Best of February 2020
Lets jump right in because HOLY SHIT am I excited!
Delain - Apocalypse & Chill
I already love Delain. I think Charlotte is one of the best vocalists in metal. Not symphonic or epic metal, in metal period. I also love how catchy they are and how tight they are instrumentally. So it's no small thing when I say this is by far their best work, possibly one of my favorite albums ever written.
Musically this album is immaculate. They explore, I'm not joking, everything! Just the music alone takes you on a journey. If this were an instrumental album it would still be incredible. The synths are perfectly utilized which, along with the bass and drums, drives the album forward while allowing the guitars and vocals to reach out to every conceivable corner of possibility. It's dark, tragic, and emotional.
Timo lays down some heavy as fuck guitar riffs throughout this gem. He has some seriously sweet sounding solos on the album too.
Vocally it is of course, perfect. Again I would argue that Charlotte could do an a capella album and still take you on a journey. Charlotte is let loose on this album, she was able to go more places on this album than any of their previous releases. The male vocals are used expertly in every instance they are used throughout the album. The contrast makes for some beautiful moments.
When you put all of these together what you have is an album with a lot of contrast, a lot of push and pull, but unified and flowing. There are moments for everyone to shine on this album as well. Delain has always been Charlotte driving the ultra catchy, poppy hooks. Apocalypse & Chill isn't different in that regard. But there are moments where guitar and synth get to take the wheel.
The album is diverse in style too. As always big, epic hooks are there. The symphonic elements are there. But where I think they have outdone themselves is the huge orchestral elements, djent elements, thrash elements, prog elements, and so on and so on, all flawlessly blended into the album.
Delain has certainly carved out there own niche within the symphonic/epic metal scene. but they often get discounted by many because they "don't have their own identity". It is said they have traits of Epica, Nightwish, Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil. That is technically true. They do share some common ground with all of them. But that is exactly what makes them unique. This album is a perfect representation of that. They do it all well. They are expert musicians who write insanely great music. Apocalypse & Chill far and away the best yet. Everyone is looking for the heaviness of Epica or the movie score style symphony of Nightwish. But they don't have to go all out on one style. They don't need a gimmick or a sound they specialize in. They can do whatever they want, and they did it here.
Delain has written a masterpiece. A journey in a singular direction from front to back, but taking the time to explore every stop along the way. They have mastered a simple complexity. They let things get just loose enough to be endlessly engaging, while remaining very much focused.
Plus they sound flawless live. Oh... My brother and I did shots of fireball with Otto too. Not saying that's why I just gushed over this album, but it didn't hurt things any.
Sylosis - Cycle of Suffering
There is nothing exceptional or special about this album. There isn't anything bad about it either. It's just a great, middle of the road death/deathcore album.
That's really all I have to say about it. I didn't find myself particularly invested in the album while listening, but I didn't want to turn it off either.
As always a Spotify playlist
I already love Delain. I think Charlotte is one of the best vocalists in metal. Not symphonic or epic metal, in metal period. I also love how catchy they are and how tight they are instrumentally. So it's no small thing when I say this is by far their best work, possibly one of my favorite albums ever written.
Musically this album is immaculate. They explore, I'm not joking, everything! Just the music alone takes you on a journey. If this were an instrumental album it would still be incredible. The synths are perfectly utilized which, along with the bass and drums, drives the album forward while allowing the guitars and vocals to reach out to every conceivable corner of possibility. It's dark, tragic, and emotional.
Timo lays down some heavy as fuck guitar riffs throughout this gem. He has some seriously sweet sounding solos on the album too.
Vocally it is of course, perfect. Again I would argue that Charlotte could do an a capella album and still take you on a journey. Charlotte is let loose on this album, she was able to go more places on this album than any of their previous releases. The male vocals are used expertly in every instance they are used throughout the album. The contrast makes for some beautiful moments.
When you put all of these together what you have is an album with a lot of contrast, a lot of push and pull, but unified and flowing. There are moments for everyone to shine on this album as well. Delain has always been Charlotte driving the ultra catchy, poppy hooks. Apocalypse & Chill isn't different in that regard. But there are moments where guitar and synth get to take the wheel.
The album is diverse in style too. As always big, epic hooks are there. The symphonic elements are there. But where I think they have outdone themselves is the huge orchestral elements, djent elements, thrash elements, prog elements, and so on and so on, all flawlessly blended into the album.
Delain has certainly carved out there own niche within the symphonic/epic metal scene. but they often get discounted by many because they "don't have their own identity". It is said they have traits of Epica, Nightwish, Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil. That is technically true. They do share some common ground with all of them. But that is exactly what makes them unique. This album is a perfect representation of that. They do it all well. They are expert musicians who write insanely great music. Apocalypse & Chill far and away the best yet. Everyone is looking for the heaviness of Epica or the movie score style symphony of Nightwish. But they don't have to go all out on one style. They don't need a gimmick or a sound they specialize in. They can do whatever they want, and they did it here.
Delain has written a masterpiece. A journey in a singular direction from front to back, but taking the time to explore every stop along the way. They have mastered a simple complexity. They let things get just loose enough to be endlessly engaging, while remaining very much focused.
Plus they sound flawless live. Oh... My brother and I did shots of fireball with Otto too. Not saying that's why I just gushed over this album, but it didn't hurt things any.
Sylosis - Cycle of Suffering
There is nothing exceptional or special about this album. There isn't anything bad about it either. It's just a great, middle of the road death/deathcore album.
That's really all I have to say about it. I didn't find myself particularly invested in the album while listening, but I didn't want to turn it off either.
As always a Spotify playlist
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