"The Silent Force" is an exhilarating listen - a monument of opulent melodies, sweeping orchestral elements and tremendous power. Like their European counterparts Nightwish and Opeth, they have intertwined an otherworldly sound with a slow, brewing power that is like a classical symphony of old. The band was formed in 1996 by guitarist Robert Westerholt and singer Sharon den Adel. Their single "Ice Queen" reached number 1 on both the Nederlandse and Belgian charts in 2002. Their "Mother Earth" album went platinum in the Netherlands and gold in Belgium. Fans of Nightwish, Lacuna Coil 7, Evanescence will want to investigate their sound.