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Hydra is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. Itwas released on January 31, 201 in !urope and on "ebruary , 201 in #orth $merica.The album contains %uest appearances by sin%er &oward Jones 'ex()illswitch !n%a%e*,rapper +ibit, metal -ocalist Tara Turunen 'ex(#i%htwish* and alternati-e roc/ sin%er

Da-e irner  'oul $sylum*. The irst sin%le, aradise 'What $bout 4s5*, was releasedon eptember 26, 2013, and eatured Turunen as %uest -ocalist.738 The second sin%le,Dan%erous, was released on December 20, in which Jones pro-ided the male -ocals. 78

This is the irst album by Within Temptation to be recorded with three %uitarists, withtean &elleblad ma/in% his Within Temptation studio debut on Hydra since his additionto the band shortly ater the release o The Unforgiving  in 2011.

Contents

• 1 9ac/%round and composition 

o 1.1 tructure and inspirations

• 2 romotion

• 3 :eception

• ;ommercial perormance

• < Trac/ listin%

• = Deluxe 9ox et

• 6 ersonnel

• > ;harts 

o >.1 Wee/ly ;harts

o >.2 ?ear(end charts

• @ :elease history

• 10 :eerences

Background and composition

The writin% process o the album be%an in 2012, and at the irst hal o the year the bandhad six son%s written already.7<8 The album was ori%inally scheduled to be released

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worldwide in eptember, by their new label, 9AB 7=8768 and in the #etherlands by4ni-ersal Ausic.7>8

Cn June 1=, without inishin% the whole album, the band went on to record the irstmusic -ideo or the new album. 7@8 Durin% a series o statements about the recordin%

pro%ress o the album, Westerholt stated that the album would contain death %rowls.

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 In mid(Aay, bassist Jeroen -an een went to the studio to record the bass base or theirst i-e son%s.7118 The band e-entually %ot a #orth $merican si%n deal with #uclear9last. The band also established a licensin% deal with Dramatico or the 4nited )in%domrelease o the album.7128 Cnce the drummin% and -ocal recordin% were complete, theinal %uitar recordin%s started on $u%ust 2=7138 and inished on Cctober 22.718

Cn $u%ust 30, the band announced that the lead sin%le aradise 'What $bout 4s5*would be released as an !, also set to eature three trac/s rom the upcomin% album intheir demo orm, bein% them Eet 4s 9urn, il-er Aoonli%ht and Do% Days. 4ponma/in% this announcement, den $del saidF 9y releasin% these demos we want to in-ite

you in our home studio and show how we capture son% ideas at an early sta%e ocreatin% a new album. These demo -ersions are ar rom their inal sound on the album,but will %i-e you a hint o what weGre wor/in% on. It will be ascinatin% to hear how theend result will sound li/e, once the album is released.. $ter announcin% that the leadsin%le would contain a %uest musician, on eptember 13 the band oicially announcedthat Tara Turunen was set to appear as a special -ocalist on the title son%. 738

The album eatures our %uest -ocalists, each one contributin% a dierent musical stylein order to create the -aried musical experience proposed by the band. icturedF Jones,+ibit, Turunen and irner.

The albumGs name was re-ealed on #o-ember >, alon%side with the oicial trac/list, all%uest musicians and the co-er art, 71<871=8 desi%ned by :omano Aolenaar, the same artistwho made the co-er or The Unforgiving .7168 The album title reers to the %reat -ariation inmusical %enres the band impro-es on with each new release. $bout the concept,%uitarist :obert Westerholt saysF Hydra is a perect title or our new album, because li/ethe monster itsel, the record represents the many dierent sides o our music.7168 

 $ccordin% to the ancient Bree/ mytholo%y, the &ydra was a %iant multi(headed serpentthat, or each se-ered head, spran% orth two more in their place. 71>8

