DELAIN – “Moonbathers”

After their EP “Lunar Prelude“, DELAIN released their album “Moonbathers” in August 2016. An album which’s quite addictive! I listened to it over ten times back-to-back, and still I’m not bored! The catchy and powerful sound invites you to raise your voice and sing with Charlotte her dark and mysterious lyrics. ARCH ENEMY’s Alissa White-Gluz is again guest singer and her growls and backing vocs on ‘Hands of Gold’ and ‘Pendulum’ creates a strong addition to Charlotte.

“Moonbathers” is their most opulent album so far and cement DELAIN’s status in symphonic metal. The album includes eleven tracks, four of them were already known before album release (‘Suckerpunch’ and ‘Turn the light out’ were on the EP “Lunar Prelude”, ‘Glory and the Scum’, ‘Fire with Fire’ were released as singles). The intro of the opening track ‘Hands of Gold’ reminds of NIGHTWISH’s ‘Stargazer’ and rolls out the symphonic carpet. The last track ‘The Monarch’ brings the album to a supreme end, so “Moonbathers” is a self-contained album with a lot facet, each song can stand alone but fits in the big picture.

The biggest surprise on “Moonbathers” is maybe the cover of QUEEN’s ‘Scandal’. Risk business in metal and rock genre to cover one of the legends! DELAIN passes the test. They make their very own version of the song which fits perfectly into the bands repertoire. A suggestion is ‘Fire with Fire’ which’s created for the stage! A great live song, looking forward to catch a gig of DELAIN in the next time and celebrate the music with these guys. You can see the dates by scrolling down the page.

My personal faves are ‘Danse Macabre’ and ‘Chrysalis – The last Breath’. First, because of its life-affirming as well as gloomy lyrics which are settled in melodic-rhythmic sound. It is also the best example for Charlotte’s filed vocal technique. The ballad ‘Chrysalis – The last Breath’ reminds on older DELAIN-songs like ‘See me in Shadow’. Good to see a band develops in such great way but still keeps its heart!

The last word belongs to Ms. Wessels, who explains lyrics and album title in a poetic and personal way:
“There is a lot of thought about endings, both figuratively and very literally; songs about death. Negative emotions are a trigger for my creativity, but though most of my lyrics originate there, I don’t want to glorify it. So as a lyricist I try to make sure that there is always some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. I also realized that when I feel bad, it is sad music more than anything that makes me feel better. So I embraced the idea that it’s possible to find comfort there, and I went looking for a metaphor for finding that light in the darkness, the ultimate icon of that, for me, is the moon. So I chose moonbathers, rather than sunbathers, as a metaphor for those who find comfort in darkness.”

Tracklist:

1. Hands of gold
2. The glory and the scum
3. Suckerpunch
4. The hurricane
5. Chrysalis – The last breath
6. Fire with fire
7. Pendulum
8. Danse macabre
9. Scandal
10. Turn the lights out
11. The monarch

 

Tour Dates (together w/ EVERGREY and KOBRA AND THE LOTUS):

30 / 09 / 2016              ARNHEIM, Luxor Live

14 / 10 / 2016              COLOGNE, Essigfabrik

15 / 10 / 2016              STUTTGART, Im Wizemann

16 / 10 / 2016              HAMBURG, Gruenspan

17 / 10 / 2016              COPENHAGEN, Pumpehuset

19 / 10 / 2016              BERLIN, Colombia Theater

20 / 10 / 2016              CRACOV, Kwadrat

21 / 10 / 2016              WARSAW, Progresja

22 / 10 / 2016              ZLIN, Masters of Rock Cafe

23 / 10 / 2016              BUDAPEST, Barbanegra

25 / 10 / 2016              BRATISLAVA , Majestic Music Club

27 / 10 / 2016              WIEN, Szene

28 / 10 / 2016              MUNICH, Backstage

29 / 10 / 2016              ASCHAFFENBURG, ColosSaal

30 / 10 / 2016              PRATTELN, Z7

31 / 10 / 2016              LYON, Ninkasi

02 / 11 / 2016              MADRID, Arena

03 / 11 / 2016              TOULOUSE, Metronum

04 / 11 / 2016              PARIS, Elysee Montmartre

05/ 11 / 2016               LILLE, le splendid

06 / 11 / 2016              ANTWERPEN, Trix

08 / 11 / 2016              BIRMINGHAM, O2 Institute2

09 / 11 / 2016              GLASGOW, The Classic Grand

11 / 11 / 2016              DUBLIN, Button Factory

12 / 11 / 2016              MANCHESTER, O2 Ritz

13 / 11 / 2016              LONDON, Koko

15 / 11 / 2016              NORWICH, Waterfront

16 / 11 / 2016              SOUTHAMPTON, Engine Rooms

17 / 11 / 2016              CARDIFF, Cardiff Tramshed

25 / 11 / 2016              BERGEN OP ZOOM, Gebouw T

10 / 12 / 2016              AMSTERDAM, Paradiso

20 / 01 / 2017              ST PETERSBURG, Opera Concert Club

21 / 01 / 2017              MOSCOW, Klub Volta