Delain are back with a follow-up to their excellent album The Human Contradiction, in the form of an EP entitled Lunar Prelude – a title that alludes to a more substantial release to hopefully follow before the year is out.
At eight tracks in duration, at first glance it may seem like a hefty release for a mere EP but when you look a little closer you’ll realise that it actually only features two new offerings from the band and whilst the two songs are admittedly good, it does feel like the EP has been bulked up with some fillers – the four live tracks don’t have the same sort of sparkle as they do when you witness them in person.
However, as mentioned earlier, the two brand new songs sound excellent, serving as a nice teaser for what we can hopefully expect from Delain’s next full-length album. Suckerpunch gets things moving right away with smooth vocals atop of simplistic-yet-effective synths, and when the whole band kicks in, the change in texture is stunning and really leaves an impression on you. The male backing vocals, whilst simplistic, also add a lot to the track and give it an extra lift. Turn The Lights Out, meanwhile, sees frontwoman Charlotte take a more classical approach with her vocals and it shows another side to the band, especially with the darker orchestral section in the middle of the track.
As a whole, Lunar Prelude is a good listen but it definitely leaves the listener wanting more – hopefully our appetites will be satisfied with their next album.
6/10
