Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers Within Temptation have issued the following update:

"We have been, and we are still hiding in our studios since winter started. With every writing session, new things are happening. We are experimenting a lot and are trying to hold on to this magical feeling.

"We are looking forward to the moment that we can share with you where this journey has taken us.

"We are excited to have found a new enthusiastic label partner, Bmg Rights, with whom are aiming for a release in autumn, which perfectly fits the mood of the album. As soon as we can, we will share more information about the new album. In the mean time we will see you on the road this summer!"

Within Temptation's fifth studio album, "The Unforgiving", sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on March 29, 2011 the Cd was produced by Daniel Gibson and is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne, Dark 48). The band asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness, X-Men) to draw the characters and scenery of "The Unforgiving", which was made available via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Japan and Australia.

Within Temptation guitarist Robert Westerholt in 2011 announced that he would step down from touring duties in order to focus on taking care of the three children he has with the band's lead singer, Sharon den Adel. His replacement on stage is Stefan Helleblad, who had been working with the band behind the scenes for a few years.