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Delain - The Human Contradiction



8 | 246 votes |
Release date: 4 April 2014
Style: Symphonic metal

Owners:

199 have it
15 want it


Disc I
01. Here Come The Vultures
02. Your Body Is A Battleground
03. Stardust
04. My Masquerade
05. Tell Me, Mechanist
06. Sing To Me
07. Army Of Dolls
08. Lullaby
09. The Tragedy Of The Commons

Disc II [limited edition bonus]
01. Scarlet
02. Don't Let Go
03. My Masquerade [live]
04. April Rain [live]
05. Go Away [live]
06. Sever [live]
07. Stay Forever [live]
08. Sing To Me [orchestral version]
09. Your Body Is A Battleground [orchestral version]

Additional info
Producer: Martijn Westerholt.
Mixing: Henrik Udd & Fredrik Nordström.
Mastering: Ted Jensen.
Cover art & photography: Das Buro & Sandra Ludewig.

Staff review by
Ag Fox
Rating:
8.2
Beware! Accessible melodic metal alert!

Now that the wrist-slitting kvlt readers are gone, we can focus on Delain, which hardly needs introducing as one of the more popular female-fronted symphonic metal bands around as an offshoot of sorts from Within Temptation. Loyal readers may recall my scathing review of their previous release We Are The Others, but being a fan of their first two albums, my expectations were still there.

Read more ››
published 07.06.2014 | Comments (11)

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Comments

Comments: 24   [ 2 ignored ]   Visited by: 707 users
19.03.2014 - 13:38
Rating: 8
annodomini

Just received this for review. So far, sounds amazing and surely their best since Lucidity. Only two songs with durations about 3:50, others are much longer. Tougher, stronger sound, and vocal lines and melodies much more original and complex.

And for those who misses Wish I Had An Angel-like songs "Sing to me" is a tune to look for!
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the riddle wants to be...
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27.03.2014 - 19:15
Rating: 8
Dark Forever
Ruído Sonoro
Not as good as Lucidity but definitely better than April Rain and We Are The Others. It's nice to hear gothic influenced tunes from Delain again.
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Taste the DARK...
... and you'll live FOREVER!
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30.03.2014 - 13:31
Rating: 8
PocketMetal

Better than their previous album , but that doesn't say much , eh ? I'm into all kinds of mainstream symphonic metal but this is just not good enough.
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02.04.2014 - 02:54
Rating: 9
EnigmaLake

Huge fan of Delain, even more so since seeing them live finally
April Rain
The Human Contradiction
Lucidity
We Are the Others

I enjoy them all though, this may be my fav by the end of the year. Songs like "Sing to Me" are strong and mature and should have been the single.
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04.04.2014 - 09:34
Rating: 8
annodomini

For me it's definitely their best since Lucidity. They really redefined symphonic metal. When Lucidity was the last from the old sympho gothic masterpieces (World of Glass, Decipher, Mother Earth, Mana...), The Human Contradiction could become the first at this new more complex symphonic metal type.

01. Here Come The Vultures - Probably one of the best they ever done. Charlotte's vocals shines here, and the structure and melodies are more complex than usual. [10/10]
02. Your Body Is A Battleground [feat. Marco Hietala] - If this is not a definition of dystopian metal, then I don't know what is. Those revolutionary choirs at the back and the whole song is just killer.[9/10]
03. Stardust - I found it quite weak at first, but then it grew a bit on me. A pleasant song, but still I count it the weakest on the album. [8/10]
04. My Masquerade - The most fun song of the album, somehow reminds me of 'The gathering" a bit. Love the 69eyes-like choruses. [9/10]
05. Tell Me, Mechanist [feat. George Oosthoek] - One of the heaviest songs in their carrier. Charlotte's voice in chorus sound lovely[9/10]
06. Sing To Me [feat. Marco Hietala] - Absolutely killer. Agressive, melodic, dark and memorable. Marco did another marvelous job here. [10/10]
07. Army Of Dolls - The biggest surprise. It seems that Delain a capable of writing more varied compositions when they want. The middle part of Army of Dolls is just mesmerizing. Another dystopian example. [9/10]
08. Lullaby - Maybe the only song that throws back to We Are The others, but heavier and with more interesting chorus. A straight forward melodic metal song. [8/10]
09. The Tragedy Of The Commons [feat. Alissa White-Gluz] - And then comes something that literally changed my view at todays female fronted metal. I thought no one is capable of creating such a masterpiece anymore. A mixture of Pristine and Ghost Love Score with additional original darker approach. It's just a killer, a definitely the best song this year which closes this album at highest possible note. I am laying my head for these guys for this songs. Tragedy of the Commons made my life more full. [12/10]

10. Scarlet [bonus] - Strange that one of the best songs and ballads of late is just in bonus track. Nevertheless it's amazing song with some great piano clues. [9/10]
11. Don't Let Go [bonus] - Fun song. At first nothing special, but it stuck in my head for few days. [8/10]

So what I like in general is that there are no cliche melodies and poppy sounds. Its more mature and dark album, with all songs being polished to perfection with a clear vision.
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the riddle wants to be...
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04.04.2014 - 22:28
Rating: 8
ohmayhem

