1) Within Temptation

Style: Metal / Symphonic Metal
Country: Netherlands

This band started in 1996 and it was the idea of the lead vocalist - Sharon den Adel and the guitar player - Robert Westerholt to start the group. They've picked up a few more elements to start their journey, one of them was Jeroen van Veen, a bass player.

After 24 years, the band is still very active, releasing new albums and giving plenty of concerts. Can you believe the 3 elements mentioned above are still together in the band? Now... that's what I call a commitment! 🤗

They began their musical adventure together playing a mix between Gothic Metal and Doom Metal but quickly evolved into a more melodic and mellow band and have been playing Symphonic Metal ever since.

They have plenty of epic songs in their portfolio... and forgive me if I don't choose a studio version, but I believe the best way to judge a band is through a live performance. That's why my pick goes to a song called Paradise (What About Us?), performed live at Hellfest Festival in 2016.

In the original studio album, Sharon den Adel sings a duet with Tarja Turunen, the original vocalist from Nightwish and in this show, she counts with her presence on stage once more.

Images Source: Spark

Here it is, the video for ... Paradise (What About Us?), featuring Tarja Turunen:

2) Walls of Jericho

Style: Metal / Hardcore
Country: USA

My second pick is another live performance. This time from a Hardcore band from the United States called Walls of Jericho.

This is another case of pretty hard commitment. The band has been playing for 22 years now... with 4 of the original band members since 1998: the very wild and crazy Candace Kucsulain on the vocals, Mike Hasty and Chris Rawson on the guitars and Aaron Ruby playing the bass. Dustin Schoenhofer is the 4th drum player of the band and is with them since 2004.

American Dream is a perfect example of what this band represents... a stand against the establishment and all the corrupt politicians who have been destroying our world. 😎

Candace Kucsulain is a force of nature... I hope you're ready to listen to her in the live version of American Dream, at Wacken Open Air 2009:

The lyrics in this song are a very powerful and raw message against the system:

Fuck the American Dream
I know it all too well, I've watched my whole life
I've felt those calloused hands and looked into those broken eyes
One more bleeding heart that will never see its time
You suffer to survive, it will bury you alive

Fuck this place, burn it down. Everything I've loved is gone
This is not my home, I've played my final song
Tear us down, free us all

Sell your soul for something meaningless
A slow death for the corporate mess, and we call this happiness
What are we left with in the end? Defeat
A lifetime of obedience kicking in your teeth

Fuck this place, burn it down. Everything I've loved is gone
This is not my home, I've played my final song
Tear us down, free us all

We were sold a promise of a better tomorrow
Fuck the American Dream
We were told that our choices were our own
Fuck the American Dream
Promised the opportunity of a lifetime
Fuck the American Dream
Deceived we could be all we can be
Fuck the American Dream

I hope you have liked these 2 bands. 😁

If you want to join the challenge, visit the announcement post, here: Music A to Z Challenge #W and use the tag #a-zmusic.

See my previous entries here:

A) The Agonist & Arch Enemy / Atakama & Amely Sky [Metal]
B) Багира & Blind Ivy [Metal]
C) Conquer Divide & Cripper [Metal]
D) Dark Tranquility & Dead Sara [Metal / Rock]
E) Eths & Expellow [Metal]
F) Fine Fine Titans & Frantic Amber [Metal]
G) Green Jellÿ & GWAR [Comedy Rock / Comedy Metal]
H) Hiromi Uehara & Haggard [Jazz / Metal]
I) In Evil Hour & Infected Rain [Punk / Metal]
J) Jinjer & Joss Stone [Metal / Soul]
K) Koalas Desperados & Katzenjammer [Reggae / Hip-Hop / World Music / Folk Rock]
L) LaScala & Louna [Rock / Alternative Rock / Fusion]
M - Part 1) Mayra Andrade & Mariana Aydar [World Music / Popular Brazilian Music]
M - Part 2) Moonspell & Mortad [Metal]
N - Part 1) Nneka & Norah Jones [Reggae / Soul / R&B / Jazz]
N - Part 2) Nightwish & Nevermore [Metal]
O) Onuka & Otep [Electro-Folk / Metal]
P) Patricia Barber, Pink Freud & PJ Harvey [Jazz / Electro-Jazz / Rock]
Q) Queen Ifrica & Quique Neira [Reggae]
R) Rodrigo y Gabriela, Room Eleven & Rage of Light [Rock / Flamenco / Jazz / Metal]
S) Spoil Engine & Straight Line Stitch [Metal]
T) Theatre of Tragedy & Tracktor Bowling [Metal]
U) Ursula Rucker & Unleash The Archers [Spoken Word / Metal]
V) Veridia & Värttinä [Rock / Folk]

Within Temptation & Walls of Jericho [Music A to Z Challenge #W]

1) Within Temptation

2) Walls of Jericho