand My Ground"
    Released: 17 November 2004
  2. "Memories"
    Released: 31 January 2005
  3. "Angels"
    Released: 13 June 2005

The album spawned three singles that helped increasing the band's popularity in Europe, all of them achieving commecial success in their homeland and several other European countries. The first single, "Stand My Ground", was released in November 2004 and reached the fourth position on the Dutch Top 40. The second single, "Memories", was released on 31 January 2005. The third and final single, "Angels", was released on 13 June 2005. In order to promote the album, the band commenced their The Silent Force Tour in July 2004, playing throughout Europe and also having one concert in Dubai.

The album was met with generally favorable reviews and commercial success, increasing the band's popularity outside the Netherlands. Metal Hammer considered the album important both for Within Temptation's career and the development of the symphonic metal genre as a whole, a position shared by AllMusic. Only one week after its release, the album reached gold status in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Finland, later also achieving double platinum status in their homecountry and gold status in Germany.

Production and recording

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. In an interview on Buzznet, lead singer Sharon den Adel discussed the title of the album:

"The title of our latest album 'The Silent Force' is actually taken from the title of a book from the beginning of the 19th century from a Dutch writer (who lived in Indonesia when he was young) called Louis Couperus. All the songs on this album are in some way related to that book (or at least the title)."[3]

Release
The band was present at several big European festivals.

In support of the release they embarked on another large international tour in 2005, with dates across Europe (including their first festival appearance in the United Kingdom headlining Bloodstock Open Air) and a one-off show in Dubai. "Stand My Ground" and "Memories", the first singles from the new album, continued the band's run of chart success in the Netherlands, culminating in a second Edison Award. The third single was "Angels". "Stand My Ground" was later to be promoted on the trailer for the film Blood and Chocolate. The band also provided some of the sound track to the videogame Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade, released in March 2005.[4] As of 2005, the album had already sold more than 400.000 copies only in Europe.[5]

In January 2006, Within Temptation won the Dutch Pop Prize (best Dutch pop 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 would start playing at festivals starting in April, in addition to going on an international tour at the end of the year.[6] On 5 August 2008, The Silent Force was released in the US for the first time through Roadrunner Records.[7]

The following music videos were released to promote the album and the tour:

  1. "Stand My Ground"
  2. "Angels"
  3. "Memories"
  4. "Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)" (promo video for the DVD The Silent Force Tour)

On April 5, 2019, "The Silent Force" was released on vinyl for the first time from Music On Vinyl. A limited edition of 5000 copies on clear vinyl were pressed. Inner Sleeve folded as poster with credits and lyrics.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Blabbermouth.net9/10[9]
Drowned in Sound[10]
laut.de[11]
Metal Hammer (GER)6/7[12]
Metal Storm7.5/10[13]
Rock Hard7/10[14]
Lead vocalist Sharon den Adel during a concert of The Silent Force Tour.

The album earned positive reviews from critics and mixed reviews from fans. Critic Martin White from Blabbermouth.net gave the album a score of 9 out of 10 stars, stating that "amazingly enough, the thick instrumentation and Sharon's angelic delivery are never at odds with each other — a rare feat when it comes to music as complex and involved as Within Temptation's is." Although, the listeners rating from Blabbermouth earned a score of merely 6.5 stars out of 10.[9]

The webzine Lords of Metal was very positive and gave the album 94 out of 100, stating that the album is "one of the most outstanding cd’s of the year". The website also compared the album with the two previous albums Mother Earth and Enter alleging that "it lacks the variety of Enter or the finesse of Mother Earth – but it remains one of the best albums recorded on Dutch soil in the last ten years."[15]

A review coming from Metal Storm webzine was less positive, saying that it's just "a good album" and stating that the band "lost their magic in their new songs" in comparison with what the band did in their previous albums.[13]

