The legendary Dutch band, fronted by Sharon den Adel, finally got to experience Estonian fans’ love
“This is our first time in Estonia. When we were coming here, we didn’t know what to expect”, admitted the vocalist, gorgeous Sharon den Adel to Tallinn audience. “We never know how many people will show up”. They didn’t have to worry about that. The Blackbox of massive Unibet Arena was almost packed out on this cold October day.
Watch: Ex-NIGHTWISH front figures Tarja Turunen and Marko Hietala share a metal ballad ‘Left On Mars’
Having just arrived from Finland, Within Temptation had a few hours for leisurely strolls down the medieval streets of the Old Town. “You have a beautiful city”, the singer pointed out. The last time we got to see the band live was a decade ago, and we were curious to see if the band still fires up the crowds, still sounds immaculate live and keeps up that level of energy they’re known for.
The answer is a triple yes. From the perfectly sounding newer songs like ‘We Go To War’ and ‘Bleed Out’ to the tour staples ‘Stand My Ground’ and ‘The Reckoning’, Sharon sounded pitch-perfect as well as the rest of the band on the guitars, drums and keys they’ve become exceptional at after all these years.
Tarja Turunen’s appearance on stage in the middle of the show felt like we’ve just received a pre-Christmas gift. The thing is, Tarja’s fan army in Estonia since the times of Nightwish has been massive, and whenever the opportunity presents itself, the rock opera diva likes to visit Tallinn for cozy Christmas shows she knows will be packed. It’s not surprising at all, considering the closeness of the country to Tarja’s homeland, Finland.
Let’s not forget about the ballad that stood out for us this night. It was a softer-than-soft ‘All I Need’. Not only were the phone flashlights creating the romantic atmosphere but there was something else to it. It could be the fact that people of Estonia are extremely tolerant people, often to the extent of breakdown and burnout, and the hopeful message of the song resonated with their souls:
“Don’t tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe”
Check out our Within Temptation photo gallery below and tell us in which city you’ve caught Within Temptation on their Bleed Out tour. Support AlteRock journalists by following us on AlteRock Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Text: Tatiana Spiteri
Photographer: Kenneth Spiteri
We would like to express our gratefulness to Live Nation and WT team for this opportunity.
