Hydra

Almost certainly the band’s most consistent and carefully crafted effort to date, a genuinely moving collection of songs that offers a surprising degree of emotional pull despite the odd hammy moment.

The sixth studio long-player from Netherlands-based symphonic rock outfit Within Temptation picks right up where 2011's generally well-received conceptual outing Unforgiving left off, expanding on the group's penchant for stylistic elasticity while maintaining a foundation of solid songwriting and engaging narrative.

Hydra is a solid enough continuation of Within Temptation’s brand of operatic goth-inspired metal.

Hydra will perhaps not convert many to become followers of Within Tempation, however to their loyal following, Hydra ticks all the boxes whilst adding a few to the list.

When diminishing returns clash with transparent attempts at crass commercialism, the metal fan feels the sads. If you love goth-rock and don’t care how unmetal it sounds, I suppose bits and pieces of this may hit the spot, but a lot of it is too dull to leave much of an impression.