WITHIN TEMPTATION Singer Discusses Dangers Of Digital Age

In a recent interview with Insert Review Here, WITHIN TEMPTATION vocalist Sharon Den Adel spoke about the strong symbolism in the lyrical themes on the band's latest album, "Resist", surrounding questions of personal freedom in a dystopian future. Asked what some of her thematic inspirations for the record were, Sharon said: "Well, I grew up in a time when we still had, you know, Commodore 64s [computers] and floppy disks. It was a long time back. The days of the first game computer, more or less, I guess, and I never thought that Internet or social media would ever be the way it is today. Those kinds of things just grew gradually, and I think that that is very beautiful, because we have a lot of benefits because of it — life has become a lot easier because of this. But, on the other hand, there's a different side to it. I think we're losing our anonymity, and I think our privacy laws should be better for individuals, and, of course, I think it's very important these days when we have a lot of terrorist attacks that the government can trace and track down where people are, but it goes a bit too far in my opinion."

She continued: "I think that if I was living in a different country where there is no democracy, and things get into the wrong hands, if you have a different opinion, then your government shouldn't be able to do everything they want with it. If this was Second World War happening now in Europe, with this technology, everyone with a different mind, color or race that [the government] didn't like, they would be able to easily track and trace. This is, of course, a very heavy comparison, but it is something that is possible, you know, because we have facial recognition and everything now. Your DNA is out there, and it's dangerous in my opinion. I think there should be better laws to protect citizens, because now we're living in a peaceful time, but when it's not a peaceful time, or if you're in countries where it isn't peaceful — like there are many countries in this world where having your own opinion is not a right, apparently — so it's dangerous with this kind of technology. I wouldn't want to live in those countries in this time. I also think that we don't realize when we're just going about our busy lives what we're giving away, like even when you're going to a [web] site, you have cookies that you have to accept to be able to read anything, but you don't really know what you're exactly giving away. So that's why on our web site, you also have to accept cookies, but then we show you also what we get to know. We do it deliberately, because we want to show you what you're giving away for free, and we can see your postal address. So with Google Maps, I can even see where you're living. That, I think is pretty dangerous, I don't think anyone should be able to know where I live."

Sharon added: "Although, on the other hand, people just write on the Internet all the crap that they do sometimes, without thinking or without doing some kind of research of what they're talking about. It's just based on half information, which is also dangerous. For me, I think for the worst-case scenario, for those kinds of situations, we should have better laws. And for us, it's more like an inspiration, so it's not like we have these conspiracy theories going on or anything. It's more like trying to talk about these things and maybe for a little awareness. But for interviews, you know, I can still tell and inform a little bit, just planting a seed in their heads, like maybe just think about these things before you go to a site, before you leave your messages and everything. Also the thing is that you can't erase easily your messages on the Internet — there's always some kind of data somewhere, and those are also dangers, I think. Because people can make mistakes, or they can change their minds, or they did something in an angry mood, and people should be protected somehow.

"What I also find difficult is that algorithms are also choosing for you what you're going to get to see on the Internet. Like if I go to a certain site, and I'm interested in going on a holiday to Cuba, for instance, and the next year I get messages from the same company related to Cuba. Also, when I'm talking to my friend and the TV picks it up, and I'm talking about, I don't know, tennis courts, I get all this information about tennis courts in the area and stuff like that. I don't want anyone listening along when I'm having conversations and when my telephone is off, actually. It's like I'm never alone, you know — I can never have a conversation without something in the back always being there, like Big Brother is watching you the whole time. But these kinds of things just happen now, and that's the inspiration for us [for 'Resist']."

"Resist" will be released on February 1. It is the band's first release through Spinefarm Records, the specialist hard rock label of Universal Music Group.

"Resist" features guest appearances by IN FLAMES' Anders FridénPAPA ROACH's Jacoby Shaddix and ARID's Jasper Steverlinck.

"Resist" marks a departure from the WITHIN TEMPTATION's past. The record is armed with 10 anthemic tracks, driven by grand melodies and dark hooks. It brings a futuristic take on metal to the table — both instrumentally and thematically.

WITHIN TEMPTATION will embark on a North American tour in February. Support on the trek, dubbed "Resist 2019 Tour", will come from IN FLAMES and SMASH INTO PIECES.