Going to Bristol on an evening which was going to end with the beginning of huge storm (currently still raging as I write) was probably not the best idea but hey...he who dares etc. It proved to be a positive decision mind as I will explain later but first some background.
A relatively easy trip to Bristol mean there was time to eat and for my esteemed colleague to do an interview for another publication. After this we met up with some other regular gig going folks and managed to head in for the one and only support. Although the photographer's didn't make it due to the start time being adjusted to a little earlier than billed. Kicking things off were Cyhra (7) a band who have graced these pages before as album reviews with mixed success though there most recent effort was a lot better then their debut. Still having never seen them live I was interested to see what the band featuring Jake E (formerly of Amaranthe) and Jesper Störmblad (In Flames) could do on stage. Alas I didn't realise the Jesper doesn't play with the band live, his place is taken by Marcus Sunesson who plays a mean driving rhythm locking in with Alex Landenburg's drums and as a foil for Euge Valovitra' lead playing. As you can see the band don't have a bassist but they do have Mr Mac Book providing additional sounds. Their brand of melodic metal was met with some silence between the songs, mainly due to unfamiliarity but while they were playing there was enough reception to make the set worthwhile. Jake is a great vocalist and clearly the driving force of the band trying his hardest to get the crowd going and while they were enjoyable it was obvious that the crowd were only here for one reason.
That reason became clear as the headliners took to the stage, a massive cheer erupted when frontwoman Charlotte Wessels strode on stage brimming with confidence, drawing the focus immediately with her shimmering gold dress and flame red hair it's her voice and enthusiasm that have won me over every time I've watched the band. The show started with Burning Bridges the first of 7 from their latest release Apocalypse & Chill (more than half the album). What strikes as almost as soon as Delain (9) begin is how slick they are, they are clearly a well rehearsed live music machine as the rhythm section of Joey Marin de Boer (drums) and the magnificently named Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) pumping out the grooves to every bouncy symphonic metal anthem in the bands repertoire. It's with these songs that they really show why the fanbase in the room was so rabid, you could feel the love in the room as they bounced, clapped and even danced to Let's Dance which from the new album and really comes into its own live.
Suckerpunch and The Hurricane from the previous release came after Creatures and moved into April Rain the solitary track from that early album of the same name, that keyboard riff still sending some chills. We got a stunning rendition of Masters Of Destiny and then the momentum was temporarily derailed by the ballad Ghost House Heart which despite being a great showcase of the musical dexterity of Delain did moot the evening a little, thankfully Timo Somers guitar instrumental Combustion managed to get things motoring again with Hands Of Gold, Not Enough and Don't Let Go all adding fuel to the fire leading to a magisterial rendition of The Gathering from their debut. The pace was back much of saved by the infections joy of Wessels who seemed a little overwhelmed by the reaction of the crowd. During the latter parts of Fire With Fire and Pristine (on which Wessels gave a mind-blowing performance) they even had to take longer breaks due to the clapping and cheering, even coaxing band co-founder Martijn Westerholt down from his keyboard perch at the back of the stage to drink in the adulation (resplendent in a garish shirt).
As the set wound to its end, though I'm sure the room would have happily been there for another hour at least. The set finished with something surprising and something obvious. The surprise was the second ever showing of When We Had Everything where not a note was missed and the final was their now go to set closer We Are The Others, their anthem for those of us that are outside of the perceived norms. For me Delain is a cathartic experience, they are a band that can win over even granite hearted black metal types with their all-inclusive nature, the obvious care they take with their craft and of course a boat load of brilliant songs. With something brewing for later this year I suggest that everyone sees the band at least once.
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