DELAIN to release ‘Symphonic Dark Waters’ on August 30th

DELAIN to release 'Symphonic Dark Waters' on August 30th

25-08-2023

Dutch symphonic metal legends DELAIN made a surprise announcement yesterday, in which they unveiled that they will release ‘Symphonic Dark Waters’ on August 30th through Napalm Records. The announcement comes right before the final preparations fo the band’s first US tour with the new line-up.

DELAIN mastermind and keyboard player Martijn Westerholt and singer Diana Leah, who swapped identities for the occasion and got very important aid in the video of guitarist Ronald Landa and drummer Sander Zoer, made the announcement on their social media, saying:

Yes! Symphonic Dark Waters will be released next week, Aug 30th via @napalmrecordsofficial on all digital stores!

A selection of our latest album’s favourites in a stripped-down universe where pianos, soft guitars and orchestras will embrace your mind and soul and take you on an exquisite aural journey ✨

The tracklist features a little gem: one of Dark Waters’ most liked songs in a special acoustic version 🤩

Can you guess which one? 💎

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

Een bericht gedeeld door Delain Official (@delainofficial)

Watch the artwork below.

Watch the previously released videos for “Queen Of Shadow”, “Moth To A Flame”, “Beneath” and “The Quest And The Curse” below.

The full track list of ‘Dark Waters‘ was revealed in a video on Instagram by new lead singer Diana Leah and will contain the following songs.
1. Hideaway Paradise
2. The Quest and the Curse
3. Beneath (feat. Paolo Ribaldini)
4. Mirror of Night
5. Tainted Hearts
6. The Cold
7. Moth to a Flame
8. Queen of Shadow (feat. Paolo Ribaldini)
9. Invictus (feat. Marko Hietala)
10. Underland

Watch the announcement of all songs by Diana Leah below.

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

Een bericht gedeeld door Delain Official (@delainofficial)

Along with Westerholt, original guitarist Ronald Landa and original drummer Sander Zoer bolster DELAIN‘s continuity, while new members — Leah and bassist Ludovico ‘Ludo” Cioffi — continue to evolve their sound. Songs like the previously released single “The Quest And The Curse”, as well as “The Cold” (the latter featuring a real, epic choir),lure with a bombastic sound that skilfully 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. “Queen Of Shadow” merges the orchestral and synth-focused soundscapes DELAIN is known for as it weaves melodic heavy guitars that intertwine with orchestral lines and vocal melodies. “Tainted Hearts” is centred around Westerholt‘s keyboard arrangements, which skilfully 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 Leah, Ribaldini and Marco “Marko” Hietala (ex-NIGHTWISH), ending in a bombastic climax where everything comes together.

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.”

With the addition of Diana Leah, the band now is complet again and consists of:

Martijn Westerholt
Keyboards, Orchestrations, Vocals (backing) (2002-present)
See also: Eye of Melian, ex-Within Temptation

Diana Leah
Vocals (lead) (2022-present)

Ronald Landa
Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2006-2009, 2021-present)
See also: Autumn, ex-Infinite Dawn, ex-Hangover Hero

Ludovico Cioffi
Bass, Vocals (growls, backing) (2022-present)
See also: Carnality, Nightland, Sun of the Suns, The Modern Age Slavery, Neker (live), ex-Ne Obliviscaris (live)

Sander Zoer
Drums (2006-2014, 2021-present)
See also: ex-Antares, ex-Nemesea, ex-Secret Rule, ex-Tragul

Watch the previously made statement from Martijn Westerholt, about his continuing band structure below.

Last year, Delain announced to part ways with all its members, saying in a statement:

“Delain Goes Back to its Roots

For the last year or so, the collaboration within the band ceased to work as well as it once had. Some of us were no longer happy with the current roles in the band. We all tried very hard to find a solution for over a year, but sadly we were unable to find one.

As a result, we will all be going our own ways and pursuing our own endeavors. I am very sad our cooperation has come to end, but at the same time I am very grateful for all the years we were able to work together. Together we toured the world, shared highs and lows, and met with many successes as well as times that pushed us to learn and grow. We all enjoyed meeting our fans and making new friends all over the globe. I would like to thank my fellow bandmates and wish Timo, Otto, Joey, and especially Charlotte the very best for the future. And I hope that will mean onwards and upwards to new musical adventures for each of them!

That being said, Delain will live on. The others have chosen to pursue different paths. I have decided to keep Delain alive by continuing on with writing and producing the music for Delain as I always have. I started Delain as a project in 2002 and for the next album I will take it back to a project form, releasing music with special guests. As it looks now many familiar faces will be returning to join me on this journey.

I can’t express my gratitude enough to all of you Delainers that have supported us over so many years. Your dedication to the music and the community you created for us has been overwhelming. Even though this situation is not ideal, change never usually is at first, I hope you will continue to join Delain on its new journey. This is not the end of Delain. It’s the end of a chapter, but also the beginning of a new one.”

Social media