DELAIN - Interlude



 Maybe it's just me, but I find the rise of female fronted symphonic metal to be a welcome breath of fresh air. The passion and the angst of the female perspective mixes well with the power driven guitars and keys. I have always had an interest in female voices in metal. Something about that innocence intertwined with pounding metal and drifting keyboards. Delain is one of those bands.

     Charlotte Wessel is a powerhouse front woman. Her voice is angelic and sinful at the same time. You get a sense from her vocals of a life committed to the sound of Delain. Sure there is a hint of sexiness, but also a solid, intelligent, emotional energy that connects all facets of the song with the audience. She holds the lyrics close to her heart on this album. It's a collection reworked classics, new songs, and covers. Make no mistake Delain are a force of power to be reckoned with. The perfect blend of keyboards and guitar work. Nothing seems to be over the top when you listen as a song, but dissecting the tracks, it's clear that there is a lot of algebraic musicianship taking place.

     Of the 13 tracks on this special release, 6 are live versions, 3 are covers, and the rest are new tunes or reworked ones. Released as a special for the fans it is clear from the live tracks that Delain is well seasoned and well rehearsed. The tracks are flawless stellar examples of the musical superiority. Stand outs include, "It's Not Enough", and "Get The Devil Out Of Me".

    The cover songs are well played versions and showcase a sound all their own. "Smalltown Boy" is a great example of what Delain has to offer both the fans and the music world. I like this track. It stands out in my head. Equally haunting in its beauty is "Cordell"

 "Breathe On Me", and "Collars and Suits" are two new songs. "Breathe" is a song that just stuck in my head. The song hints at something...I'm not sure what...but it's good. Real Good. Perfect introduction to the music of Delain for those unfamiliar but also a look into the future sound of this growing band. "We are the Others" is a finely crafted ballad that showcases some of Charlotte Wessel's vocal acrobatics.

Clearly we are entering a new age where bands like, Nightwish, Epica, Leave's Eyes, and more, begin to ascend to the throne of symphonic metal. The overall feel of this release is one of a band that has a firm sense of itself. They don't pander to trends or to labels. You can hear the conviction in the lyrics and the songwriting. This is real. There is a subtle, yet powerfully emotional realism to the songs.  Do yourself a favor and grab this release.

8  horns up!

--MetalRising




Comments

Fanny D. said…
Regarding the limited edition digipack, I'd like to warn people about the FSK 0 sticker. It’s glued on the front of the cardboard and when trying slowly and gently to pull it off, the cardboard tore. I tried to pull from another side and a small piece also tore. I ended up placing my flatiron close to the cardboard and was able to pull it off but the “D” from Delain is loose.
I would suggest people try the flatiron tip from the start, like when trying to pull off a stamp, getting the steam close to the cardboard, not with the flatiron touching it of course.
I contacted Napalm about this. They are not willing to do anything about it. The sticker has to be there because of the DVD (to say anybody can buy it, how useless!). But still, those stickers aren’t made for cardboards (others are or it could be printed directly on the back) and that’s the responsibility of the company to me… Delain didn’t react (yet?).
Plus, it seems on the live songs on the DVD the sound wasn't the one recorded in that performance. You can hear Charlotte hold a note sometimes yet she's stopped singing on the video (or it's an editing issue).
Otherwise, love the album and DVD!
Fanny D. said…
Regarding the limited edition digipack, I'd like to warn people about the FSK 0 sticker. It’s glued on the front of the cardboard and when trying slowly and gently to pull it off, the cardboard tore. I tried to pull from another side and a small piece also tore. I ended up placing my flatiron close to the cardboard and was able to pull it off but the “D” from Delain is loose.
I would suggest people try the flatiron tip from the start, like when trying to pull off a stamp, getting the steam close to the cardboard, not with the flatiron touching it of course.
I contacted Napalm about this. They are not willing to do anything about it. The sticker has to be there because of the DVD (to say anybody can buy it, how useless!). But still, those stickers aren’t made for cardboards (others are or it could be printed directly on the back) and that’s the responsibility of the company to me… Delain didn’t react (yet?).
Plus, it seems on the live songs on the DVD the sound wasn't the one recorded in that performance. You can hear Charlotte hold a note sometimes yet she's stopped singing on the video (or it's an editing issue).
Otherwise, love the album and DVD!