Robert Westerholt is the guitarist, principal composer and co-founder of Within Temptation, and the member whose role has changed most radically across the band's history. Born in the Netherlands in 1975, he formed the group in 1996 with Sharon den Adel, and in the early years he held two distinct roles: besides guitar, he was responsible for the guttural vocals that contrasted with her clean voice. That contrast — the so-called beauty and the beast formula — defines the debut, Enter (1997), and was common practice in the gothic doom of the time. The band abandoned the device from Mother Earth (2000) onward, when it adopted full symphonic arrangement. The second change was of another nature. Around 2011 Westerholt stepped away from touring to raise the children he has with den Adel, remaining in the band as composer and producer rather than as a stage musician. It is an uncommon decision in this world, and it explains why Within Temptation has operated for over a decade with a central member absent from performances. He still writes and produces the records, including Resist (2019) and Bleed Out (2023).
Bands they were part of and guest appearances (feat.) on other bands.
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