 $s the title, the sound composition o the album was said to be -aried, as Westerholtsaid, also reerrin% to the album title, that they wanted it to be a real Within Temptationrecord, but hea-ier, more musically challen%in%, pushin% borders and rontiers with newelements and inluences, and at the same time brin% bac/ more rom our early metalroots... a bit li/e the past and uture at the same time. 7citation needed 8 Durin% an inter-iew or4ltimate Buitar $rchi-e, den $del said that the main impro-ement on the last tworecords, in which is the transition to the symphonic metal itsel to a more -aried andmulti(oriented sound, came rom the act that the band was considerin% itsel bein% in abox where it could only sound in a restricted way inside its own %enre and, ha-in% soldout all the possible elements in their 2006 release The Heart of Everything , the band

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decided to let all boundaries %o musically where 7they8 were not allowed to %o andimpro-e their sound with anythin% 7that8 can come out and it on the album. 71@8

Well, the case is more the act we let %o o a certain way o son%writin% how we used itin the past. Ei/e, in the past, we had a certain idea about how we wanted to sound and

what we were allowed to be within our %enre. #owadays we eel li/e with The Heart OfEverything , we elt li/e we inalied this symphonic /ind o sound we were searchin% orall those years.

H haron den $del about incorporatin% new elements outside the symphonic metal%enre.7208

Structure and inspirations

Cn answerin% a an durin% a $ session on Twitter , den $del commented that themain inspiration or the son%s on the album were the bi% thin%s in lie. 7218 The irst trac/,

Eet 4s 9urn, is more %uitar(oriented with less orchestrations and presents an air omelancholy, in order to propose real direct emotion in a way. 71@8 Dan%erous, thesecond trac/ and second sin%le, is about thrill see/ers and darede-ils, 7228 illustratin%people who need to li-e on the ed%e. The son% contains ast ris, distorted synthesiers,an o-er(use o drum bass in comparin% with the band typical musical structures 7238 andeatures a ast and hea-y uptempo nature that matters well the subect 728 as also themusic -ideo, that eatures renowned s/ydi-er Jo//e ommer  perormin% %lidin% throu%hthe air and pullin% o stunts. $nd We :un was the bandGs irst trac/ e-er to contain rap-ocals in an unexpected duet with $merican rapper +ibit. $ccordin% to den $del, themain act that the band decided to in-ite him was his open(mind or experimentin%. Theson% introduces itsel with a piano and den $delGs clean sin%in% ri%ht to chorus when sheuses her hi%h -oice until +ibit enters, contrastin% with his rap -ocals and dar/, deep-oice. +ibit was allowed to do his parts in his own way as the band wanted it to beori%inal and comin% rom the rapperGs perspecti-e. 728 $ccordin% to Westerholt, there wasan initial criticism about the collaboration, as it appeared to run so ar rom their ori%inalmusical style, and then an unexpected praise or the son%. 72<8 The irst trac/ to bere-ealed was aradise 'What $bout 4s5*. $s it is closer to their symphonic metal roots, the band choose to in-ite musical %enre ellow and ormer #i%htwish -ocalist TaraTurunen, as it is also on her comort one.72<8 Cn collaboratin% with Turunen, den $delstated that they immediately clic/ed, not only creati-ely but personally as it eltscompletely natural that 7they8 would do this to%ether. 72=8 The son% eatures lots ostrin%s, ast drums, hea-y %uitars and orchestrations as den $del deli-ers a li%hter andmore natural tone and Turunen a deeper and more powerul sin%in%. 7268 Eyrically the son%is about collecti-ity and it is based on the speech %i-en by retired our(star %eneral eter -an 4hm on Aay , 2013, which addressed the importance o not thin/in% only oyoursel or them, but us.72>8 Cn re-iewin% the earlier !, critic imon 9owerdescribed it as e-ery emale ronted metal an utopian son% mainly because o thecited duet.72@8

Promotion

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Cn July 12, the irst material came to the public eye, with the band re-ealin% a teasertrailer , with no title or son% titles re-ealed. 730873187328 In the next month, the band announcedthe title o the lead sin%le, aradise 'What $bout 4s5*, also uploadin% a teaser trailerre-ealin% some lyrics and a %uitar solo in anticipation or the release. The music -ideo and ! were released on eptember 26, and went well on iTunes sales, reachin% th on

the iTunes !uropean music charts on the day o its release

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 and 16th worldwide.

