Delain is a Dutch Symphonic Metal band founded by keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of Robert Westerholt) in 2002, after leaving Within Temptation the year prior due to Pfeiffer's disease. The band released a demo, Amenity, but Martijn abandoned the project afterwards.
Three years later, joining forces with singer Charlotte Wessels and signing a contract with Roadrunner Records, Martijn restarted Delain, envisioning it as a musical project featuring various guest musicians from symphonic metal bigwigs Epica, Within Temptation, Nightwish, and others. This vision came to bear fruit as Lucidity, released in 2006 despite delays. The live band was then formed as Delain accepted offers to tour around the Netherlands and Europe, and has undergone frequent lineup changes since.
On February 15, 2021, Martijin Westerholt issued a statement via the band's Facebook page, that the other members had decided to leave the group. Westerholt wrote "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." He then said he would be continuing on with Delain as a solo project. Charlotte Wessels also made a statement where she apologized to fans who had been patiently waiting for the band to return to the stage, but "[simply] put, it is the sad conclusion of more than a year of trying to find solutions to built up grievances."
In 2021, Westerholt announced that Delain would become a band again, and said that former drummer Sander Zoer and former guitarist Ronald Landa would be returning to the band. In 2022, bassist Ludovico Cioffi and vocalist Diana Leah were announced as the remaining members. They released a new studio album Dark Waters in 2023, and begun touring extensively again across the Europe and North America.
The band is named after the fictional Kingdom of Delain in Stephen King's The Eyes of The Dragon.
Current lineup
- Diana Leah - Vocals (2022-present)
- Ronald Landa - guitars, backing vocals, harsh vocals (2006-2009, 2021-present)
- Ludovico Cioffi - bass, backing vocals, harsh vocals (2022-present)
- Martijn Westerholt - keyboards (2002, 2005-present)
- Sander Zoer – drums (2006–2014, 2021-present)
Former members
- 2002 lineup:
- Roy van Enkhuyzen – guitars (2002)
- Frank van der Meijden – guitars (2002)
- Anne Invernizzi – lead vocals (2002)
- Martijn Willemsen – bass (2002)
- Tim Kuper – drums (2002)
- Rob van der Loo – bass (2006–2010)
- Ray van Lente – guitars (2006–2007)
- Ewout Pieters – guitars, backing vocals (2009–2010)
- Ruben Israel – drums (2014–2017; live 2013)
- Merel Bechtold - rhythm guitar (2015-2019)
- Charlotte Wessels - lead vocals (2005-2021)
- Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije - bass, harsh vocals (2010-2021)
- Timo Somers - guitars, backing vocals (2011-2021)
- Joey de Boer - drums (2017-2021)
Guest musicians
- Marco Hietala – bass (2006), co-lead vocals (2006, 2009, 2014)
- Ad Sluijter – guitars (2006)
- Guus Eikens – guitars, backing vocals (2006, 2009, 2012, 2014)
- Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums (2006)
- Rosan van der Aa – backing vocals (2006)
- Jan "Örkki" Yrlund – guitars (2006)
- Sharon den Adel - co-lead vocals (2006)
- Liv Kristine - co-lead vocals (2006)
- George Oosthoek - co-lead vocals (2006, 2009, 2012, 2014)
- Alissa White-Gluz - co-lead vocals (2014, 2016)
- Burton C. Bell - co-lead vocals (2012)
- Amenity (2002, demo)
- Lucidity (2006)
- April Rain (2009)
- We Are The Others (2012)
- Interlude (2013, compilation)
- The Human Contradiction (2014)
- The Moonbathers trilogy
- Lunar Prelude (2016, EP)
- Moonbathers (2016)
- Hunter's Moon (2019, EP/compilation)
- Apocalypse & Chill (2020)
- Dark Waters (2023)
The Glory and the Tropes:
- The Anti-Nihilist:
- In "The Tragedy Of The Commons" and "Danse Macabre", the narrator talks about the futility of their efforts and the inevitability of death but decides to live and fight.
- In "Masters of Destiny", the narrator suspects that the higher forces are playing her, then decides to make her own choices anyway.
- "To Live Is To Die" says life is short, urges the listener to be kind and asks, "Tell me how you'll fill the void / Screaming sorrow or screaming joy?"
- Arc Symbol: The hummingbird that first appears on We Are the Others makes appearances on Interlude, Lunar Prelude, Moonbathers, and Apocalypse & Chill.
- Book Ends: "Are You Done With Me?" begins and ends with the same line: "This city drinks and roars."
- Break Up Song:
- "Lullaby" can be read as one of those, with a sinking shipnote as a metaphor for ending relationship.
- "Are You Done With Me?" is a variation, with the singer asking an increasingly distant partner to make a decision about whether or not to end the relationship.
