It’s rare to find a band where you love every one of their songs. For my father it was the Bee Gees, for me it’s Within Temptation. Founded in 1995 by the amazing vocalist Sharon den Adel and talented guitarist Robert Westerholt, Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band. Symphonic metal, which some people have never heard of, is a branch of metal music that combines the traditional elements of heavy drums and guitars with characteristics of classical music like a symphony orchestra, symphonic instruments—like violins and cellos—and choirs. I stumbled onto Within Temptation about four years ago when browsing some YouTube videos. One song led to another and another, then I found some albums of theirs...and I was hooked. Here are the reasons why:

5. All Natural Voices and Sounds...There’s No Auto-Tuning Here.

When you hear Within Temptation live in concert, you hear exactly what you would in their albums. I’ve watched other musicians’ live performances and these days they rarely parallel how they sound in their recordings. But Within Temptation always keeps it consistent and Sharon den Adel never disappoints. Her voice is just as beautiful live as it is in her albums and it’s not just me—the avid fan I am—who believes this. In 2014, they were awarded the well-deserved “Best Live Band” award at the Metal Hammer Awards Ceremony and have received numerous other awards such as “Rock Album of the Year,” “Artist of the Year” and “Best Live Act.”

4. Story-like Concepts

Each Within Temptation song is not simply words strung together with a beat—which I feel many pop songs out there are becoming—they are full of entire stories. You can take away so much from just one of their songs. They are filled with mysterious points of views and characters from different worlds or backgrounds and every one has an interesting story to tell. Take their song “Lost” for example, which includes the lyrics: “She's lost in the darkness, Fading away, I'm still around here, Screaming her name, She's haunting my dreamworld, Trying to survive...I tried to revive what's already drowned, They think I'm a fool, Can't realize, Hope plays a wicked game with the mind...she won’t come around.” These are not typical lyrics you would hear on the radio today. There is nothing like the plots behind Within Temptation songs. It is like listening to a full out short story. They can be inspiring, relatable, compelling and even motivational.

3. Motivation

Furthermore, I’ve found that motivation can come in many different forms. One of which is through song. On many occasions when I have felt down, unsure or stuck about something, Within Temptation has always been there to motivate me to push forward. Their songs “Stand my Ground,” “I Don’t Wanna” and “Sounds of Freedom” are among the many that offer relatable concepts that encourage standing up to fear, uncertainty and/or anxiety. They are truly a great source to help anyone get back on their feet after stumbling a bit.

2. Vast Variety of Songs That Can Accommodate Different Moods

Some days you may just want to listen to soft and calming music, while on others you might want to hear something fast-paced and energetic. Within Temptation has a wide range of songs that satisfy any mood you may be in. If you want to relax, then songs like “Somewhere,” “Pale” or “Edge of the World” would be perfect to listen to. When you wish to stay motivated—like when working out—the songs “Dangerous,” “Iron” and “The Whole World is Watching” are ideal. Within Temptation has created over 100 songs, and they can all be used to accommodate any mood.

1. Overall Themes and Messages

The one thing I appreciate most about Within Temptation is the themes and messages of their songs. Some of the most popular bands, singers or rappers of today have created songs that revolve around themes like lust, past relationships, sex, fame and looks with not very sincere messages behind them. But Within Temptation’s songs are much more meaningful and eloquent. They express deeper themes and inspiring messages for the topics of love, trust, justice, vengeance, confidence, redemption, freedom and overall fighting for what you believe in. I’m so thankful that I stumbled upon this band because their songs can not only motivate, but they also inspire and touch on topics that are not commonly expressed in today’s popular music.

Everyone has their own taste in music. Personally, I like a wide range of musical genres from classical, to rock, to symphonic metal. However, when it comes to the different bands out there today, Within Temptation is by far my favorite. Their songs are beautiful and unique. I encourage you to give them a shot. You just might like what you hear.