Four months ago I'd never heard of this band, now I'm taking a long drive across the Pennines into Yorkshire to see them play live. What's the deal here then?
Delain are a band that started out as a studio-based vehicle for Martijn Westerholt, formerly the keyboard player of Dutch symphonic metallers Within Temptation, and brother of that band's guitarist Robert. Recruiting vocalist Charlotte Wessels, the duo recorded their first album 'Lucidity' using a substantial number of guest musicians, including Sharon den Adel from Westerholt's former band and the ubiquitous Marco Hietala, who appears on many projects but is best known for his role in Nightwish.
When the album became a success, Delain were forced to rethink their ideas and eventually formed a full band to tour with. Their second album 'April Rain' came out in early 2009 and it was later that year that the line-up began to stabilise, with the band touring Europe including some UK dates in support to Sonata Arctica. They feature a conventional symphonic line-up, with Westerholt and Wessels joined by a guitarist who doubles up on the inevitable 'cookie monster' vocals (Ewout Pieters, since 2009) a new bassist (Otto 'The Baron' Schimmelpenninck van der Oije - I think 'Otto' will do!) introduced only on this tour and drummer Sander Zoer. This tour sees the band headlining the regular rock club venues where previously they were supporting, and if the turnout at Leeds was anything to go by, drawing a good crowd where they play. Rio's is a rather small venue; set in a shopping mall it is not the easiest place in the world to find if like me, you're not a Loiner*
After three circuits of the area (the sat-nav kept misdirecting me!) I gave up and parked where I could, and walked. In the wrong direction! I had no clue where I was although the place was not far away, and in the end it was only when I spotted a long-haired guy wearing a laminate walking down the street that I thought I'd find the place. He was carrying a McDonalds meal in a paper bag, he must have been sent out to find some food, rock 'n' roll! 
Sure enough, he led me right to the venue although he was probably unaware he had a lost metal fan tailing him (!) When I got in, the place was already fairly full. The inside reminded me a bit of Liverpool's Carling Academy (the downstairs part) but in reverse; the bar is to the right hand side and there are steps onto the main floor, with a raised part at the back. All of the decent viewing areas looked full while support Achilla were on, so I watched them on a handy TV monitor for their last two numbers. They didn't leave a lasting impression on me, apart from reminding me a little of Doro Pesch and Warlock from the 80s. However two songs was probably not enough to judge them on so I'll reserve judgement until I see them properly another time.
When they finished I did manage to sneak onto the main floor and get a fairly decent spot over to the left hand side of the stage. As is so often the case at these places, there were two beanpole fans in the middle of the crowd so it was a job to find somewhere to stand which was not directly behind them! The crowd settled and before too much longer, Delain came on stage, led by their guitarist and splendidly-named new bassist. The crowd (mainly comprising 30/40-something blokes like me!) roared in approval when Charlotte Wessels appeared; with long flowing dark brown hair and a long black dress, she made me think of a young Charlotte Rampling! Opening with 'Invidia' from the new album, the sampled backing vocals made me wonder if the set was going to be peppered with samples as so many bands of this type tend to do. However this band were far less reliant on the machinery; there was room in the music for Wessels to express herself vocally and for guitarist Ewout Pieters to play lead guitar, again more than other bands of this genre tend to do. What really impressed me was that when they did songs which on record, featured guests ('Control The Storm' featured Marco Hietala on the chorus, for example), rather than using a sample of the recorded vocal it was in fact Wessels who would sing it. She is no Hietala (thankfully, with all due respect to Marco!) but it was good to see the band tackle the material live as they were, as opposed to hitting the play button when the part required someone who was not on the stage with them. For the song 'The Gathering' Hietala's vocal parts were covered more than adequately by Pieters.
Wessels was a revelation; she had the crowd in her spell throughout, her rather honeyed vocals excellent and she appeared delighted at the reception given to her band by the crowd. With her movie-star looks she has the lot - in fact I'd go as far as to say Delain will do well to hang on to her, since she is destined for stardom with or without this band. Her style of vocal - silky smooth and seductive - is not what you'd think of as a typical Metal voice, but it works and marks out Delain from their symphonic metal contemporaries. They left to prolonged applause and cheers, with the singer promising that the band would return soon. If they keep that promise, let's hope for more dates this side of the Pennines, and I would guess that they will follow in the footsteps of Within Temptation and be playing much bigger venues next time round.
It's been a long time since I was this impressed by a band I'd never seen before but Delain's gig is an early contender for gig of the year. Just remember that name: Charlotte Wessels - you'll be hearing a LOT more from this lady!
*someone from Leeds!
Sure enough, he led me right to the venue although he was probably unaware he had a lost metal fan tailing him (!) When I got in, the place was already fairly full. The inside reminded me a bit of Liverpool's Carling Academy (the downstairs part) but in reverse; the bar is to the right hand side and there are steps onto the main floor, with a raised part at the back. All of the decent viewing areas looked full while support Achilla were on, so I watched them on a handy TV monitor for their last two numbers. They didn't leave a lasting impression on me, apart from reminding me a little of Doro Pesch and Warlock from the 80s. However two songs was probably not enough to judge them on so I'll reserve judgement until I see them properly another time.
When they finished I did manage to sneak onto the main floor and get a fairly decent spot over to the left hand side of the stage. As is so often the case at these places, there were two beanpole fans in the middle of the crowd so it was a job to find somewhere to stand which was not directly behind them! The crowd settled and before too much longer, Delain came on stage, led by their guitarist and splendidly-named new bassist. The crowd (mainly comprising 30/40-something blokes like me!) roared in approval when Charlotte Wessels appeared; with long flowing dark brown hair and a long black dress, she made me think of a young Charlotte Rampling! Opening with 'Invidia' from the new album, the sampled backing vocals made me wonder if the set was going to be peppered with samples as so many bands of this type tend to do. However this band were far less reliant on the machinery; there was room in the music for Wessels to express herself vocally and for guitarist Ewout Pieters to play lead guitar, again more than other bands of this genre tend to do. What really impressed me was that when they did songs which on record, featured guests ('Control The Storm' featured Marco Hietala on the chorus, for example), rather than using a sample of the recorded vocal it was in fact Wessels who would sing it. She is no Hietala (thankfully, with all due respect to Marco!) but it was good to see the band tackle the material live as they were, as opposed to hitting the play button when the part required someone who was not on the stage with them. For the song 'The Gathering' Hietala's vocal parts were covered more than adequately by Pieters.
Wessels was a revelation; she had the crowd in her spell throughout, her rather honeyed vocals excellent and she appeared delighted at the reception given to her band by the crowd. With her movie-star looks she has the lot - in fact I'd go as far as to say Delain will do well to hang on to her, since she is destined for stardom with or without this band. Her style of vocal - silky smooth and seductive - is not what you'd think of as a typical Metal voice, but it works and marks out Delain from their symphonic metal contemporaries. They left to prolonged applause and cheers, with the singer promising that the band would return soon. If they keep that promise, let's hope for more dates this side of the Pennines, and I would guess that they will follow in the footsteps of Within Temptation and be playing much bigger venues next time round.It's been a long time since I was this impressed by a band I'd never seen before but Delain's gig is an early contender for gig of the year. Just remember that name: Charlotte Wessels - you'll be hearing a LOT more from this lady!
*someone from Leeds!
No comments:
Post a Comment