Lucidity

by Delain

Overview

Pomp metal doesn't come any more, well, pompous than Delain's, as was made apparent on the Dutch ensemble's very first offering, Lucidity, released in 2006 by Roadrunner Records. That's because Delain are the brainchild of former Within Temptation keyboard player Martjin Westerholt, whose lengthy experience and considerable contacts helped him marshal a veritable army of vocalists and musicians to perform on this album (as stated above, this was an ensemble more so than a band), which goes some way toward explaining why it sometimes sounds like there's an entire symphony orchestra whose members are elbowing each other in the studio. An orchestra, it should be noted, in which guitars most definitely play a secondary or at least subservient role to Westerholt's omnipotent keyboards, and, in combination with the surprisingly slack, one-dimensional pacing heard throughout, really dampens Lucidity's appeal for the metallic audience (most will be fast asleep by the time the energetic "A Day for Ghosts" arrives near the end). Amidst all this, it's apparent that singer Charlotte Wessels has a very lovely voice, as pure and powerful as any other Euro-metal diva, but ultimately lacking enough individual identity to stand out from peers like Sharon den Adel and Liv Kristine -- both of whom make cameos here. The same is true for her supporting cast, and so the incredibly lush orchestration and operatic grandeur found on "Sever" and "Sleepwalker's Dream" wind up smacking of vintage Nightwish (Marco Hietala's intolerably forced guest vocals on other cuts don't help), while the violin-like articulation and Cristina Scabbia-like tones heard on "Frozen" and "Daylight Lucidity" definitely bring Lacuna Coil to mind. Worse still, closer "Pristine" is only narrowly saved from a fate worse than Evanescence by some unexpected Cookie Monster growls, which come from absolutely nowhere, and return there just as quickly. All this, in sum, amounts to an extremely poised, professional, beautifully executed album, sadly lacking in personality, but for anyone oblivious to the many bands it footnotes, Lucidity could very well feel like an all-out masterpiece. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2011
Label:	Roadrunner Records
UPC:	0016861805722

Tracks

1. Sever
2. Frozen
3. Silhouette of a Dancer
4. No Compliance
5. See Me in Shadow
6. Shattered
7. The Gathering
8. Daylight Lucidity
9. Sleepwalkers Dream
10. A Day for Ghosts
11. Pristine
12. (Deep) Frozen
13. Frozen [Acoustic]
14. Silhouette of a Dancer [Acoustic]
15. See Me in Shadow [Acoustic]
16. No Compliance [Charlotte Vocals]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Delain   Primary Artist
Marco Hietala   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Guus Eikens   Guitar,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus
Liv Kristine   Vocals
Ad Sluijter   Guitar,Soloist
Sharon den Adel   Vocals
Arien Van Weesenbeek   Drums
Rosan Van Der Aa   Choir/Chorus
Charlotte Wessels   Vocals
Rob Van Der Loo   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Ronald Landa   Guitar
Sander Zoer   Drums
Jan Yrlund   Guitar
Rupert Gillett   Cello
Oliver Philipps   Piano,Guitar,Keyboards,Orchestra,Guest Artist
Martijn Westerholt   Piano,Keyboards,Orchestra,Synthesizer
Ray Van Lente   Guitar

Technical Credits

Reine Doze   Composer
Guus Eikens   Composer,Lyricist
Robert Westerholt   Composer
Stefan Helleblad   Mixing
Alexander Krull   Vocal Engineer
Charlotte Wessels   Composer,Lyricist
Jan Yrlund   Composer
Oliver Philipps   Mixing,Producer
Oliver Phillips   Arranger
Toni Haerkoenen   Photography
Christian Moos   Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Thomas Eberger   Mastering
Martijn Westerholt   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Delain   Composer
Karen Rosetzsky   Photography
Wilberto Van Den Boogaard   Photography
Rein Doze   Composer,Lyricist
Kai Joachim   Photography
Daniel Gibson   Vocal Engineer
Tero Kinnunen   Bass Engineer,Vocal Engineer