At this year’s edition of Karjurock, we had the privilege to see some pretty big names on the main stage, WITHIN TEMPTATION being definitely the biggest of them. On Friday, July 18th, 2025, we all gathered in a field near Uusikaupunki for a metal feast, and oh what a feast it was. The stage itself looked like a crossover between Colosseum and Atlantis, the lost city, which should already tell you how grand it was.
Dutch symphonic metal juggernaut WITHIN TEMPTATION started with the new material, “Bleed out” and “We go to war,” throwing in a few songs from “The Unforgiving” here and there. Sharon gave a short speech in which she expressed their support for Ukraine, and after that they played “Stand My Ground.” The setlist was long, consisting of 17 songs, which is pretty unheard of for a festival. This was an incredibly nice surprise, since festival setlists are usually shortened due to scheduling. Everyone expected the new material, from “Resist” and “Bleed Out,” but there was a really good balance between the old and the new songs. We got to hear “Angels” and “Mother Earth” live, which I bet was a true nostalgia trip for many. I also shouldn’t be surprised that with all the crazy stuff going on in the world right now, they thought that “Our Solemn Hour” would be a good addition to the setlist, and let me tell you, yelling “In my darkest hours, I could not foresee, that the tide could turn so fast to this degree” has truly healing properties.
Overall, it was a great celebration of symphonic metal in its truest form. I would recommend it both to anyone chasing nostalgia (like me) or just getting into the genre. Check our photo gallery here…
Within Temptation
