Album Review: Delain – Apocalypse & Chill

Every release from Delain comes with some guarantees. You know they will both challenge and ultimately unite, and that it will all be carried off effortlessly, with an enviable amount of panache and charm.

The Dutch collective’s sixth album does not deviate from this path. In fact, it features the best song they’ve ever recorded in Burning Bridges, an epic brilliantly opulent in its carnival of orchestration, melody and impact. And it stands far from alone on this dystopian masterpiece, as the giant Legions Of The Lost proves.

Elsewhere, the thunderous riffs that introduce Chemical Redemption confound expectations, while the exquisite counterpoint of dark lyrics and tunefulness makes Let’s Dance an instant winner. Led as ever by the soothing tones of Charlotte Wessels, Delain masterfully weave electronics with muscle, achieving superb results throughout.

It’s not just the latest chapter in their evolving story, it’s also the greatest.

Verdict: 4/5