The wait is almost over! Metal greats DELAIN are finally back with their eagerly-yearned-for new studio album, Dark Waters, out tomorrow, Friday, February 10 via Napalm Records! To celebrate this milestone of a bright future to come, the unit around mastermind Martijn Westerholt reveals their final single, “Queen of Shadow”, together with a hauntingly beautiful official music video.
The track merges the orchestral and synth-focused soundscapes DELAIN is known for. It weaves melodic heavy guitars that intertwine with orchestral lines and vocal melodies, marking another powerful example of the fresh new sound that presents the crystal clear voice of frontwoman Diana Leah – shining bright like the early morning sun of a yet untouched day. Supported by Paolo Ribaldini and instrumental expertise, the song displays all aspects and colors of their multifaceted spectrum – ranging from pop, to film score-inspired, to blistering, room shaking metal.
Keyboardist, founder and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt on “Queen of Shadow”:
“’Queen of Shadow’ is a classic example of pure DELAIN-style. Musically it has some really awesome things going on such as harmonic guitars and catchy melodies which are complemented by both the alluring and powerhouse vocals of Diana and our guest singer Paolo.”
In 2022, metal greats DELAIN broke new ground by announcing their new studio album, Dark Waters. With this astonishing piece of art, the chart-breaking outfit sets the stage for the next era, while still sticking to their unique sound that fans and critics alike love – catchy, bombastic tunes full of contrasts and the highest standard of orchestral arrangements.
Fuelled by massive support and enthusiasm all around the globe, songs like their first standalone single “The Quest and The Curse” and recently released “Beneath” lure with a bombastic sound that skillfully combines orchestral melodies, epic heavy riffs and marvelous vocal performances. DELAIN magnificently manages to never lose touch with their characteristic sound, making them a constant without ever standing still. Pop-induced opening track “Hideaway Paradise” shows exactly that by inducing a dream-like feeling flirting with melodic metal guitars, while the ballad-like dark track “Mirror of Night”, featuring Within Temptation guitarist Ruud Jolie, entices the listener with unfathomably catchy lines and melodies. “Tainted Hearts” is centered around Westerholt’s keyboard arrangements, which skillfully showcase the creative roots of the mastermind. “Invictus” is nothing less than the Magnum Opus of the album – a rock opera in its own right with heavy riffing, choirs and vocal parts performed by Diana Leah, Paolo Ribaldini and Marko Hietala (ex-Nightwish), ending in a bombastic climax where everything comes together.
Martijn Westerholt adds:
“This album captures all elements DELAIN is known for – our distinctive heavy guitar riffs, massive orchestral parts, both heavy metal and pop vocals, rock opera vibes along with 80s synth sounds. In short, this is definitely a recognizable DELAIN album that contains classic ‘DELAIN elements’ while also moving forward with fresh influences.”
