Delain are back! Yes indeed, with a new album and new singer. They will release their new album Dark Waters, soon, on February 10, 2023, on Napalm Records.
The band has made some changes and will soon deliver their follow-up to the chart-breaking Apocalypse & Chill, of 2020. Leading the way for this reformation, is keyboardist, founder and main songwriter, Martijn Westerholt. He leads the new lineup, along with original guitarist Ronald Landa and original drummer Sander Zoer. The band has added vocalist Diana Leah, originally from Romania, and bassist Ludovico Cioffi to the sound, and they bring a whole new range of abilities to the band.
I was always a fan of Delain, but I am so glad they made the change to Diana Leah on lead vocals. I like her vocal delivery better. We’ll get into that in more detail on the songs. The use of an epic real choir on this album is also a much-needed change.
Every song on the album is a winner, which was not the case for me, in their albums of the past. So, lets talk about each of them; track-by-track.
“Hideaway Paradise”, opens with very cool keys, drums and light electric guitars. We hear Diana’s beautiful voice sing, “I’m standing on the edge”. Before the full force of the soundscape is unleashed; including glistening keys, blistering electric guitar, bass and drums. It is a striking and awesome moment. Then she continues, “Feel the tension build before the lightning strikes and thunder sounds”. Yeah, just like that. What a moment. Diana sings, “Faint echoes call me down. Whispering they call me down. There’s a place in my mind. Where you can’t sow your blight. Where nothing flows on but the ether. And the cares of the world become weightless. And I always hear the call!” She seeks a hideaway from all the problems and chaos in the world. She is safe, as she sings, from below, “Let the world keep turning above me. Voices broken in the dark. As the storm is raging above me. Let me hide away here on my own”. Who wouldn’t want their own place to escape the pressures of a world in chaos? I would. What a perfect lyrical design, of a place that we all would like to escape into; in times of trouble. Off to an amazing start. A great album opener, and I would imagine, show opener as well.
“The Quest and the Curse”, opens heavier, with golden guitar chords, bass and lethal drums. We’re on a quest, and it bears a curse. Diana sings, “Searching the skies, wonder why. So afraid I’ll never know. Wasting away here on the ground, longing to soar up to great heights. The beast that preys upon me. Casting my eyes down. Within the stars. Those spheres of light. But who can find the second to the right? So far, my Neverland”. Male growling vocals speak of fear, “Reject, revoke, deny your own blame. I will now justify all you do!” But Diana remains strong and continues to deliver soft, delicate, but deliberate vocals, as the choir sings, and orchestration takes the soundscape even higher; until the symphony reaches a crescendo, finale. A powerful song, with an accompanying music video, full of rivers of lava and exploding volcanos. Diana sings solidly through it all.
“Beneath”, also has a wonderful music video supporting its concept. In the video, Diana does a deep dive into those dark waters, of the album title. The powerful keyboard opening and the ocean wave scenes make this one of my favorite tracks and videos from the album. And perfectly timed to release with the record selling movie, Avatar, The Way of Water, where the lead characters swim and breath underwater. Diana sings, “I have returned from down under. I’ve learned to breathe beneath the waters. I’ve returned to the light. Beyond the waves of madness”. Glory Hallelujah! What a video and song. Eventually Diana sings, “Till I became the hunter. Dark dreams ever so far beneath”. Paolo Ribaldini, does a great job, singing guest backing vocals.
“Mirror of Night”, opens with more of those beautiful synths and keyboards, before the ‘heavy lumber’ gets loaded. It is so nice and refreshing to have a band lead, by a keyboardist, and songwriter like, Martijn Westerholt. The heavy metal is still important, but there is a ‘keyboards first’ attitude and I appreciate that. The song also features Within Temptation guitarist Ruud Jolie, who engages in a healthy electric chord solo. Diana sings, “Looking behind, diverging roads. I’ve wandered. I can see turns unheeded. Gazing through eyes within these dark reflections. Facing a time long gone now. It’s the quiet of the night, I fear. The inner torrent that’s unleashed. Replaying me the thousand times. I should have spoken other lines. In the middle of the night. I hear. The dying dreams I never reached”. The regrets we all have, put to music. Excellent song.
“Tainted Hearts”, opens with the thunder, and the pounding of drums; before an avalanche of choir-like voices and orchestration commences. Diana sings, “You chose to walk the road less traveled. Unchained but blamed for the stories we unraveled. But where do we find the answers? How can we keep it safe against our own will? No fear for the blind cause time is all we have. We could escape now; we could live forever”. Diana closes with, “The kingdom you’ve torn down. I swear to you now, will be rebuilt larger, than the one you chose to destroy now!” Which makes for some wonderful interview questions I will ask, if given the opportunity…
“The Cold”, opens with marching drums and orchestration. The thunder drums and choir signal something epic will be arriving soon. The glowing hot guitars chords only add to the mighty soundscape building steam. Diana sings, “It’s the story of our time. And the winter that settled over us. In a book with loose pages. Oh, don’t slip away. I need you to stay forever mine. I’m awaiting the sunrise. To awaken my frozen heart for you. But the dead of the night deepens the cold”.
