The Reckoning (Within Temptation song)

"The Reckoning" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal and rock band Within Temptation's seventh studio album Resist, and features guest vocals from Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. It was released worldwide via digital download and streaming on 14 September 2018.[2][3] A promotional lyric video accompanied the release.[4] The official music video for the song was released on September 24.[5] The video was nominated for an Edison Award for Best Video.[6]

"The Reckoning"
Single by Within Temptation featuring Jacoby Shaddix
from the album Resist
Released14 September 2018
Genre
Length4:11
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)
Within Temptation featuring Jacoby Shaddix singles chronology
"'And We Run'"
(2014)		 "The Reckoning"
(2018)		 "'Raise Your Banner'"
(2018)

Background

After recovering from a burnout, a writer's block and some personal problems during the year of 2017, lead vocalist Sharon den Adel felt able again to write for Within Temptation and entered the studio again.[7] On 14 September 2018, the band announced a new album for a sooner release and revealed "The Reckoning" as the first song and first single of it.[3] Later that month, a music video for the song was officially released.[8]

The song features Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach as a featured vocalist. He was invited to provide his vocals after the song was already completed, as the band thought that Shaddix could provide the song a certain anger mixed with some vulnerability and melancholy.[9] Musically, it differs from some of the band previous works, as it features a combination of more electronic elements and heavier riffs than usual.[10] It features alternative metal influences and contains heavy riffs from an eight-string guitar.[11][12] Regarding the symphonic elements of the songs, for which the band is mostly known for, the group opted to use only where they found it would have an impact instead of in the whole song, in order to offer a bigger showcase of the other instruments and den Adel's vocals.[13] Lyrically, the song takes inspiration from political contemporary themes such as technology and the dangers of a possible loss of freedom, a subject also not frequently addressed by the band.[14]

On 26 June 2020, an episode of WWE Smackdown used this song in a tribute video to the retiring wrestler The Undertaker, which was then posted on the WWE YouTube Account retrieving over 900,000 views in the first two days.[15][16]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by German agency Noise and produced by Timescope production company.[17] It was shot on the island of Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands.[18] The video places the band on a post-apocalyptic dystopian future, where the members are seen walking through a desert-like landscape with white flags and torches. As they reach a spot with a great number of big machine pillars pointed to the sky, the band manages to run through the middle of them, as the machines starts moving and shooting red laser beams at the group. Two are left behind, as the other three proceed walking through the scenery. As a red light is seen on the sky, a giant spaceship appears. Two members run to different sides, as lead vocalist den Adel is hit with a red light and falls on her knees to the ground. When almost getting abducted, the two remaining members hit their white flags on the ground causing a display of blue energy, which ends up striking the spaceship on both sides. As the spaceship starts to fall to the ground, both men and den Adel stare at its fall and destruction.

Accolades

Critics' lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Loudwire Best 2019 Metal Songs Unranked [19]

Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 Edison Award Edison Award for Best Video Nominated [6]

Track
Digital download
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Reckoning"
  • den Adel
  • Westerholt
  • Gibson
4:11
Total length:4:11

Personnel

Within Temptation

Guest musicians

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
scope="row"Finnish Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[20] 85
Germany Alternative (Deutsche Alternative Charts)[21] 12
Hungary (Single Top 40)[22] 25

References
  1. "Within Temptation, Anthony Phillips, John J Presley, Walter Trout: New albums REVIEWED". Daily Express. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-02-02. The battle like opener The Reckoning sets the scene for the gothic musical architecture which builds up to an immense cathedral of sound from this hard rock foundation
  2. "Within Temptation release new single The Reckoning". Metal Hammer. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  3. "Within Temptation announce new album, Resist, premiere "The Reckoning": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  4. "WITHIN TEMPTATION: Lyric Video For New Single 'The Reckoning' Featuring PAPA ROACH's JACOBY SHADDIX". Consequence of Sound. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  5. "WITHIN TEMPTATION Releases Music Video For 'The Reckoning' Feat. PAPA ROACH's JACOBY SHADDIX". Blabbermouth.net. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  6. "Edison Pop onthult de genomineerden in de categorie hiphop" (in Dutch). Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  7. "Interview – Sharon den Adel Talks Rediscovery, My Indigo, & Within Temptation". Cryptic Rock. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  8. "Within Temptation debuts dystopian "The Reckoning" video". Loudwire. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  9. Erickson, Anne (19 March 2019). "Beyond the Boys' Club: Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  10. "The 10 best Within Temptation songs". Metal Hammer. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  11. Lausch, Travis (4 February 2019). "Resist review by Within Temptation". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  12. Kessler, Sebastian (15 November 2018). "Within Temptation: Gegen alle Widerstände". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. "Sharon den Adel Says Within Temptation 'Really Wanted To Make A Change' On New Album 'Resist'". Blabbermouth.net. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  14. Vienne, Claire (24 January 2019). "Within Temptation: Une ere nouvelle" (in French). Radio Metal. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  15. "WWE SMACKDOWN VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: UNDERTAKER TRIBUTE". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  16. "A tribute to The Undertaker for his legendary WWE career: SmackDown, June 26, 2020". YouTube.Com. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  17. "Within Temptation behind the scenes on instagram". Instagram. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  18. "Within Temptation negeert 'levensgevaarlijk veld' vol explosieven". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  19. "The 66 best metal songs of 2019".
  20. "Within Temptation Feat. Jacoby Shaddix: The Reckoning" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  21. "Deutsche Alternative Charts - Week 41 / Year 2018 / Category: Single". Deutsche Alternative Charts. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  22. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
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