The Reckoning (feat. Jacoby Shaddix)

"The Reckoning" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal and rock band Within Temptation's seventh studio album Resist, and features guest vocals from Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. It was released worldwide via digital download and streaming on 14 September 2018. A promotional lyric video accompanied the release. The official music video for the song was released on September 24. The video was nominated for an Edison Award for Best Video.

Background

After recovering from a burnout, a writer's block and some personal problems during the year of 2017, lead vocalist Sharon den Adel felt able again to write for Within Temptation and entered the studio again. In September 2018, the band announced a new album for a sooner release and revealed "The Reckoning" as the first song and first single of it. The song differs from some of the band previous works, as it features a combination of more electronic elements and heavier riffs than usual. On September 24, a video for the song was officially released.

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by German agency Noise and produced by Timescope production company. It was shot on the island of Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands. The video places the band on a post-apocalyptic dystopian future, where the members are seen walking through a desert-like landscape with white flags and torches. As they reach a spot with a great number of big machine pillars pointed to the sky, the band manages to run through the middle of them, as the machines starts moving and shooting red laser beams at the group. Two are left behind, as the other three proceed walking through the scenery. As a red light is seen on the sky, a giant spaceship appears. Two members run to different sides, as lead vocalist den Adel is hit with a red light and falls on her knees to the ground. When almost getting abducted, the two remaining members hit their white flags on the ground causing a display of blue energy, which ends up striking the spaceship on both sides. As the spaceship starts to fall to the ground, both men and den Adel stare at its fall and destruction.