- Central Theme: Death for Moonbathers, though Charlotte says it was inadvertent: she didn't realize how many songs about death she'd written until she was halfway finished.
- Cover Version: Moonbathers features a cover of "Scandal" by Queen.
- Creepy Child: The little ghost boy◊ in the music video for "Frozen."
- Deer in the Headlights: In "Masters Of Destiny," the narrator is frozen in fear as she thinks she can’t fight fate.And like a deer, still I stood on the road
As headlights approach - Determined Defeatist: "The Tragedy Of The Commons."I raise my glass
To another investment
Into the future of wasteland
Well here's to pulling the waistband
But I know at least I thought, at least I fight
At least I know at least I tried
I know I thought, I know I’ll fight
Tonight I kiss the world goodbye
- Destructive Romance: Oh boy, is it ever - whoever the protagonist of the various relationship-related songs is, you do not want to get on her bad side. Special mention goes to "No Compliance", "Milk and Honey," "I Want You," and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."
- Dissonant Serenity: The album cover for Apocalypse & Chill features a woman on a beach chair looking indifferently through her glasses while her surroundings are on fire◊. If you look at the album's title, it's the Apocalypse, and she's chilling out.
- Dramatic Thunder: During the bridge of "Lullaby," thunder is paired with Charlotte's One-Woman Wail.
- Due to the Dead: The name and title track of the group's third album We Are The Others was dedicated to the memory of Sophie Lancaster.
- Exact Words: Hinted in "Danse Macabre"I said I'd walk the mile, not that I'd walk in line
- Give Me a Reason: Inverted in "Vengeance," where this phase is used to offer a Last-Second Chance to a former loved one.
- Green-Eyed Monster: "Invidia" goes right into I Just Want to Be You territory.
- Harsh Vocals: Used occasionally.
- "Hands of Gold" has Alissa White-Gluz growling the bridge.
- "Burning Bridges" includes a Epica-esque roared line at the start of the bridge.
- Heavy Mithril:
- "The Gathering" is about, well, Magic: The Gathering.
- Charlotte has stated point-blank that "Turn the Lights Out" is about Death of the Endless.
- Hollywood Thin/Hollywood Pudgy: Both "Your Body Is a Battleground" and "Army of Dolls" ridicule this concept.
- Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: As per the page image, EVERYONE to Merel.
- If I Can't Have You…: "I Want You" starts out seeming like a typical unrequited-love song; it gradually becomes clear the narrator is a Stalker with a Crush and in the end, implies that she murders her LoveInterest for rejecting her.She'll never send you thrills
If I can't have you no one will - If It Bleeds, It Leads: Mentioned in "The Glory and the Scum".We all live in unforgiving precarious ways
If it bleeds it leads
Is all we seem to hear today - I Just Want to Be You: "Invidia" states it bluntly:I don't wanna be like you
I want to be you - Instrumentals: "Combustion".
- Leave Me Alone!: "Generation Me":I don't need anyone or anything
I'll make it alone
Can't you see it's generation me
We don't need anyone or anything
Just leave me alone - Lighter and Softer: The video and ballad versions of "We Are The Others" compared to the album version.
- Love at First Sight: "One Second" says, "It takes a second just to fall in love."
- Non-Appearing Title: "Frozen", "Sleepwalkers Dream", "Pristine", "Invidia", "Virtue And Vice", "Mother Machine", "Electricity", "Milk And Honey", "The Tragedy Of The Commons", "Danse Macabre".
- Ominous Latin Chanting: "Legions of the Lost" starts with this.Temet Nosce
Acta Non Verba
Temet Nosce
Dum Spiro Spero
Omnium rerum principia parva sunt - One-Woman Wail:
- During the bridge of "Lullaby," Charlotte's otherworldly wail is paired with Dramatic Thunder.
- Charlotte lets out an incredibly epic one on "Masters of Destiny".
- Diana provides one on "The Quest and the Curse".
- Precision F-Strike:
- "Generation Me":All I know is my face looks fucking right
From this certain angle certain light - "Sing to Me":You might want to confess
That we have made
A fucked-up place
That I can not erase
- "Generation Me":
- Protest Song: "Your Body Is a Battleground" does not think highly of the medical-industrial complex.
- Revolving Door Band: There have been multiple lineup changes since the band's revival in 2005:
- For vocals, Charlotte Wessels (2005-2021) was replaced by Diana Leah (2022-present).
- For bass, Rob van der Loo (2006–2010) was replaced by Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (2010-2021), who was then replaced with Ludovico Cioffi (2022-present).
- For guitars, Guus Eikens (2006–2007 session, 2008-2009, 2011-2012) took a backseat role and helps with songwriting. Ray van Lente (2006–2007) left for unknown reasons. Ronald Landa (2006–2009) left to focus on other things and was replaced with Ewout Pieters (2009–2010) who was then replaced by Timo Somers (2011-2021). They also added Merel Bechtold (2015 - 2019) as rhythm guitarist which meant that Timo could become the lead guitarist. Merel left in 2019, once again leaving Timo as the band's only guitarist until his departure. Ronald returned to the band in 2021.
