DELAIN – Moonbathers [Japan Edition] (2016)

DELAIN are about to release their new album “Moonbathers” next August 26th, but it just been appeared in Japan today.
The band is known for combining driving metal rhythms with sweeping orchestral and electronic textures – topping it all off with the dazzling vocals of frontwoman Charlotte Wessels. After recently teasing fans with the well-received EP Lunar Prelude, this full-length follow up “Moonbathers” was thirstily awaited.

Those who enjoyed Lunar Prelude, or any of Delain’s prior work, for that matter, will be more than satisfied with “Moonbathers”. There’s no surprises in the musical direction though this is not to say that the album falters in quality.
On the contrary, this should be Delain’s strongest album to date.

Each track carries a strong melodic theme which leads to an even stronger hook, owing in large part to Wessels, whose voice – full and rich, but smooth as velvet – pierces through the thick guitar and keyboard layers with impeccable clarity.
Where vocalists in this genre will typically opt for a more classical, operatic style to match the orchestral nature of the music, Wessels shines through her more modern, rocking approach to the craft.

While all of this has been true throughout Delain’s entire history, “Moonbathers” trims off much of the bloat that watered down some of the band’s previous work. Here, each track has a clear voice – with songs like “Hands of Gold” sporting swashbuckling symphonic melodies and a surprisingly aggressive bridge, “The Glory and the Scum” featuring a dark, soaring orchestral score and showcasing Wessels’ outstanding vocal delivery, and “Chrysalis – The Last Breath” bringing listeners to a more cinematic and personal space.
Other standout moments include the straightforward and satisfying “Fire With Fire”, the majestic and swooping “Turn the Lights Out”, and a fantastically bombastic rendition of Queen’s “Scandal”.

Above all, “Moonbathers” proves that Delain are fully aware of their strengths, and as such, play directly to them – with quite satisfying results.
Keyboardist Martijn Westerholt’s symphonic composition and performance breathes vivid color into what would already be solid metal tracks, and Wessels seals the deal with her outstanding vocal talent.
Delain has displayed this level of quality throughout their career, obviously subscribing to the adage “more of a good thing is never a bad thing”, and though it doesn’t take any risks or shatter any barriers, “Moonbathers” is an undoubtedly solid album that delivers plenty of the goods that fans worldwide adore.
Strongly Recommended

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

MARQUEE / AVALON 【MICP-11309】
Ｄ Ｅ Ｌ Ａ Ｉ Ｎ 『 ムーンベイザーズ 』

01 – Hands of Gold
02 – The Glory and the Scum
03 – Suckerpunch
04 – The Hurricane
05 – Chrysalis – The Last Breath
06 – Fire With Fire
07 – Pendulum
08 – Danse Macabre
09 – Scandal (Queen cover)
10 – Turn the Lights Out
11 – The Monarch

Charlotte Wessels – lead vocals
Martijn Westerholt – keyboards, arrangements
Timo Somers – guitar, backing vocals
Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije – bass backing vocals
Ruben Israel – drums
Merel Bechtold – guitar

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-11309
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