Dutch metallers, Within Temptation, follow the release last week of their brand-new studio album, Bleed Out, with a provocative, zombie-vampire-gore-fest-splatter-horror video for their current single, "Ritual", just in time for Halloween.

Brutal and brilliantly comedic, whilst calling to mind the work of legendary animator Ralph Bakshi and the Rotoscope school of animation, the video for "Ritual" calls out the behaviour of male sexual predators in the workplace, the street, the sports field, and more. What if women behaved as agressively as the men who seek to take advantage of them, and what if they fought back to exact a terrible revenge?

Singer Sharon den Adel says, "'Ritual' is a sexual song, about seduction and a woman taking power in a male-dominated world. It was inspired by watching Tarantino's movie From Dusk Til Dawn and is a light-hearted moment in our album, which focuses mainly on the political and repressive issues in the world. We have always wanted to do a horror-style video for Halloween, and this song gave us the perfect chance to do that, using AI-technology to create something truly awe-inspiring. But it also addresses some of the recent news-stories of men behaving badly and imagines what would happen if a bad-ass woman fought back in the most terrible way. So get ready for blood, violence, fangs, and humor. Happy Halloween to you all!"

Bleed Out has been released to worldwide acclaim, showcasing Within Temptation at the very forefront of contemporary metal, and unafraid to take a social and political stand on many of the issues in the world today. As epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, Within Temptation have delivered a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music.

Order the album, head here.

Tracklisting:

"We Go To War"
"Bleed Out"
"Wireless"
"Worth Dying For"
"Ritual"
"Cyanide Love"   
"The Purge"
"Don't Pray For Me"
"Shed My Skin" (feat. Annisokay)
"Unbroken"
"Entertain You"

"Bleed Out" video:

Within Temptation's EU/UK Bleed Out 2024 Tour is underway. Dates below.

October
24 - Prague, Czechia - Sportovni Hala Fortuna
25 - Łódź, Poland - Atlas Arena
27 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Falkonersalen

November
15 - Cardiff, United Kingdom - Utilita Arena
16 - London, United Kingdom - Wembley Arena
18 - Nottingham, United Kingdom - Motorpoint Arena
19 - Leeds, United Kingdom - First Direct Arena
21 - Paris, France - Adidas Arena
23 - Barcelona, Spain - Sant Jordi Club
24 - Madrid, Spain - Palacio Vistalegre
26 - Lisbon, Portugal - Sala Tejo
28 - Toulouse, France - Zenith
29 - Grenoble, France - Summum

December
1 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
2 - Zurich, Switzerland - The Hall
3 - Stuttgart, Germany - Porsche Arena
5 - Esch / Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
6 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome