★★★★★
Were they a weaker group, Dutch symphonic metal band Delain could easily fall prey to suffering from an identity crisis. The group are consistently compared to another Dutch power metal act, Within Temptation; they share a very similar aesthetic, and Delain founder Martijn Westerholt is the former keyboardist of Within Temptation (he was forced to quit due to suffering from Pfeiffer's disease)...
- exclaim.ca
2014-04-09
★★★★★
If you have a good formula, then run with it. Delain's fourth album, The Human Contradiction is in the same groove as 2012's We Are The Others, wrapping up their long standing bombastic symphonic metal with a strong rock groove. But they also look back, giving nods to other elements found in earlier. Delain: get closer. That look back is the addition of more death grunts and growls...
- www.dangerdog.com
2014-03-21
★★★★★
"Right under my nose, Delain bathes the entire album in a vat of seduction and comes out smelling stimulating." Make no bones about it, it took a great deal of listens for me to warm up to "We Are the Others." On first blush, I verbally chastised Delain for copying the same formula that Within Temptation used to redefine itself on "The Unforgiving...
- www.metalunderground.com
2012-07-30
★★★★★
Goto commentsLeave a commentShare Sharp Metal with a Dull Finish Dutch symphonic metal band Delain has been producing melodic, moody goth-rock since 2002. Led by vocalist Charlotte Wessels, formerly of To Elysium, and keyboardist Martijn Westerholt from Within Temptation, Delain has a knack for infusing pop hooks and accessible lyrics into a genre more known for pretentious over-dramatization...
- www.mxdwn.com
2012-07-12
★★★★★
Similar but different may be the best way to describe Delain's third opus, We Are The Others. The bombastic symphonic side remains substantial, as does the metal edge. Yet, what differs is the audible rock groove and accessibility. Delain: the boys always get the background. Of the twelve songs here, six song hover just above three minutes, and the others a bit over four. Yet, its the sound of the songs that usher in the pedestrian appeal: very catchy, big melodies, and big choruses...
- www.dangerdog.com
2012-05-24
★★★★★
"'...the tracks are pretty standard fare power and symphonic female-fronted metal with the occasional death growl thrown in pretty unnecessarily.'" Delain is one of those unusual female-fronted Euro bands that seems to still be finding its niche in the metal world. Often blurring the lines between hard rock, power metal and symphonic, they don't really fit one genre, but vocalist Charlotte Wessel's voice is diverse enough to get the job done no matter what the recipe calls for...
- www.metalunderground.com
2011-02-07
★★★★★
"It's hard to imagine that anyone wouldn't be able to find something to like in Delain's sophomore release 'April Rain.'" A lot of people are under the misconception that symphonic metal is all about light, with lots of melodramatic piano, synthesizers, and orchestras. And sure, while some bands do go that route, Delain stands in direct opposition to that idea...
- www.metalunderground.com
2010-12-21
★★★★★
Indeed, Delain may not only be the new Nightwish, but also the crowning jewel of second generation symphonic melodic heavy metal. Without question Delain mimics the grandeur of the style in their arrangements which are both heavy and symphonic. Take 'April Rain' or 'Go Away' as prime examples. Charlotte Wessels, thankfully, is no Tarja Turunen; she does not have that high pitched range that only dogs can hear. Rather, her vocals are more grounded being earthy and accessible...
- www.dangerdog.com
2010-12-06
★★★★★
Lush and enveloping, Lucidity creates the sort of heavy rock environment that shifts angry vocals into something softer but leaves that desire to bang your head and give mom the Metal Sign. Lead singer Charlotte Wessels mixes a classically-trained voice with driving lyrics that might be slightly shallow or agonizingly deep, but affect you either way. Behind her are the astonishing guitars of Martijn Westerholt and the even more astonishingly named Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije on bass...
- www.ink19.com
2010-11-15
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