Hydra (Within Temptation album)
| Hydra | ||||
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| Studio album by Within Temptation | ||||
| Released | January 22, 2014 | |||
| Recorded | April–August 2013 | |||
| Genre | Symphonic metal,power metal,gothic metal | |||
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| Producer | Daniel Gibson | |||
| Within Temptation chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hydra | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   |
| Allmusic |  |
| Kerrang! | |
| Loudwire | |
| Metal Hammer | (4.3/5) |
| Metal Storm | (4.2/5) |
| Rock Hard | (3.75/5) |
| Rock n Reel | |
| Sputnikmusic | |
Hydra is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. It was released on January 31, 2014 in Europe and on February 4, 2014 in North America. The album contains guest appearances by singer Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), rapper Xzibit, metal vocalist Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish) and alternative rock singer Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum). The first single, "Paradise (What About Us?)", was released on September 27, 2013, and featured Turunen as guest vocalist. The second single, "Dangerous", was released on December 20, in which Jones provided the male vocals.
This is the first album by Within Temptation to be recorded with three guitarists, with Stefan Helleblad making his Within Temptation studio debut on Hydra since his addition to the band shortly after the release of The Unforgiving in 2011. Hydra is also the first Within Temptation album to feature Robert Westerholt's growling techniques since the band's debut album, Enter.
The writing process of the album began in 2012, and at the first half of the year the band had six songs written already. The album was originally scheduled to be released worldwide in September, by their new label, BMG and in the Netherlands by Universal Music.
On June 16, without finishing the whole album, the band went on to record the first music video for the new album. During a series of statements about the recording progress of the album, Westerholt stated that the album would contain death growls. In mid-May, bassist Jeroen van Veen went to the studio to record the bass base for the first five songs. The band eventually got a North American sign deal with Nuclear Blast. The band also established a licensing deal with Dramatico for the United Kingdom release of the album. Once the drumming and vocal recording were complete, the final guitar recordings started on August 26 and finished on October 22.
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