Review by Julian Handley
Interlude is Delain’s first release on their new label, containing a mix of new songs, cover versions, remakes of their most popular songs, as well as a handful of live favourites. The album is a thank you from the band, and serves as a stop gap prior to the next studio album. The decision to put out this effort makes perfect sense, as their rise in popularity has soared since last year’s We are the Others release. Delain continue to be so busy, promoting the last effort that their touring schedule is going to take them through in to early 2014. Having bagged the prestigious support slot for Kamelot’s 2013 Fall tour of North America, as well as being confirmed as openers on Within Temptation’s 2014 European tour. Due to their excellent live performances, these shows should guarantee a whole host of new fans as they look to make giant strides in to symphonic metals premier division.
So to the matter in hand, and the first two tracks are the new ones. ‘Breathe On Me’, is a raunchy, gritty number, with Charlotte’s gentle whispered introduction opening the way for the atmospheric/symphonic flames to engulf you with its sheer passion. ‘Collars and Suits’, follows, saturated in attitude, with crunching guitars and haunting keyboards, laying the foundations for the beautiful Miss Wessel’s, to mix the blend with her heaven sent vocals. ‘Are You Done With Me’, gets a commercial reworking.
The covers aren’t necessarily what you would expect, with the originals coming from Talk, Talk (‘Such a Shame’), The Cranberries (‘Cordell’) and the most surprising, yet stunningly brilliant take on Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’. ‘We are the Others’, gets a chilling, balladic make over, a wonderful, melodic tribute to Sophie Lancaster (R.I.P.).
Six live tracks complete an album that will suitably tide over those already familiar with Delain, and the potential hordes of new fans that should come aboard as a result of their touring exposure.
8 out of 10
Track listing:
- Breathe on me (New Song)
- Collars and Suits (New Song)
- Are you Done with me (New Single Mix)
- Such a Shame (Cover)
- Cordell (Cover)
- Smalltown Boy (Cover)
- We are the Others (New Ballad Version)
- Mother Machine (Live)
- Get the Devil out of me (Live)
- Milk and Honey (Live)
- Invidia (Live)
- Electricity (Live)
- Not Enough (Live)
Regarding the limited edition digipack, I’d like to warn people about the FSK 0 sticker. It’s glued on the front of the cardboard and when trying slowly and gently to pull it off, the cardboard tore. I tried to pull from another side and a small piece also tore. I ended up placing my flatiron close to the cardboard and was able to pull it off but the “D” from Delain is loose.
I would suggest people try the flatiron tip from the start, like when trying to pull off a stamp, getting the steam close to the cardboard, not with the flatiron touching it of course.
I contacted Napalm about this. They are not willing to do anything about it. The sticker has to be there because of the DVD (to say anybody can buy it, how useless!). But still, those stickers aren’t made for cardboards (others are or it could be printed directly on the back) and that’s the responsibility of the company to me… Delain didn’t react (yet?).
Plus, it seems on the live songs on the DVD the sound wasn’t the one recorded in that performance. You can hear Charlotte hold a note sometimes yet she’s stopped singing on the video (or it’s an editing issue).
Otherwise, love the album and DVD!
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