Dark Waters (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dark Waters
Studio album by
Released10 February 2023
Length48:00
LabelNapalm
ProducerMartijn Westerholt
Delain chronology
Apocalypse & Chill
(2020)
Dark Waters
(2023)
Singles from Dark Waters
  1. "The Quest and the Curse"
    Released: 9 August 2022[1]
  2. "Beneath"
    Released: 29 November 2022[2]
  3. "Moth to a Flame"
    Released: 10 January 2023[3]
  4. "Queen of Shadow"
    Released: 9 February 2023[4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth7.5/10[5]
Louder Sound[6]

Dark Waters is the seventh studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. It was released on 10 February 2023 via Napalm Records.[2][7]

It is the first studio album to feature Ludovico Cioffi on bass and Diana Leah on lead vocals. The album also marks the return of drummer Sander Zoer and original guitarist Ronald Landa.[8]

Background[edit]

On 15 February 2021, it was announced that Delain's lineup had split up, and that it would be continuing with a new lineup that Westerholt stated would continue to "keep Delain alive", which consists of new and previous members.[9][10]

The band's new lineup was fully announced on the release of the first single, "The Quest and the Curse", on 9 August 2022,[11] as well as announcing their new lead vocalist, Diana Leah.[1] The second single, "Beneath", was released on 29 November 2022.[12] Simultaneously on the same day of the single's release, the band announced the title of their upcoming seventh studio album, Dark Waters, with a release date of 10 February 2023.[2] The third single, "Moth to a Flame", was released on 10 January 2023.[3]

Track listing[edit]

Dark Waters track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Hideaway Paradise"5:18
2."The Quest and the Curse"4:56
3."Beneath"4:59
4."Mirror of Night"4:37
5."Tainted Hearts"4:41
6."The Cold"4:37
7."Moth to a Flame"4:07
8."Queen of Shadow"4:02
9."Invictus"5:30
10."Underland"5:13
Total length:48:00
Bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."The Quest and the Curse" (piano version)3:26
Total length:51:26

Notes[edit]

  • The digisleeve and limited box editions feature a second disc, containing the instrumental versions of the first disc.
  • The limited box edition features a third disc, containing orchestral versions of "Tainted Hearts", "The Cold", "Invictus" and "Underland".
  • A CD titled Symphonic Dark Waters was released in August 2023, containing an acoustic version of "Mirror of Night", a piano version of "Hideaway Paradise", and the orchestral versions from the limited box edition's third disc.

Personnel[edit]

All information from the album booklet.[13]

Delain

  • Martijn Westerholt – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Sander Zoer – drums
  • Ronald Landa – guitars, backing vocals, harsh vocals
  • Ludovico Cioffi – bass, backing vocals, harsh vocals
  • Diana Leah – lead vocals

Additional musicians

  • Rob van der Loo – bass
  • Marko Hietala – guest vocals on "Invictus"
  • Paolo Ribaldini – guest vocals (tracks 3, 8, 9)
  • Ruud Jolie – lead guitar on "Mirror of Night"
  • Mikko P. Mustonen – orchestrations

Production

  • Martijn Westerholt – production, songwriting
  • Jacob Hansen – mixing
  • Svante Forsbäck – mastering
  • Robin la Joy – lyrics
  • Guus Eikens – songwriting

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Dark Waters
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 177
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 35
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 9
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 65
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 10
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[21] 12
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[22] 5

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Delain Announces New Singer, Shares 'The Quest And The Curse' Single". Blabbermouth.net. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Kennelty, Greg (29 November 2022). "Delain Streams "Beneath," Announces New Album Dark Waters". Metal Injection. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Delain Release New Single And Music Video "Moth To A Flame"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Delain - 'Queen Of Shadow' Single And Video Premieres". Metal Storm. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Dark Waters". Blabbermouth.net. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ Leivers, Dannii (8 February 2023). "Delain's grandiose new album Dark Waters is the sound of a band utterly reborn". Louder Sound. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Delain Announces 'Dark Waters' Album, Shares 'Beneath' Single". Blabbermouth.net. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Drummer Sander Zoer returns to DELAIN". Arrow Lords of Metal (in Dutch). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  9. ^ "DELAIN's MARTIJN WESTERHOLT Announces End Of Band's Most Recent Lineup: 'The Others Have Chosen To Pursue Different Paths'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  10. ^ "DELAIN – video-interview with Martijn Westerholt" (in Dutch). 10 September 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  11. ^ "DELAIN To Reveal New Vocalist And Release New Single On August 9th; ProgPower 2023 Show Confirmed". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Delain announces new single 'Beneath' to be released this month". Arrow Lords of Metal. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  13. ^ (2023). "Dark Waters liner notes". In Dark Waters [CD booklet]. Napalm Records.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Delain – Dark Waters" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Delain – Dark Waters" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Delain – Dark Waters" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Delain – Dark Waters" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Delain – Dark Waters" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Delain – Dark Waters". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2023.