I'm really, really impressed with this, especially after WATO and how bland it was. This album kicks absolute ass! Though Lucidity will always be my favorite, this tops the other two by a long shot.
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05.04.2014 - 18:27
Rating: 9
Lord_Agony

Really impressive and they didn't just go and stuff a record after another with mediocre effort and lackluster performance, this is one of the best releases of 2014 so far
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06.04.2014 - 00:14
Rating: 9
rockeru101

With quality of their albums going downhill release after release, We Are The Others being a mediocre album, I didn't have much expectation for this one. Yet I'm very surprised, excellent composition and sound, all songs are good while Charlotte sounds better than ever. Maybe their 2nd best album after Lucidity
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06.04.2014 - 23:13
HyperDrifter

Great comeback after the disappointment of We Are The Others! Very impressed by Charlotte's vocals on this album
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08.04.2014 - 15:21
Rating: 9
Ismarmlp

AMAZING album!!!!
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09.04.2014 - 00:33
ManiacBlasphemer
Black Knight
This band, from this moment ceased to exist as the shadow of Within Temptation. No, they've already surpassed them. Absolutely brilliant album, a perfect candidate for 2014 melodic/gothic symphonic metal album of the year.
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09.04.2014 - 02:20
Rating: 8
Patrick.

Great album! This was a really nice surprise, and was recommended to me by a very good friend (thx man!). Every song is a winner. I'm gonna have to listen some more to this band.
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11.04.2014 - 07:37
Rating: 8
ohmayhem

Written by ManiacBlasphemer on 09.04.2014 at 00:33

a perfect candidate for 2014 melodic/gothic symphonic metal album of the year.


It will be between this and Epica's new one for sure.
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11.04.2014 - 09:02
mikeprado30

Written by ohmayhem on 11.04.2014 at 07:37

Written by ManiacBlasphemer on 09.04.2014 at 00:33

a perfect candidate for 2014 melodic/gothic symphonic metal album of the year.


It will be between this and Epica's new one for sure.


Or Nightwish's next one if it gets released this year
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BARDS WE ARE, BARDS WE WILL BE!
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11.04.2014 - 10:02
Rating: 8
annodomini

Written by mikeprado30 on 11.04.2014 at 09:02

Written by ohmayhem on 11.04.2014 at 07:37

Written by ManiacBlasphemer on 09.04.2014 at 00:33

a perfect candidate for 2014 melodic/gothic symphonic metal album of the year.


It will be between this and Epica's new one for sure.


Or Nightwish's next one if it gets released this year


Tuomas said that it will be out next year.
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the riddle wants to be...
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11.04.2014 - 10:05
Rating: 9
sharkruisher

Never been much into Delain before, but this album is killer. Definitely a lot better than Within Temptation's effort from earlier this year.

My speakers better be ready to play a lot from My Masquarade, Sing To Me and The Tragedy of The Commons this year.
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I have been called many names, and they are all true

Metalhead, long haired bastard, (former) reviewer, Swede, semi-handsome, dingus
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15.04.2014 - 08:52
Rating: 8
annodomini

Written by Irritable Ted on 14.04.2014 at 23:46

Or Xandria or Diabulus In Musica or Amberian Dawn. Ok, probably not Amberian Dawn, but probably the other two. Actually, what about Ancient Bards?

Xandria new album is a strong contender to Delain, but DIM are too weak. It's better than the last one, but not in the same quality as Delain or Xandria. And yes, I'm also thinking of Ancient Bards. Samples and first song sounds amazing so far.
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18.04.2014 - 11:01
Rating: 9
zakapior

The best Delain album without a doubt. It leaves previous three far behind. I love to see how the certain bands grow and get mature in time, this one is a perfect example.
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20.04.2014 - 02:16
Rating: 8
BloodJuNkie
Of Egypt
I wonder, why the "1" rating?
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20.04.2014 - 23:18
Rating: 8
ohmayhem

Quote:
Quote:

Or Xandria or Diabulus In Musica or Amberian Dawn. Ok, probably not Amberian Dawn, but probably the other two. Actually, what about Ancient Bards?


I thought of Xandria and DiM as well, but they're not nearly as well-known as Epica or Delain, so though Argia is fantastic and I bet Sacrificium will be amazing too, they might not get their well-deserved recognition on this site as easily.
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24.04.2014 - 15:44
Rating: 8
PocketMetal

Seems like I judged this album too quickly, the more I listen the more I like it.
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29.04.2014 - 06:14
Rating: 9
DoomRules

This year is for symphonic metal bands with female singers (Delain, within temptation, Epica, Xandria, Diabulus in Musica ...). This album is good, an interesting surprise after We are the others, We must expect Epica and xandria albums , competition is hard.
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There's no light at the end of the tunnel...
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21.05.2014 - 15:29
Rating: 9
Vonpire

Best Delain album without any doubt. A really good surprise!
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Beware the Shadows of Dusk
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16.06.2014 - 05:57
Rating: 9
Wes

Very happy with this
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