Diana’s dynamic voice opens “Moth to a Flame”; which also has an accompanying music video. She sings, “You’re the cure for this lonely heart. Lying underneath, you keep on hiding. And like a moth to a candle. I run within the flames of your dangerous mind, burning bright”. Then, a guitar assault roars forward and multiple guitarists leap out to set fire to the soundscape. Meanwhile, Martijn Westerholt holds his own with keys, as Diana sings, “Why do you look at me that way. You know we’re worlds apart. There’s no denying though I’ve tried. You’re like a perilous spark. I’m bound to catch fire on my way to transcend. Let this be the end of my cries. You’re the cure for this lonely heart. Lying underneath, you keep on hiding. And like a moth to a candle, I run within the flames of your dangerous mind, burning bright”. Addicted to a person, idea, or substance? Only Diana really knows, since she helped write the lyrics.
On “Queen of Shadow”, Diana sings, “Grief of yesterday. Wrapping me so tightly in the darkness. Crowning me in flame. Never drown. The river running in the underworld. It never drowns the queen of mourning. Embracing pain of sorrow ill-deserved. I know you will never understand it. All the chaos of your dreams. Cast it away to rule over the darkness”. Then more from Diana, “You want to get inside my head. You want to see the queen of shadow. Into the flood of dark you can’t descend. Never drown”. The song features guest supporting vocals from Paolo Ribaldini.
“Invictus”, opens with heralding choirs and orchestration. What a magnificent opening. Diana sings with Marko Hietala, ex-Nightwish, and Paolo Ribaldini, supporting on vocals, “Deceitful cries under the sun to crucify. What have you done? I will not fight your shameful war. Or spread more lies. But I must stand my ground. Invictus, I remain. You’re heading towards your own destruction. But what is gained by a war of pride and greed? Debris of your failed siege. What you’re fighting for you’ve made a field. Of embers and barbarity”. A great anti-war fight song, written for all who fight against the aggression in Ukraine, and other places around the world; where people are victimized and lied too by authorities. Full of beautiful keyboards and orchestration.
“Underland”, is the epic album closer. And it is well worth the wait. The song opens with piano-like keys, then the guitars, bass and drums break free. Diana sings, “Watch out in your emotion. Throw down all your stones. Keep out far from Underland. The choir sings, “Don’t fall down again. Don’t fall into madness. Don’t follow the black rabbit. Don’t go down that hole now. Nothing can erase the fallout. Down below devils pray. And angels curse holy ways. Upside down, inside out. Nothing right or sane can be found”. Diana sings, with royal orchestration flowing, “You can rage, you can fight, storm the gates of hell. By your anger you’ll be swallowed. Lose yourself in the fray of a red-lit haze. And awaken shame and sorrow”. Later the choir sings, to heavy guitars and drums, “High toll, below. For you will pay what you owe. Shame and sorrow. For you will reap what you sow”.
Diana responds, “Don’t fall, don’t fall down that hole again. For you will break more than you can mend. Rise up above the fell haze of red. Laying that deadly nature to rest”.
Delain added a bonus track. The piano version of “The Quest and the Curse”, with Diana singing the lyrics accompanied by slow piano, strings and orchestration. Perfect addition to the album.
This is a wonderful album and return to glory for Delain. They have found a wonderful singer and kept their identity solid, with great keyboards and moving guitar and drums. The orchestration throughout and the live choir are what raise the power of this soundscape. Buy this album and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Be thankful this band is back and creating fine music again. I look forward to the next chapter and more writing from Diana on the next album, hopefully.
Photo Credit: Andrea Falaschi.
Track List:
1. Hideaway Paradise
2. The Quest and the Curse
3. Beneath (featuring Paolo Ribaldini)
4. Mirror of Night
5. Tainted Hearts
6. The Cold
7. Moth to a Flame
8. Queen of Shadow (featuring Paolo Ribaldini)
9. Invictus (featuring Marko Hietala & Paolo Ribaldini)
10. Underland
Bonus: Piano version of “The Quest and the Curse”.
Delain Europe Tour
14.04.23 NL – Tilburg / 013
15.04.23 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat
21.04.23 UK – Manchester / Academy 2
22.04.23 UK – London / O2 Islington Academy
24.04.23 LU – Luxembourg / Rockhal
24.04.23 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo
27.04.23 CH – Zurich / Komplex 457
28.04.23 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle
29.04.23 DE – Stuttgart / Im Wizemann Club
30.04.23 DE – Berlin / Hole44
02.05.23 DE – Hamburg / Knust
03.05.23 DE – Essen / Turock
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/delainmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/delainofficial/?hl=en
https://label.napalmrecords.com/delain
You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/delainofficial