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Delain: Lunar Prelude (EP)

Symphonic Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

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Napalm Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.02.2016

As the title suggests, the Lunar Prelude EP arrives in advance of new full-length album from symphonic metal band Delain scheduled also for this year. Perhaps only to whet the appetite of long time fans.

Delain

There's not much to say here. If you like Delain's female-fronted symphonic metal, you'll enjoy this offering. But to break it down. There's two new songs at the start. Suckerpunch is a tight symphonic rock groove infused, catchy number. Turn The Lights Out allows the rock groove to be more subtle, bumping up a more somber and lighter character to the song. Both have beautiful lush vocal arrangements. There's a reworking of Don't Let Go from 2014's The Human Contradiction. I don't remember the previous one, so to comment on differences would be stupid. Nevertheless, this new version sounds just fine, more bombastic symphonic metal. Four live cuts follow: Lullaby, Stardust, Here Come The Vultures, and Army of Dolls, all from Delain's 2015 touring. Also, these songs sound fine, if only a bit too immaculate in the live setting. The EP close with shortened version of Suckerpunch in an instrumental orchestral verson, once more, quite nice. The fundamental question, I guess, is this worth your time and precious coin? For the diehard Delain fan, the answer is yes. Also, the answer is the same for the person who has never heard the band. Lunar Prelude would be an appropriate introduction. Otherwise, if the two new tunes are going to be on the new album (which I don't know), I might suggest just waiting. You can listen to Suckerpunch right here anyway.

DELAIN - Suckerpunch (Official Video) | Napalm Records

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There's not much to say here. If you like Delain's female-fronted symphonic metal, you'll enjoy Lunar Prelude.

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