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 CnCctober 2< and 2=, den $del and Westerholt presented an un/nown number o son%s tothe press.73<873=8 The oicial teaser trailer came out on #o-ember >, alon%side with theoicial announcement o the album name and release dates. 7368 Cn #o-ember 21, theband re-ealed that it was wor/in% a%ain with director atric 4llaeus, who made the -ideoo Aother !arth, on two new music -ideos to promote the album, bein% themDan%erous eaturin% &oward Jones, which was released on December 20,78 andWhole World is Watchin% eaturin% Da-e irner .73>8 $t the end o #o-ember, harontra-eled to "inland to start promotin% the album on a radio station 73@8 and present it to thepress in "rance, Bermany708 and the 4nited )in%dom.718 Cn December , the irst showo the upcomin% promotional tour, at the &eine/en Ausic &all, $msterdam, was sold out.728 Durin% the promotional tra-elin%s, den $del %a-e critics and radio stations access tothe recordin%, and the irst public impression rom the album came throu%h Bermanradio station Rock Antenne, which classiied the album as ast and hea-y and %a-e ita score o <K<.738 The third sin%le, Whole World Is Watchin%, was the chosen son% orthe album promotion in oland, debutin% on the olish national radio station ols/ie:adio ro%ram III on January 10, 201, in a special -ersion eaturin% olish sin%er iotr:o%uc/i.787<87=8 The band then went on a special trip to the 4nited tates to promote alistenin% party in Eos $n%eles on January 2, with the presence o den $del, Westerholtand Jolie,768 a si%nin% session in #ew Jersey7>8 and to promote the album on radiostations.7@8 In the meantime, the band appeared or the irst time on the co-er o an

 $merican ma%aine.728 $ ew days later, on January 1<, 201, the main -ersion o theson%, eaturin% irner, was released as a promotional son% on DutchK9el%ian radiostation Q-music .7<08  $s headin% bac/ to !urope, the band went on to -isit popular Dutch radio stations such as <3> and 3"A and tele-ision pro%rams7<18 or inter-iews andacoustic perormances.7<287<38 Cn January 20, the band announced a try(out show or theupcomin% tour at the !enaar , in !indho-en '#E*, to be held on "ebruary 20, ha-in% thetic/ets sold out on the same day.7<8 The tour was ori%inally planned to start on January201, but it was postponed to a month later, so the band could polish more the son%sbeore releasin% the album and also ha-e more time to rehearsals or the ollowin% tour.7<<8 $ter this period o radio and tele-ision appearances or acoustic perormances andinter-iews, the band is scheduled to embar/ on the &ydra World Tour , en%a%in% on a try(out show on "ebruary 20 at the !enaar, !indho-en. Tic/est or the show werecompletely sold out at the same day it was put on sale. 7<=8 The irst oicial show occurredon "ebruary 2=, in &elsin/i, "inland, and the arena tour was scheduled to pass primarilyin !urope beore the summer esti-als season. Due to %reat demand, additional showswere announced and se-eral -enues were chan%ed to lar%er ones with the intention toaccommodate more people.7<687<>8 $t the end o the !uropean le%, the tour had anattendance o o-er 120.000 people.7<@8

