DELAIN – Lunar Prelude (2016)

DELAIN seem to be restless spirits: after touring the world presenting their last album, instead of resting on their success, the group have hit the studio again to present a brand new epic endeavor: “Lunar Prelude“, a fresh the exciting EP released today, February 19th 2016.

Their last full length ‘The Human Contradiction’ pretty much solidified Delain’s status as giants in the melodic symphonic metal game. Obviously with such fierce competition out there, the sextet want to continue to expand their horizons and touch more hearts far and wide.
The new full album may not be quite ready yet, but the band seem to be eager to show us what they have done, and just can’t contain the excitement.
That anticipation comes in the neat little package of “Lunar Prelude”.

It’s an EP with 3 new songs, and a some live recordings done last year showing how great they sound onstage.
The leading track, ‘Suckerpunch‘ does exactly what it says on the tin, and it’s suddenly easy to realise why Delain wanted to release some music now. It’s one of the band’s biggest choruses yet, garnished with a elegant fusion of symphony and hard riffing – a well written track indeed.

The EP leads into a more mellow semi-ballad of ‘Turn the Lights Out‘ featuring some of the more emotion ridden vocals of frontwoman Charlotte Wessels, with a new version of ‘Don’t Let Go‘ (originally featured on The Human Contradiction deluxe edition), harder and more effective than in its original version completing the trifecta of new Delain music.
The live recordings are greatly done, pristine, showing Delain’s prowess. Then final track is a different, ‘orchestral’ version of ‘Suckerpunch’.

It often does seem a bit forced when bands release these EP’s, but “Lunar Prelude” feels like it’s an adequate introduction into something that is going to be quite special.
With the EP title, we assume that the theme of the next album is going to be something moonlike or astral, but the songwriting here proves that Delain are going all out, and it is most pleasing.
This talented Dutch band is getting better and better… “Lunar Prelude” proves it.
Strongly Recommended

01. Suckerpunch
02. Turn The Lights Out
03. Don’t Let Go [New Version]
04. Lullaby (Live 2015)
05. Stardust (Live 2015)
06. Here Come The Vultures (Live 2015)
07. Army Of Dolls (Live 2015)
08. Suckerpunch (Orchestra Version)

Charlotte Wessels – Lead vocals
Martijn Westerholt – Keyboards
Otto van der Oije – Bass guitar, backing vocals
Timo Somers – Guitar, backing vocals
Ruben Israel – Drums
Merel Bechtold – Guitar

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Lunar-Prelude-Delain/dp/B0195R4NVA
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