Due to the success of their latest album The Silent Force it was time for WITHIN TEMPTATION to compile a DVD. Recorded on Java Island this release offers a 90 minute concert, some other live-clips and all their Silent Force videos. The show itself is - of course - a real perfect one: great location, great decoration, great show gimmicks (monks, fire...). The band performs an experienced best-of-set that features all their hit-songs, but shows that the band can't be considered as "metal" any more. All the attention concentrates on front-woman Sharon Den Adel, the band itself seems replaceable and just some sort of rhythm-section for the bombastic keyboard-sounds. No movement, no energy, just concentrating on playing their (simple) riffs. Don't get me wrong, WITHIN TEMPTATION's music definitely has its great moments and the band deserves its success. But when it comes down to performing live there is no real band-feeling there any more. Nevertheless the concert works out well, although the temper could have been better.
Besides there's a 180 minutes second DVD full of bonus-material that I found quite interesting. Loads of making-of’s, giving insight to the recording process, shooting of videos and other stuff, mainly taken from touring. And surprisingly the live so restrained band unfreezes, jokes around and shows that they are more sympathetic someone ever might have expected.
With its playing time of over 5 hours, The Silent Force Tour DVD is definitely worth the buy though I had expected a more energetic show. Collectors - watch out for the digipack-version of the DVD!