Delain new album shelved - fans unhappy

The Dutch symphonic band Delain are due to issue their third album this year, entitled 'We Are The Others'. They've been working on it for a long time and had previewed three new songs in their live set last year. However an interview with keyboard player and founder Martijn Westerholt and singer Charlotte Wessels revealed that the record is unlikely to come out by the time the band return to play live shows in Europe this spring. The interview in full can be read here, but the salient part is that although their label Roadrunner is ready to put the album out, their parent company Warner is not, and according to the band, it is because of a decision taken at executive level. 

On the face of it, this makes no sense at all. To be honest, I'm a bit behind the times here - I always considered Roadrunner to be an independent label specialising in Metal releases; I wasn't aware that they'd been acquired by Warner (in actual fact, they'd taken a majority stake in Roadrunner back in 2006, and bought them out totally in late 2010). If what the band say is true, you have to wonder why a major would buy out a Metal label if they then decide they don't like what the bands on their roster are coming up with? 

There's already a Facebook petition gathering speed to get Warner to change their mind, but you'd think that a band with a growing following (especially in Britain) and two well-received albums out already would have little problem getting their third one released, especially with a tour already booked. 

The days of major record companies deciding what we all hear are over, or so I thought. The Internet took away a lot of their control over what the masses get to hear and the majors still are uncomfortable with that. An executive making a unilateral decision to bury a band's record will not be accepted in this day and age, especially when that band is extremely savvy at using the web to promote itself. Delain's singer Charlotte has a large Twitter following and a regularly-updated blog where she keeps contact with fans. 

I did wonder why it was that Warner would decide to shelve this record considering that their previous one ('April Rain') broke them to a lot of new fans, and although I can only speculate, my feeling is that they've decided that the new material isn't as accessible as before. The new songs aired last year hinted at a departure from that symphonic but catchy sound, maybe they were expecting another 'April Rain'. Of course, we'll only know how different it is when we hear it for ourselves! 

The other theory I have is that the major is focusing on Charlotte herself; again I can only speculate but with the massive success of Adele in the last year or so, maybe Warner see her as someone they can mould into a new star. Certainly her style of singing is unusual in Metal, sweeter than heard in many other bands of this type, and it's possible that record company executives think that if she were given more radio-friendly material she could become 'the next Adele'. Of course I've no evidence to support that theory but, if Warner did want to make a mainstream star of Charlotte then it would be better for them if she did not have a Metal 'past', as it were. Unluckily for them, with two albums under her belt, she already does! 

I did say in a review of the band's show at Leeds two years ago that they'd do well to hold on to her, but I thought that if she were to go solo then it would be on her own terms. She appears committed to the band for the forseeable future but it would not be the first time a record company would try to steer a singer down a different path in order to achieve huge mainstream success. 

Whatever the reasons for shelving the album, speaking as a fan I hope that the campaign does succeed and the record released for those people who want to buy it. Regardless of the album situation, the band will tour in May and intend to perform several new songs from 'We Are The Others', so it would only make sense for the record to be released. 

Of course, where major record companies are concerned, common sense doesn't always apply! 

Here's a trailer for the upcoming tour - if they're coming anywhere near you, go along! 

Charlotte Wessels blog

Delain on Twitter

 

Second Test post

Another test autopost for my forthcoming new music site - this should also appear on mymusic.ronniesoo.com - if I've set it up properly!

All music-related content will still appear on Posterous and Blogger; this is merely an alternative place for the blogs to go. So what to put up? What else, but Delain! Embedded are three clips I shot from their concert at Leamington Spa earlier this year. The band are currently working on their third album and you can follow their progress (including several video blogs) at lead singer Charlotte's own site.

Milk and Honey

 

April Rain

 

Pristine

The site is still being constructed at the moment - more details when it is fully ready!

The Delain meet and greet

Following on from the previous report on Delain's gig at Leamington Spa which I saw last week, here are a few snaps from the post-show meet and greet. 

Glad to get the chance to meet them afterwards since I reckon they'll be massive before much longer!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Photos (apart from CD cover scan) by Peter Arthur.

Caught Live: Delain, Leeds Rio's 25 March 2010

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!

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