Album Review: Within Temptation - Hydra

Where once they denounced the labeling of their sound as being 'gothic metal' – describing themselves as 'symphonic metal' instead – Within Temptation can finally wear that title with sincerity. It's great to see them move away from their earlier, outdated style akin to that of Evanescence, but Hydra doesn't see a whole lot of positive steps, either. The cheesiness of the earlier records has indeed been dialed down, but it still very much exists in the uninventive lyrical content and, in the instance of a number of tracks, poorly integrated guest vocals.