Within Temptation - In Vain - Single [Review]

Within Temptation has released yet another (this being their fourth) single from their upcoming album Resist, which (due to a delay, as it was originally intended for a December release) is due to be released on February 1, 2019. "In Vain" is another song in the same vein (see what I did there?) as its three predecessors ("The Reckoning," "Raise Your Banner," and "Firelight") - an alternative rock tune with a really catchy chorus. This one's chorus is especially catchy and very pop-oriented, which makes sense because frontwoman Sharon den Adel has said that much of the inspiration behind Resist comes from modern day pop music, a sound which the band attempts to make darker and more rebellious on Resist. (Something that I did not learn until recently, in fact, is that "Firelight," the third single released from Resist, was originally intended for her solo album My Indigo, a pop album through and through.) "In Vain" is rather light and steady in its verses but picks up some energy in its chorus, and it seems to lyrically be from the perspective of someone who has witnessed and survived some type of apocalyptic event: "Up until the final day, I guess we said enough. We said enough to know it's all in vain." (This would be in keeping with the album having been described as dystopian.) While "The Reckoning" (which is one of the most energetic and easily one of my favorite songs of the band's entire catalogue thus far) still remains my favorite song heard from Resist thus far, "In Vain" is still definitely a keeper (especially in its powerful melody in the chorus), and I am really looking forward to finally hearing the rest of the album on the first of February!