Power of Metal.dk Review

 
Delain
The Human Contradiction
Rating
 
Style: Symphonic Gothic Metall
Release date: 4 April, 2014
Playing time: 42:00
 


With Epica on the role next month, the Dutch female metal domination is a fact this spring. It can't be a coincidence that the biggest female fronted band in the world (Nightwish) has recruited a Dutch singer and that Within Temptation is doing so well world wide. What's in the water here?

With this new album 'The Human Contradiction', Delain shows that they can be the next big female fronted band to conquer the rest of the world. You can't compare their music with any of the other bands above and they sound a lot heavier than on their 2012 album 'We Are the Others' this time. Delain sounds darker and more aggressive, but with symphonic and gothic elements embedded. The guitars sound more raw and the use of the grunts of George Oosthoek in "Tell Me, Mechanist" and Alissa White Gluz (The Agonist) in "The Tragedy of the Commons" sees to it that the album sounds heavier than before.

Still the band writes songs with pop elements, which makes the songs very accessible and easy to listen to. The singing of Charlotte Wessels still improves and with Marco Hietala as guest singer in "Your Body is a Battleground" and "Sing to Me", where he really adds something to those songs. Charlotte can sing emotional and breathable, but also very powerful and convincing. Opener "Here Come the Vultures" has some Kamelot elements in it and the second track has migthy orchestral arrangements. "My Masquerade" is the most gothic sounding track, especially the refrain has a kind of Paradise Lost/Type O Negative influence. "Army of Dolls" starts like a pop song and a band like Lacuna Coil isn't far away.

The biggest achievement of this album is that although you hear elements of different bands and styles, Delain is able to create their own recognizable and original sound. If you want an album that mixes elements of pop and goth into dark heavy songs with symphonic elements without sounding wimpy, don't hesitate any longer.


Tracklist
01. Here Come the Vultures
02.
Your Body is a Battleground
03.
Stardust
04.
My Masquerade
05.
Tell Me, Mechanist
06.
Sing to Me
07.
Army of Dolls
08.
Lullaby
09. The Tragedy of the Commons
Label: Napalm Records
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Reinier de Vries
Date: 2 April, 2014
Website: www.delain.nl