Reception

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Professional ratings

Review scores

Source Rating

 $bout.com 718

 $llmusic 7=08

Kerrang!  7citation needed 8

Loudire 7=18

Aetal &ammer  '.3K<*7=28

Aetal torm '.2K<*7=38

Rock Hard  '3.6<K<*7=8

Rock n Ree  7=<8

putni/music 7==8

Hydra recei-ed critical acclaim upon release. The irst public impression rom the album,throu%h Berman radio station Rock Antenne, described the album as ast and hea-y,%i-in% it a score o <K<.738 Ausic ma%aine Refections of "arkness scored the album10K10, classiyin% it more earthly and modern in comparin% with the pre-ious releases

that eatured a more celestial romance and coldness atmosphere. While commentin%the new ashionable inluences due to the special %uests and other musical directions,the re-iew ended alle%in% that still symphonic metal and pro%ressi-e elements are7there8 or those who are ne-er tired o lawlessness, who -alue hi%h(Luality music andwho are no stran%ers to the classical herita%e. 7=68 :ustyn :ose, rom #etahoic  webine, also praised the album by %i-in% it a score o @.3 out o 10, primarily reerrin%to the bandGs return to its hea-ier and dramatic oundation while also continuin% to%row and expand its boundaries. $bout the %uest sin%ers, the re-iewer commented thatthe son% stylin% was di-erse, but the band mana%ed well to put the %enres crossin% ontheir own style. $t the end o the re-iew, :ose called it a masterul recordin%. 7=>8 9ritishwebsite :oc/ n :eel awarded the album out < stars, also pointin% the mix o styles

presented in the record, especially the introduction o rap -erses 'ma/in% it as a rapKnumetal styles* in the trac/ $nd We :un and comparin% the collaboration with +ibit tothat o Ein/in ar/ and Jay(M, while commentin% that it wor/s pretty well. 9esides that,re-iewer classiied the album as ull o synths, airy %uitars, excellent bac/in% -ocals andharmonies.7=<8 !ric &un/er, rom $merican website The $ront Ro Re%ort , praised thealbum and lamented their low popularity in the 4nited tates while crowdin% arenas intheir nati-e land, sayin% that Hydra is bound to thrust them onto the %lobal sta%e andinally %arner them the attention and respect they so richly deser-e while callin% them

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musical %eniuses. &un/er alle%ed that Hydra inds 7Within Temptation8 urther pushin%their boundaries, explorin% new elements and inluences, while at the same timere-isitin% their hea-ier metal roots and %a-e the album a score o @.< out o 10. 7=@8 Dutchdaily newspaper  De Tele%raa  placed &ydra at number < on the best Dutch albuns o201 list.7608 $dam :ees, rom #eta Hammer , placed the album number 20 at the Aetal

&ammer sta best o 201 list.

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 &ea-y metal re-iew website #eta "escent  placed thealbum at number 2 on their top <0 albums o 201 list. 7628

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number six on the 4) $lbums ;hart on "ebruary @, 201, ma/in%it the bandGs hi%hest chartin% album in the country, with The Unforgiving  chartin% atnumber 23.7638 In the #etherlands, Hydra mar/ed the bandGs return to the irst position onthe charts since the release o The Heart of Everything  in 2006, as The Unforgiving Gspea/ position was number two.768 The album also reached the number one position onthe ;ech :epublic album charts, ma/in% it their irst number(one album outside the

#etherlands.

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 The album was also the irst one to enter the 4 &i'oard 200 in a top20 position, chartin% at the number 1= and sellin% o-er 1<,000 copies in the irst wee/ o release, a position ar better than the predecessor The Unforgiving , which reachednumber <0. The album also reached number one on the $merican Top &ard :oc/ albumcharts.76=8 Hydra also became the %roupGs hi%hest charted album in $ustria,7668 "rance,76>8 Bermany76@8 and witerland.7>08 ;onsiderin% the %reat reception o both the album andtour on the #orth $merican mar/et, #uclear 9last opted to release a re(issue o the out(o(print albums Enter  and The "ance on #o-ember 10, 201, in order to %i-e peopleaccess o the bandGs early material.7>18