- And for drums, Sander Zoer (2006–2014) left and was replaced with Ruben Israel (2014-2017), who was then replaced by Joey de Boer (2017-2021). Sander returned to the band in 2021.
- Spotlight-Stealing Squad: Everyone other than Martijn, considering it is his band.
- Scatting/Single Stanza Song: "The Monarch", where the tune is hummed for the majority of the song, save for a brief pause in the music 2:20 inI looked at the stripes
The monarch flies
I halt my cries
If my friend
If you can change
Perhaps then so can I - Screw Destiny: "Masters of Destiny".I am the dreamer
I roll the dice and I align
My hands aren't tied
We are the dreamers
We rather die so we're alive
We'll always be
Masters of destiny - Self-Backing Vocalist: Charlotte on most of April Rain, Hunter's Moon, and Apocalypse & Chill. Diana has carried on with this on Dark Waters.
- Self-Deprecation: These lyrics from "Here Come the Vultures", which are strange to think about since when the album was released Charlotte was in her mid-20s and she is (to this day) quite pretty:They said you cannot sing the blues
When you're pretty and young
Let me show you a face that fits to neither one - Social Media Is Bad: "Generation Me" depicts an obsession with social media, targeting Twitter and Instagram in particular.
- Soprano and Gravel:
- Charlotte played this straight, dueting with:
- George Oosthoek ("Lucidity", "Tell Me, Mechanist")
- Marco Hietala ("No Compliance", "April Rain", "The Human Contradiction")
- Ronald Landa ("Virtue and Vice")
- Burton Bell ("Where Is the Blood?")
- Alissa White-Gluz ("The Tragedy of the Commons", "Hands of Gold")
- Twan Driessen ("Art Kills")
- Yannis Papadopoulos ("Vengeance")
- Otto van der Oije (during live performances as well as in "Burning Bridges")
- Timo Somers (refer to Step Up to the Microphone)
- Charlotte also provided her own gravel on occasion.
- In the current lineup, Diana Leah plays this straight with Ronald Landa and Ludovico Cioffi.
- Charlotte played this straight, dueting with:
- Start My Own: Martijn formed the band a year after he left Within Temptation, however, his decision for leaving had nothing to do with creative differences but with health issues, and he had been writing songs for those four years mainly by himself.
- Step Up to the Microphone:
- On April Rain, then-guitarist Ronald Landa contributes Harsh Vocals on "Virtue and Vice" and clean vocals on "Invidia".
- Timo Somers started taking on more prominent backing vocals, both clean and harsh, from Moonbathers onwards. He shared lead vocals with Charlotte on Apocalypse & Chill's "One Second".
- Symphonic Metal: The band wanders between Gothic Metal, Power Metal, and occasionally Progressive Metal but is centered here. They're usually more on the synth end of the symphonic metal spectrum with the focus on the guitars rather than the keyboard backing, but songs like "Burning Bridges" would not be out of place on an Epica or Nightwish album.
- Truck Driver's Gear Change: "The Greatest Escape", where the song shifts from A minor to D♯ minor before the second chorus. In a twist on the usual use of the trope Charlotte's vocals shifts to a lower range when this change occurs.
- Two Girls to a Team: It was this when Merel was a member from 2015 to 2019.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Most noticeable when you see Merel (tomboy) and Charlotte (girly girl) near each other onstage◊.
- We All Die Someday:
- "Danse Macabre" uses a variation:Let the earth cover me
Angels will call for me
But in time
Not tonight - "To Live Is To Die."Life will pass / Like a flash
- "Danse Macabre" uses a variation:
- We Used to Be Friends: "Burning Bridges" and "Vengeance" are about former friends or lovers turning on each other.
- Yandere:
- "I Want You" might sound like one of the usual Silly Love Songs at first, but as it goes on...
- "Chrysalis - The Last Breath" starts nice and comforting to end like this:Don't deny me!
Do you want to try me?
I know exactly what you need
You're nothing without me
- You Are Not Alone: "We Are the Others", title track of the group's third album. According to an interview with Charlotte, after drawing inspiration from the case of Sophie Lancaster (a young British woman attacked and killed in a violent hate crime for expressing her gothic fashion), Charlotte said she wanted "a song about "we are the others" and a feeling of togetherness. On the one hand, being proud of whoever you are, whether you divert from the norm in whatever way you divert from the norm. But on the other hand, it is also kind of a song for "others". We just wanted a song about acceptance".We are the others
We are the castouts
We're the outsiders, but you can't hide us
We are the others, we are the castouts
You're not out there on your own
If you feel mistreated, torn and cheated
You are not alone