Images and words by Mark Gromen

It's been a long time since first sitting down to talk with WITHIN TEMPTATION's Sharon Den Adel and (now husband) Robert Westeholt, at the DSFA booth/encampment for the '99 Dynamo festival in their native Neatherlands. What, at the time, was a burgeoning European act has since gone viral, capable of headlining stages around the globe, including a stop at the Electric Factory, in Philadelphia on Sept. 12th. It was an evening heavily skewed towards the new album (airing seven of The Unforgiving's dozen tracks and a trio from Mother Earth being as far back in time as the Dutch felt comfortable traversing). The first half of the set was almost exclusively new, in the same order as on disc, with only 'Ice Queen' breaking a string of five consecutive newbies.

Nobody told Sharon they've never really supported goth/fem-metal in North America, but no matter, as she was selling it from note #1 of opening 'Shot In The Dark'. Given the physical presentation onstage, most TV obsessed Americans would be buying. By the third song ('Fire And Ice') den Adel removed the puffy white poodle coat, revealing a black strapless top and matching leather pants. Animated throughout, she bounced around the stage, punching the air and a smile affixed to her face. The band behind her, especially Westeholt, criss-crossed the stage, pounding out slightly twisted renditions of their studio works, including 'Faster' and 'Mother Earth', which was included in the first of two encores, ultimately ending with 'Stairway To The Skies'. Most of The Unforgiving material sounds heavier and more energetic in the live arena. 'Sinead' was preceded by a voiceover/movie, the band alone, then joined by the jumping/pogoing singer.

Check out more photos in a gallery here.