Delain – Apocalypse & Chill

7/10

The symphonic metal scene has made a strong move towards the radio friendly orientation in recent years. Instead of the old underground “walking through the woods with hobbits and elves”-sound of the genres emerging days of the late 90’s, most bands has steered their big sounds more towards clean productions, massive choirs and pop hit refrains. Delains new album is anything but an exception from that rule, and strikes you with a modern sound and a hit factor almost worthy of Max Martin. The question is wether this is a good thing or not.

At first I wasn’t sure, I’m not too crazy about this development in the genre, and at first this music felt very modern and very slick. But after giving Apocalypse & Chill a couple of spins, I must submit to the quality of the tunes themselves. The hooks are in just a couple of seconds into the opening track One Second, as Charlotte Wessels voice pierces through the atmospheric landscape before it all breaks out into a catchy hit melody. What then follows is just a string of more powerful hit tracks such all the way through, like the hit tune We Had Everything, the powerful Burning Bridges and the forceful Vengeance. As a whole, Apocalypse & Chill is a piece of really well written, strong and powerful symphonic metal pop, and I can do nothing but lay back and enjoy it.

So after all, I really do like this album! But at the same time, I can still miss those walks through the woods with hobbits and elves that the symphonic metal scene used to give me.

Artist: Delain
Title: Apocalypse & Chill
Label: Napalm Records
Date of release: 7/2-20
Time: 56,10
Rating: 7/10
Standout track: Burning Bridges