DELAIN: Apocalypse And Chill (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

The Dutch band Delain finally come back to us in this year 2020 with a new album in their suitcases. Even if the live "A Decade Of Delain: Live In ParadIso" and the EP "Hunter's Moon" have made us wait, it's four years that separate us from the excellent "Moonbathers". For about ten years, and the release of their second and remarkable opus "April Rain", the band try to reach the level of the indestructible Within Temptation. Together, these two bands gather almost all the fans of symphonic metal with a pop tendency, led by a lady.

According to its creators, this record should surprise the fans so much it's full of new inspirations. Indeed, the regulars will notice some differences separating "Apocalypse & Chill" from its predecessors: some atmospheric passages more marked, a more sustained orchestration of the compositions and intentions tending to leave more room to the instrumental parts. As a result, the enrichment of the structures is notable, they are now closer to what Nightwish proposes. Delain's new opus is thus more ambitious, more mature, more complex and richer than his older brothers. Gone is the image of a band of followers, the Dutch now show their ambitions: to surpass the master! And if you think about it, considering that "Apocalypse & Chill" dames the pawn to the recent "Resist" of Within Temptation doesn't seem absurd.

Besides, Delain stands out from its colleague by opting for a more assertive brutality, a tendency to propose darker ambiences. This new work is a dystopia: it is about imminent disaster and the indifference of men. It is full of abrupt riffs and heavy atmospheres emanating from the keyboards. Charlotte Wessels has gained confidence again. Her powerful voice, which can easily cover an astonishing range of tessitura, reinforces the dimension of the words. Guided by a wish to compensate and to lighten the work, the emphatic melodies that sprinkle the compositions make them very addictive. Thus, inevitably "Apocalypse & Chill" becomes a factory of hits.

The galvanizing tracks follow one another without any lack of taste. They can sometimes be borderline to dance (the chorus and the pop choruses of 'Let's Dance'), close to Within Temptation ('One Second' with its powerful male vocals), mixing aerial pop and symphonic metal ('We Had Everything') or flirting with Amaranth (the powerful 'Burning Bridges'). The compositions can also remind of Kamelot - here fighting with Nightwish - (the very promising 'Vengeance' and his symphonic-lyrical choir), or Rammstein who would have taken a pop shot ('To Live Is To Die'), or even mix telluric overpowering power and aerial melodies ('Creatures' and 'Legions Of The Lost' and their Therion-like ambiences and the sensational 'Master Of Destiny'). They are even able to diffuse atmospheric (the magnificent 'Ghost House Heart') or progressive (the roller coaster of the very instrumental 'Combustion') fragrances.

With this 'Apocalypse & Chill', Delain has just pulled off the perfect stroke. Combining power and melody, but also conceptual ambitions and an easy listening approach to the melodies, the Dutch hit here a big blow that should propel them to the front row of the stage. - Official website

DELAIN

APOCALYPSE AND CHILL

NAPALM RECORDS

MELODIC METAL