Mother Earth

Mother Earth is a work on which, centered on Sharon den Adel’s clear voice, folk-like melody and heavy guitar draw a large scenery. The songs spread naturally from a quiet introduction to a dramatic chorus. Advancing a step from the debut’s darkness, it is an important work that pushed the band into an international presence. On “Mother Earth,” “Ice Queen” and “Our Farewell,” a sound image that softly mixes gothic, folk and metal radiates a distinctive appeal. In particular, “Ice Queen” is a signature song that became the band’s breakthrough. Songs like “Caged” and “Never-Ending Story” breathe the band’s full playing too. By restraining the death voice and pushing Sharon’s singing to the fore, it became a record that reached a wider audience. It is a monumental work that determined the band’s leap.