Dutch Symphonic Rockers Delain have a history of issuing comprehensive discs crammed with fascinating extras between studio releases. Friday’s Dance With The Devil maintains that tradition. Here, alongside two new crackers, a reworked classic and a brace of instrumentals, are a career-spanning selection of live tracks captured on their recent European trek.
Delain – Dance With The Devil (Napalm Records)
Release Date: 8 November 2024
Words: Sophie James
All told, Dance With The Devil presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the talents of ‘new’ vocalist Diana Leah and the whole rejuvenated lineup. 
“We didn’t say goodbye this time. We didn’t say enough, and it’s too late. I’ll see your face in hell.”
Swirling keyboards and ethereal vocals provide the fanfare to the title track before the dynamic rhythms crash in, characterising the sound that has put Delain at the vanguard of the more accessible realms of the Symphonic Metal scene. The bridge typifies their supreme sense of melody before Diana flows into the above chorus.
Exploring themes of the dissolution of a toxic but compelling love, guitarist Ronald Landa’s mid-number harsh vocals epitomise entirely the anger and animosity towards the fleeing protagonist.
“I still feel the thirst, in my eyes, it hurts” is so delightfully counterbalanced by Diana’s almost whimsical retort of “Until we see the light again, can’t stop the bleeding from within.”
The sound intensifies on second newbie The Reaping, expressing disenchantment with humanity’s path towards inevitable catastrophe.
The intensifying, eddying keys combined with matching incisive guitars produce an introductory whirlpool which is only tempered when Diana takes the plunge. Musically, it orbits closer to Martijn’s former outfit than they have in a good while.
Next is a reworking of the enduring Sleepwalkers Dream which first appeared on the 2006 debut Lucidity. Whether the reason for re-recording was a challenge, a demonstration or a statement, bottom line, it works.
Immediately noticeable is just how much urgency and sparkle is present while sacrificing none of the ambition and sophistication of the original.
Fanbase opinions will no doubt be divided on whether Diana or former vocalist Charlotte Wessels perform the definitive version, but suffice to say, this classic now aligns immaculately with the modern Delain sound.
Here is where we get into the ‘live’ material, which commences with The Cold from last year’s sublime Dark Waters. The roar of the crowd leads into the energetic orchestration, one of many live renditions culled from that superb opus. Such is the ambience, one can almost inject oneself into the venue.
Speaking personally, it comes as no surprise that the number with that album’s most infectious hook is what leads us into this live experience.
“I’m awaiting the sunrise, To awaken my frozen heart for you.”
The gallop of Burning Bridges from 2020’s Apocalypse & Chill follows while Diana truly shines amidst the quirky riffery and guttural growls of the anthemic The Quest & The Curse.
The introductory quadruplet of April Rain is met with a huge cheer, as one would expect for a crowd-pleaser of 10 million plus streams. It is joyous to hear the audience clapping along so fervently during the verses while the urgency of the guitars on the same album’s Invidia contrast marvellously with the relatively restrained crystalline vocals.
The latter also marks the entrance of Italian Tenor Paolo Ribaldini, who lends his multi-octave tones to all that follows. The vocal fusion works so delectably, as Queen Of Shadow makes evident.
On Your Body Is A Battleground (from the now decade-old The Human Contradiction), Ribaldini effusively expands his larynx to reenact the parts originally performed by the unique Marko Hietala, while Moth To The Flame captures the rapturous ambience and infectious vigour as Diana counterbalances the frantic rhythms so impeccably. Oh, to be in those moments.
While Marko has been such a recurring presence on an assortment of popular songs, it is no wonder that someone of Paolo’s calibre has been drafted in to bring the range of exceptional material like Control The Storm fully to life.
The live tracks bristle with vitality and atmosphere, and following the conclusion of this portion, in true Symphonic Metal tradition appear, instrumental versions of both new cuts. Dance With The Devil and The Reaping in case you needed reminding.
My singular disappointment with Dark Waters was the underwhelming fadeout of the sublime Underland. Here was a transcendent piece of thrusting, orchestral and choral magic whimpering out akin to a live TV Broadcast being hastened into those ‘all important’ commercials.
The more I listen to its intro, the more I am reminded of and visualise The Exorcist, but I digress.
I am so thrilled to report that the fade has now been addressed. While the additional 11 seconds might not seem like much, this now possesses the climax and finale such a masterpiece deserves.
Consummate songwriting with pop-like sensibilities, invigorated by symphonic arrangements, razor-sharp guitars, opulent keyboards, and soaring female vocals counterbalanced by both tenor tones and guttural roars. This is a joyous package that provides incontestable confirmation, should it be required, that Diana has seamlessly filled the void left by Charlotte and is a most tantalising taster for the next full studio release.
They kick off their Dark Waters Pt II UK tour next Friday with support from Walsall starlets Stone Broken as well as the golden larynxed Damian Wilson (a one time candidate to replace Bruce, but that’s an altogether different story).
These shows promise to be unmissable. Tickets are available from here. Delain head out to North America in March 2025. Delain – Dance With The Devil is available from here.
Dance With The Devil Tracklist
Dance With The Devil
The Reaping
Sleepwalkers Dream (Rerecorded & Remastered)
The Cold (Live)
Burning Bridges (Live)
The Quest & The Curse (Live)
April Rain (Live)
Invidia (Live)
Queen of Shadow
Your Body is a Battleground (Live)
Moth to the Flame (Live)
Control The Storm (Live)
Dance With The Devil (Instrumental)
The Reaping (Instrumental)
Underland (Alternative Ending)