Legacy

As of the tenth anniversary of the album release, The Silent Force received a homage article by TeamRock's Metal Hammer magazine regarding its influence both on Within Temptation's career, the heavy metal genre and symphonic metal subgenre itself.[16] In July 2016, Metal Hammer also released a special issue edition claiming the 100 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century in which The Silent Force was awarded the 33th place, over its influence and commercial success.[17] On regarding the ten essential symphonic metal releases, the magazine also found a place for the album, characterizing it as an "uplifting symphonic-based style that was rendered all the more saleable by the irresistible voice and presence of Sharon den Adel."[1]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Intro" Martijn Spierenburg1:58
2."See Who I Am"
Spierenburg4:52
3."Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
Spierenburg4:47
4."Stand My Ground"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Daniel Gibson
  • Han'some
4:26
5."Pale"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
Westerholt4:28
6."Forsaken"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
4:54
7."Angels"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • den Adel
  • Spierenburg
4:00
8."Memories"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • den Adel
  • Spierenburg
3:51
9."Aquarius"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Gibson
  • Han'some
4:47
10."It's the Fear"den AdelWesterholt4:07
11."Somewhere"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
den Adel4:14

Bonus tracks
Special Edition release
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."A Dangerous Mind"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Gibson
  • Han'some
4:17
13."The Swan Song"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Gibson
  • Spierenburg
3:58
Netherlands/Australia/Japan release
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."Destroyed" (demo version)den AdelWesterholt4:52
13."Jane Doe"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Westerholt
  • Guus Eikens
4:30
US release
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
12."Destroyed" (demo version)  4:52
13."Jane Doe"  4:30
14."Say My Name"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
Spierenburg4:04
15."The Promise" (live in Tilburg)  8:00
16."Stand My Ground" (acoustic)  3:43
17."Angels" (live in Tilburg)  4:05

Limited Edition versions videos
No.TitleLength
1."Stand My Ground" 
2."Angels" 
3."Photo gallery" 
4."The Making of Stand My Ground" 
5."Screen saver" 

Personnel

Band members

Additional musicians
  • Isaac Muller, Siard de Jong - Celtic instruments
  • Ego Works session orchestra conducted by Felix Korobov
  • Choir conducted by Konstantin Majorov

Production
  • Daniel Gibson - producer
  • Stefan Helleblad - additional production, engineer
  • Stefan Glaumann, Håkan Fredriksson, Ola Sonmark - mixing
  • Bjorn Engelmann - mastering
  • Ego Works - production and recording of the orchestra

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[36] Gold 25,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[37] Gold 18,824[37]
Netherlands (NVPI)[38] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Portugal (AFP)[39] Gold 20,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "The 10 Essential Symphonic Metal Albums". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. "Hydra review by Within Temptation". Ultimate Guitar. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  3. "Interview with Sharon Den Adel from Within Temptation". Buzznet. 7 October 2006. Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. "Within Temptation provide Knights of the Temple video game soundtrack". mobygames.com. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  5. "Within Temptation: 'The Silent Force' Certified Gold In Finland". Blabbermouth.net. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. "Within Temptation:Receive Awards For Success At Home And Abroad". Blabbermouth.net. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  7. "The Silent Force Releases". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  8. Monger, James. "Within Temptation - "The Silent Force" and "Mother Earth"". allmusic. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  9. White, Martin. "Within Temptation - "The Silent Force"". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  10. Rauf, Raziq. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  11. Edele, Michael. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force" (in German). Laut.de. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  12. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force review" (in German). Metal Hammer. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  13. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  14. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force" (in German). Rock Hard. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  15. Tuinman, Ferdinand. "Within Temptation - The Silent Force". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  16. "Within Temptation: Silence Is Golden". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  17. "The 100 Greatest Albums Of The 21st Century – only in the new issue of Hammer". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  22. "Within Temptation: The Silent Force" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  23. "Lescharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  24. "Officialcharts.de – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  26. "Portuguesecharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  27. "Spanishcharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  28. "Swedishcharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  29. "Swisscharts.com – Within Temptation – The Silent Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  30. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  31. "Within Temptation: Year-end Dutch Charts". Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  32. "Within Temptation: Year-end Belgian Charts". Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  33. "Within Temptation: Year-end Dutch Charts". Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  34. "Within Temptation: Year-end Finnish Charts". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  35. "Within Temptation: Year-end German Charts". Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  36. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2005". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  37. "Within Temptation" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  38. "Dutch album certifications – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 22 June 2015. Enter The Silent Force in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  39. "Portuguese album certifications – Within Temptation – The Silent Force" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
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