Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Within Temptation - Enter (1997)
5 years after my first review for Within Temptation's debut Enter, which I wrote many years after my first listen, I decided it was time for review attempt #2. Part of the reason for this second attempt was when I noticed a review having just been written for this album. Unfortunately, I don't find this album as great as it was long before this new review. I'm actually just returning to enjoy the symphonic metal sound Within Temptation would take on in their next album, and I'm currently into some other bands with an epic gothic metal sound, like Sirenia, Tristania, and Trail of Tears. So what changed? You'll find out as the review goes on...
So yeah, Enter is an entirely different beast from any of Within Temptation's later albums. They were part of the rising doomy gothic metal scene with "beauty (female singing) and the beast (male growling)" vocals, alongside Theatre of Tragedy and the aforementioned Tristania. Now rather being entirely reliant on both vocal styles in every song, they alternate from that mix to pure clean ethereal tracks and heavier songs that lean close to growling death-doom.
The former category especially shines in the opening track "Restless". Although it's generally female-fronted gothic metal, it foreshadows the pop-ish symphonic metal of their subsequent releases. It still sounds quite fresh even when it's from nearly 3 decades ago. The vocals by Sharon den Adel sound so beautiful. Greatly executed even when sounding a little poppy at times. That has helped make the song a true highlight, and considering how popular it became as the album's sole single, no wonder Sharon became the sole vocalist. I enjoy the male growls by guitarist Robert Westerholt as well though, which first appear in the title track. Now this one surpasses the previous track as the greatest gem of the album, possibly of death-doom-tinged gothic metal. In fact, I think that song was my first ever experience that kind of sound. Back then, I was a power metal-loving teen, and that track just blew me the f*** away with its slow symphonic darkness that I didn't enjoy until then. And besides opening my ears to gothic metal and death-doom, the rest of the band's material would pave the way to me enjoying other symphonic metal bands including Nightwish and Therion.
"Pearls of Light" follows as the second symphonic gothic metal ballad led by Sharon den Adel. I still enjoy the sh*t out of the first couple tracks to this day, but this one? NAH. The quality has gone down to a bit of an inconsistent level. "Deep Within" is just melodic death-doom. None of Sharon's singing at all, just growls by Robert Westerholt and Orphanage vocalist George Oosthoek. However, it sounds a bit too generic. "Gatekeeper" is more dramatic in the music. I can give it some great points for that.
"Grace" seems to drone on a bit despite being shorter than most of the other tracks. Sharon's vocals sound closer to what she would go for in the next album Mother Earth as well as their cover of "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush. But then we have the weak and pointless interlude "Blooded". That one could've been shorter or ditched entirely. Luckily, the true saving grace is the strong ending track "Candles". The blending of heaviness and melody in a slow waltzing pace has kept me awake after those poor earlier tracks. I kinda wish it could've been placed earlier in the album so I wouldn't have to sit through them all during a full listening round of the album.
All in all, Enter marked Within Temptation's entrance to the world with their one-off exploration into doomy gothic metal sound, as opposed to their well-known symphonic metal. Any symphonic gothic metal fan would consider it one of the best in the genre, but while I still think there's some greatness in this offering, it just doesn't sound as strong as I thought it was all those years ago, particularly in some tracks. At least there would be more consistency and talent shown in Mother Earth and beyond....
Favorites: "Restless", "Enter", "Gatekeeper", "Candles"