ALBUM REVIEW: Apocalypse & Chill – Delain

Whilst they may not sit at the same lofty heights as NIGHTWISH and WITHIN TEMPTATION, to disregard DELAIN as legitimate force in symphonic metal would be doing the band a great disservice indeed. With a career approaching close to two decades and a consistently strong studio output, the band have become an essential pillar within the genre. Looking to build upon the success of 2016’s Moonbathers comes Apocalypse & Chill, the band’s sixth full-length effort.

Picking up where Moonbathers left off, Apocalypse & Chill sees the band continue to develop and refine the sound that had been such a hit previously. The metallic-driven guitars and pounding drums are beefed up, the orchestration from band mastermind Martijn Westerholt across the record is spot on and Charlotte Wessels delivers her best vocal work to date. Opening number One Second kicks the record off in the best possible manner as snappy guitar work from Timo Somers keeps the tempo flowing at a steady pace and the interchanging vocals between Wessels and bassist Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije feels dynamic. It’s a solid start to the record.

DELAIN‘s success has been the result of their ability to craft catchy and memorable hooks and with Apocalypse & Chill, the band deliver them in spades. We Had Everything‘s juxtaposing metallic riffs offer the perfect counter to the radio-friendly synths, the slick riffing on Chemical Redemption makes it abruptly clear that the band know how to up the ante whilst Wessels‘ vocals soar above the gorgeous orchestration and Burning Bridges might possibly be one of the strongest songs DELAIN have ever created. The orchestration is simply superb, the thunderous riffing keeps the pace flowing at breakneck speed and Wessels hits new heights with her magnificent vocal deliveries.

In fact, Apocalypse & Chill is consistently strong across its runtime with rarely a dull or uninspired moment surfacing. Vengeance benefits from a solid cameo from BEAST IN BLACK‘s Yannis Papadopoulos who duets with Wessels remarkably well, To Live Is To Die‘s bombastic opening subsides into an ethereal charm that raises the hairs on the back of your neck and Let’s Dance is an instant earworm thanks to the exquisite vocal melodies and the mid-tempo stomp of the guitars.

Even in the record’s closing stages, DELAIN still go for the jugular and refuse to take their foot off the gas. Creatures‘ offers glimpses into the heavier end of their musical spectrum as colossal riffing with the destructive firepower to level a building kicks the song off with a bang before the synths and soothing vocals take centre stage whilst Masters of Destiny is an anthem in the making. Here, Wessels‘ vocals flow from a delicate flourish to grand operatic bouts that soar and the way in which she combines with Westerholt‘s orchestration is an utter triumph.

Apocalypse & Chill doesn’t stray off the beaten path, the album certainly doesn’t present any grand reinvention to their craft. But, when the hooks are this catchy and the end product is such a triumph, would you really want them to? What this album shows is a band who are reaching their creative zenith. With every element of their musical repertoire firing on all cylinders, Apocalypse & Chill is the best album DELAIN have ever written.

Rating: 9/10

Apocalypse & Chill is set for release on February 7th via Napalm Records. 

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