When Within Temptation announced the European leg of their ‘Bleed Out’ tour I didn’t expect to be travelling to Nottingham to watch them, but over twelve months later I was eagerly awaiting their set to begin.
The European leg of the tour included three UK shows: London, Leeds, and Nottingham, before they continued on through mainland Europe. As a Manchester lass, I had a choice between Leeds and Nottingham. London was out of the question, so I decided to watch the band play at the Motorpoint in Nottingham.
Supporting them throughout the tour was annisokay, the post-hardcore band contrasting beautiful lyrics with guttural vocals. They welcomed us ‘Into The Abyss’, teasing at the blend of the electronic melodies and live guitar and drum to come. Two screens added a third dimension to the performance with cinematic shots of water drops shifting into fiery plains as the band transitioned into ‘Throne of the Sunset’. The lighting design shifted with the song, turning the arena into a post-apocalyptic wasteland awash in amber light. This was where the performance was turned up to the max, seamlessly melding and switching between Christoph Wieczorek’s clean vocals and Rudi Schwarzer’s growls. The band was joined by Silas Fischerr on drums for the tour, providing the distinctive energy from annisokay’s discography.
Before annisokay started ‘Like a Parasite’ they promised a surprise during the performance. With the impressive roster of special guests including Tarja Turunen and Alex Yarmak it was hard to know exactly what to expect, but whatever was coming would be a treat. It wasn’t long to wait before Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation’s lead singer, came out in a hoodie and joggers to perform a powerful trio with annisokay. It was surprising that they didn’t choose to perform ‘Shed My Skin’ which they released together in 2022. However, it did mean we were treated to an entirely unique performance that isn’t available outside the ‘Bleed Out’ tour, and I don’t think anyone could be mad at that.
Sharon left the stage to go backstage and annisokay continued, going straight into one of their latest songs ‘Get Your Shit Together’. What was clear to see was the masterful way they engaged the audience, prompting the largely unfamiliar crowd into jumping, moshing, or pulling out their phone torches wherever relevant. They had amazing energy and they were experts in getting the crowd going.
They weren’t afraid of the fact a large portion of the audience weren’t fans, even poking fun at it on occasion. So, when they broke away from their own music to serve up a nu-metal classic it sent the crowd into a feverish pitch. Rudi Schwarzer really did get ‘One Step Closer’, jumping down into the photographer pit to lean over the barricade and sing directly into the audience. No one can do Chester Bennington like Chester and Rudi knows that, closing out with a touching tribute to the late singer.
When I went into this concert I didn’t know that there was supposed to be another band supporting Within Temptation until annisokay stopped their performance to address their absence. The other band that should have been performing that night was Blind8, however, due to members of the band being mobilised as part of the Ukraine war they weren’t able to participate in the tour. Annisokay dedicated their next song, ‘Human’, to Blind8, and the intent behind each word was palpable throughout the arena. Throughout the crowd, fists were raised in solidarity with Blind8 and the whole of Ukraine. This was a turning point for the concert, setting the tone for what was to come. Annisokay finished their set and after a small break it was time for the main event.
The tour was promised to be a cinematic experience, and the stage was set out with huge screens and a raised platform. Unfortunately, from my position closer to the side of the stage the impact of the visuals was lost as one of the screens blocked much of the view of the back of the stage. The screens shifted from fields of sunflowers into graves as Martijn Spierenburg opened up with the haunting keyboard intro of ‘We Go To War’. From the visuals to the song choice, it became apparent straight away how politically charged the concert was. Pillars of smoke exploded up from the stage evoking jets of fire as Sharon den Adel called out a beautiful war cry to the audience.
Sharon was constantly engaging with the audience, pausing between each song to talk with the crowd, wave at familiar faces, and thank the city for its hospitality. Notably, before ‘Stand My Ground’ Sharon spoke on the importance of the song and its meaning to live your truth and speak up for what you believe in. It was an intense performance packed with emotion as Sharon and the band gave it their all and in return, each member of the audience sang out their truth back.
Blind8’s absence was addressed by Within Temptation, who recently collaborated on a single – ‘Labrinth’. The song was stated to be “Proving that even in the most challenging times, art can shine a light in the darkness.” However, with Blind8 not being present they weren’t able to perform ‘Labrinth,’ instead they brought on special guest – Alex Yarmak. Within Temptation and the Ukrainian singer-songwriter previously collaborated on the song ‘A Fool’s Parade’, which they travelled to Kyiv to record a music video for in resistance of the ongoing war. As part of their continued support of Ukraine, all royalties from ‘A Fool’s Parade’ go towards musicsavesua.com. The song started gently with soft drums, guitar and keyboard elements alongside vocals from Sharon and Alex. Flags for Ukraine waved throughout the audience as the song ramped up the energy. Alex’s guttural vocals contrasted with Sharon’s demanding ballad making for an evocative live performance and a powerful message. QR codes were shared on the screens to a donation link, which you can access here, for the charity Come Back Alive. The foundation is dedicated to aiding the Ukrainian army through purchases of arms and equipment to help equip servicemembers, full details can be found on their website: savelife.in.ua/en.
As Alex stepped off the stage, a palpable change enveloped the venue. A thick fog swept across the platform just as the opening notes of ‘The Promise’ filled the air. Towering suits of armor loomed menacingly behind the band, their imposing figures glaring down from the screens. Meanwhile, Mike Coolen and Ruud Jolie shattered the suspense with a powerful surge of drums and guitar riffs. This was the visual peak of the show to this point, with Sharon coming back to the stage in a new outfit haloed by blue light. ‘The Promise’ is a technical masterpiece, and it really let Sharon showcase her outstanding vocal abilities. That was when a second, unfamiliar voice joined the melody and Tarja Turunen came up onto the stage. The harmonies from the pair was otherworldly, it felt like I was being serenaded by two arcane witches. It wasn’t just about the ladies though, the lengthy song included an electrifying guitar duet between Ruud Joliue and Stefan Helleblad.
Sharon introduced the next song, ‘I Feel Immortal’, as the song that resonated most with her and Within Temptation from Tarja’s music. When they started performing that connection was clearly visible. Everyone on the stage had a distinct joy that could be seen even from the back of the room. Tarja looked ecstatic and the way each member shared the stage, moving around each other was like a ballet.
There were only a couple more songs before the concert came to a close, and that’s when the encore began. ‘Our Solemn Hour’ was a great choice, especially because it’s from my favourite album, and it wasn’t just popular with myself if the cheers from the rest of the audience were anything to go by. It was a poignant song to choose when looked at with the rest of the setlist and the band’s stance on the war in Ukraine.
The encore went on for four songs in total, giving another opportunity for a solo from Rude Jolie, another duet with Tarja in ‘Paradise (What About Us?)’, and of course more smoke machines. The final song had to be ‘Mother Earth’ though, bringing the band back to their roots and where many fans first started their journey with Within Temptation. Each band member got a moment to shine throughout the song, bringing the show to close on a massive high.
What struck me most about this concert was how much it felt like a collaboration. From Sharon coming on stage with annisokay to perform, to all the special guests that joined Within Temptation during their set, everyone was working together to create this beautiful and powerful moment. It was powerful, the show was a war song of resistance and resilience in the face of adversity. The message of defiance was woven throughout each song and the impact will continue on long after the concert has come to an end.
The war in Ukraine is still ongoing, and there is only so much that can be done. However, if you do want to help those in the conflict, consider donating.
