[schema type=”review” name=”Delain – Lunar Prelude” description=”Label: Napalm Records” author=”Gamze Öyünc” pubdate=”2016-02-19″ ]
Dutch Symphonic metallers Delain has released their first EP ever in their career, attractively named as “Lunar Prelude” after 5 full studio albums. Delain have been around in the metal scene for over a decade now. Wow, how time flies… The band, has grown into definitely something else in every aspect. I’m saying this with immense pleasure as a fan of the band for 6 years. Delain is now being mentioned with the biggest European names of metal, but also their music is recognized and celebrated in US especially since they’ve been touring there for the last 4 years with other giant names like Nightwish and Kamelot and so on. And their music has evolved into this universal rock sound and with these 2 new tracks off this EP, this is more apparent. They are on their way to addressing more and more crowds from all around the world.
As for the EP, let’s start with the 2 new tracks, “Sucker Punch”, and “Turn The Lights Out”. “Sucker Punch” recently has a very cool and artistically and visually well-directed music video, which is only more fitting to a bigger band in this industry and it can be considered as a sign that they now actually are one. The theme of the song and video is about fighting your demons and not accepting defeat. The sound of the track is very upbeat and defiant, it starts with a dance-y synth sound, vocals of Charlotte is ever lovely and pleasant, though kind of poppy with this one but this by no means is a bad comment. The guitars on this track are more intense and you can hear quite powerful riffs with the new guitarist addition to the band, Merel Bechtold. Drums in these 2 new tracks are blasting, almost like the drums in Foo Fighters songs. No need to mention, the song is catchy and melodic as hell. Plus, it has an orchestra version closing the EP, it sounds really tasty, eerie at some moments, but definitely showing off versatility of the composition of their songs.
“Turn The Lights Out” is gentler with keyboards and angelic vocals of Charlotte, it’s still very melodic and the chorus is fun to sing along with her. Both new songs sound like a continuation of the previous album “The Human Contradiction” in terms of this new-found modern rock sound of Delain.
There is one re-arranged version of the track named “Don’t Let Go” which didn’t shine that much for me off the previous album. But the new version is more up-tempo with new underlying synth arrangement added to the refrain part. The other 5 songs on this EP, are live version tracks from “The Human Contradiction”. Recordings are top-quality and a good showcase of Charlotte’s live vocals. Their live rendition of the songs are extremely blasting and blaring with lively guitars, and powerful combination of drums and keyboards.
I gotta mention a few words about the cover art of the EP. The artwork is in resonance with the title of the EP and the new tracks. It is made by American visual artist Glenn Arthur, the cover is so charming but deadly at the same time just like the beauty of Delain songs. If you like visual arts, do check Arthur’s work, also Delain’s 2 previous album covers with him.
So, this EP is literally a prelude to the next full Delain album that’s coming up in late 2016. I personally can’t wait for it. Delain will be heavy-tourin US with Nightwish and Sonata Arctica and Europe this spring, at summer festivals until their next album comes out.
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Tracklist:
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