Sometimes an artist will partner with someone else to help them publicize something. Rarely does it take a form like this. Within Temptation has recorded two songs for the in-beta MMORPG Chronicles of Spellborn. (A MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.)
"When we start killing, it all will be falling down." The party (group of players) failed to pay attention, and that now "may cost us our lives." They've been surrounded by howling monsters that can give false illusions. "They're coming down the hills from behind." When the sun rises, very few of them are left standing. Sharon Den Adel asks if "Will we remember what we've done wrong?" to avoid another massacre. The violence element might disturb some people. That the song speaks of a fantasy situation rather than real life is clear.
Sharon Den Adel has a gorgeous voice as always, with the extraordinary control demonstrated throughout The Heart of Everything. Yes, that is her singing in the lower register, as well, though it sounds like a different person. (No, I don't merely praise this group blindly from favoritism.)
The lyrics demonstrate Within Temptation's usual poignant points. The group of players aren't just caught and slaughtered, but "The Howling" addresses the situation's implications. The fault lies with the players for their own massacre, which is the case in such a game. They are responsible to learn from the experience to avoid a repeat event after they escape "the hell that [they]'re in." (True to their non-expletive form, they use hell as an adjective.)
After the astonishing achievement in "The Truth Beneath the Rose", it's hard to evaluate this music, but it is highly memorable and layered with guitar and more. The layers meld together in Within Temptation's usual beauty, even using the drums to add to the song. "The Howling" also lasts longer than many songs with its 6 minutes; it was designed for a game trailer.
Music: 5/5
Vocal(s): 5/5
Overall: 10/10
