WITHIN TEMPTATION Issues 'Black Symphony' Blu-Ray Update

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION have issued the following update:

"Great news! As you may have noticed, the Blu-ray disc of [WITHIN TEMPTATION's new concert release] 'Black Symphony' has experienced a slight delay, due to production problems in the factory. However, from this weekend on it will be available throughout Europe! We have received a few question on Blu-ray disc and the differences between DVD. Here's a short explanation.

"We are very happy that 'Black Symphony' has been released on Blu-ray disc. It's the perfect way to see and hear this event. Because the capacity of Blu-ray discs is a lot bigger compared to DVDs, it can contain more and better video and audiofootage. The resolution is about 6x better compared to DVD. There's also more space for more audio footage, resulting in the highest possible audio quality on this disc (for the audio experts amongst you: uncompressed PCM audio).

"Will the DVD sound or look not as good as the Blu-ray disc? Certainly not! It contains (again for the experts) 96kHz audio, which is really high quality! And with both releases, you get the exact same amount of footage, so you're not missing out there either. The 2CD of 'Black Symphony' has been remixed specifically for audio-only, as this will sound different compared to watching and listening to a DVD.

"A Blu-ray disc can't be played in a regular DVD-player, you will need a separate Blu-ray player for this, which is also able to play DVDs and CDs, by the way. Another option is a Playstation 3, which also plays Blu-ray discs."

Professionally filmed video footage of WITHIN TEMPTATION performing the song "What Have You Done?", taken from the "Black Symphony" double-DVD, can be viewed below. The clip features a special guest appearance by LIFE OF AGONY singer Keith Caputo who also collaborated with WITHIN TEMPTATION on the studio version of the track.

The band's most ambitious staging to date, Black Symphony was a unique concert at Rotterdam's Ahoy Arena on February 7, 2008. Sold out months in advance, the show featured WITHIN TEMPTATION performing to 10,000 fans with the 60-piece Metropole Orchestra and a 20-voice classical choir, as well as on-stage stilt performers, costume changes, and an array of stunning pyrotechnic and lighting effects. The colossal production extended to Europe's largest video screen (a massive 400 sqm),reaching across the entire width of the stage, and 14 full HD cameras. Special guests on the night included Caputo, Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING),and George Oosthoek (ORPHANAGE).

In addition to the Rotterdam concert, a plethora of bonus content and extensive behind the scenes footage will be included. Although full details will be made available at a later date, it is likely to feature the band's 2007 year-end show at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, of which one highlight was an exclusive acoustic set.