Within Temptation
Copenhell - 2025
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Within Temptation was one of the truly big names of the first day of Copenhell, and given that Dizzy Mizz Lizzy is a rock band, this was probably also to be considered the metal headliner of the day. But how were they?
Well, another way to phrase that question is, how was she. You see, from the moment the intro track was over, the band had entered the stage, and opening track We Go To War began playing, Sharon den Adel literally took the stage and nobody doubted for a second that this was her show. A bit surprising, as I thought this would be a band effort, but no, Sharon den Adel was the star here, and nobody would even think of trying to steal the light from her. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I’ll leave up to the individual. For my sake, she did a fine job, though following up from Skin in Skunk Anansie and the whole of Kittie, not to forget Vulvatorious earlier in the day, den Adel couldn’t even get close to any of these other female vocalists, regardless of how much frills and other ornaments she was ready to wear. den Adel even tried to score some points in dedicating Stand My Ground to Ukraine, at the same time showing that she’d painted a blue and yellow stripe on her left arm. From what I gather, this is a cause dear to her, but as there was no follow-up or explanation given at the time, it came off as a rather hollow gesture.
I will give the band that they had a good looking and fitting stage setup, with large balloon pillars and arches giving Helvíti the look of a ruined abbey or temple of sorts. I’ll also add that after a few songs at least guitarists Ruud Jolie and Stefan Helleblad dared to move away from their designated spots and use more of the stage, and they looked happy to do so, but why not let them in on the fun from the start? They’d probably be happier for it, and we as an audience would absolutely be happier for it as well.
I can’t help but feel that Within Temptation was the very definition of style over substance here. So much time spent on getting the look and costumes right, but still feeling so empty and disengaged. Within Temptation may have been the big band in the yard this day, but this was what they had to offer, I’d much rather stick to the smaller ones.
Setlist:
We Go To War
Bleed Out
Faster
In The Middle Of The Night
Stand My Ground
Paradise (What About Us?)
Don’t Pray For Me
Wireless
Supernova
What Have You Done
Memories
The Reckoning
Our Solemn Hour
Mother Earth
Well, another way to phrase that question is, how was she. You see, from the moment the intro track was over, the band had entered the stage, and opening track We Go To War began playing, Sharon den Adel literally took the stage and nobody doubted for a second that this was her show. A bit surprising, as I thought this would be a band effort, but no, Sharon den Adel was the star here, and nobody would even think of trying to steal the light from her. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I’ll leave up to the individual. For my sake, she did a fine job, though following up from Skin in Skunk Anansie and the whole of Kittie, not to forget Vulvatorious earlier in the day, den Adel couldn’t even get close to any of these other female vocalists, regardless of how much frills and other ornaments she was ready to wear. den Adel even tried to score some points in dedicating Stand My Ground to Ukraine, at the same time showing that she’d painted a blue and yellow stripe on her left arm. From what I gather, this is a cause dear to her, but as there was no follow-up or explanation given at the time, it came off as a rather hollow gesture.
I will give the band that they had a good looking and fitting stage setup, with large balloon pillars and arches giving Helvíti the look of a ruined abbey or temple of sorts. I’ll also add that after a few songs at least guitarists Ruud Jolie and Stefan Helleblad dared to move away from their designated spots and use more of the stage, and they looked happy to do so, but why not let them in on the fun from the start? They’d probably be happier for it, and we as an audience would absolutely be happier for it as well.
I can’t help but feel that Within Temptation was the very definition of style over substance here. So much time spent on getting the look and costumes right, but still feeling so empty and disengaged. Within Temptation may have been the big band in the yard this day, but this was what they had to offer, I’d much rather stick to the smaller ones.
Setlist:
We Go To War
Bleed Out
Faster
In The Middle Of The Night
Stand My Ground
Paradise (What About Us?)
Don’t Pray For Me
Wireless
Supernova
What Have You Done
Memories
The Reckoning
Our Solemn Hour
Mother Earth
Within Temptation
