Good, honest review, Elodie. Even if the score kinda conflicts with your thoughts in the final paragraph.

Thanks, man! It may look as if the score kinda conflicts with my thoughts because of performance and production which give additional points to the final rating.

In comparison with the previous release, April Rain is a bit weaker but more experimental as well.

Quite a big flaw of the album is the totally uninspiring and cliché lyrics.

In conclusion, we could call April Rain an easy-listening album.

Delain's music could be humorously described as "well-made mainstream female-fronted metal." We shall see if they will surprise us with their forthcoming record...

I couldn't agree more! You read my mind. Well done on the review!

I like Delain, but they are weak, imo.

Wow

LOL, thanks! When I started reading those quotes, it felt as if you were gonna criticize me about the whole review. Nice to know we share similar points of view on this one. And, YES, Delain indeed aren't among the best female-fronted metal acts.

Yes, excellent review Sums up everything I'd have said as well, and it's exactly those totally bland lyrics that keep me from replaying the album once listening to it. I still however, enjoy this album more than their debut, mainly because the production is huge here, and this is more of a band, and less of the (obvious) project feel.

Charlotte sounded great live, even better than her already big improvement on this disc, at last year's MFVF

Thank you, Jason! I'm not sure which Delain album I actually prefer - both have some kick-ass-songs that make me wonder... However, "Lucidity" is definitely better than "April Rain." And it's not only because of all those guest appearances. It sounds more massive and...Symphonic.

Written by Elodie Artour on 22.09.2010 at 14:36

It sounds more massive and...Symphonic.

Because of the number of people participating

Now that I'm listening to "Lucidity" (which I haven't done in quite a while) I can once again state it's definitely more massive and sort of more Symphonic but it's not because of the guest appearances on it. "April Rain" is totally mainstream, whereas the first record is more than just enjoyable; it actually fits the standards of female-fronted metal.

I found both albums interesting and enjoyable in different ways. Delain supposed to be a mainstream band, and as a mainstream band they are great, because all songs has strong compositions. I am looking forward to a new album with a full real orchestra, and I hope that we will get more dynamic music, but even if it won't happen, I am sure that the album will be absolutely great.

Written by Elodie Artour on 22.09.2010 at 15:20

Now that I'm listening to "Lucidity" (which I haven't done in quite a while) I can once again state it's definitely more massive and sort of more Symphonic but it's not because of the guest appearances on it. "April Rain" is totally mainstream, whereas the first record is more than just enjoyable; it actually fits the standards of female-fronted metal.

Sorry, but the first album also is totally mainstream. That sort of female fronted metal is totally mainstream.

I was planning a review for this album, but I don't need to know since you've said it better than I could ^^

@Ag Fox: Haha, nice.

@Marcel: It depends on each single band. As for examlpe, Theatre Of Tragedy were totally not mainstream during their golden era. Symphonic metal, as a whole, is definitely a popular and commercial genre, I agree. Delain are just way too 'mainstreamish.'

It seems like if it comes to Charlotte's live performances, people don't share same opinion. Her voice is indeed weak, though. That's just the way it is - poppy, 'normal,', sweet. However, she doesn't sound that different live compared to the studio versions and that surely is a great thing. In addition, her voice may be a bit weak but she does do a nice job at gigs.

Nice review, although I'm not sure if I agree on tagging Delain as a Symphonic Metal band... they sound more like a Gothic band to me, like Stream of Passion or Within Temptation.

But hey, there so many different sub-styles out there, so who knows what makes a band sound symphonic after all...

Well, before starting to review "April Rain," I was pretty uncertain how to call their music. On here, they were listed as Symphonic metal, so...

By the way, acts such as Stream of Passion and WT have actually nothing to do with Gothic metal. A Gothic metal band is, for instance, Tiamat.

I never was interested in Delain or Symphonic metal, but ur review is well-written .

"Quite a big flaw of the album is the totally uninspiring and cliché lyrics."

Well it is a big flaw of most metal Gothic / Symphonic metal albums .

Unfortunately, you're probably right.

Thanks anyway!

Written by Irritable Ted on 22.09.2010 at 18:39

They are better in the studio than live, as when I saw them I thought Charlotte's vocals were a bit weak compared to someone like Floor Jensen.

That's not really a fair comparison though. A man called William Shakesman once wrote: "What's in a name?" A lot, that's what's in a name. Clint Eastwood is an anagram of old west action, Marie Curie is an anagram of radium came and Floor's first name is such, because she wipes the floor with her competition.

Written by Irritable Ted on 30.01.2011 at 14:40

Written by [user id=105293] on 30.01.2011 at 01:21

Written by Irritable Ted on 22.09.2010 at 18:39

They are better in the studio than live, as when I saw them I thought Charlotte's vocals were a bit weak compared to someone like Floor Jensen.

That's not really a fair comparison though. A man called William Shakesman once wrote: "What's in a name?" A lot, that's what's in a name. Clint Eastwood is an anagram of old west action, Marie Curie is an anagram of radium came and Floor's first name is such, because she wipes the floor with her competition.

OK, here's the translation: Floor Jansen is such a superb vocalist that everyone is weak compared to her, so saying that Charlotte's vocals aren't as good as Floor's is pointing out the obvious.