We Are The Others by Delain

I've been looking forward to this album for a long time. Charlotte Wessels is my favorite female vocalist, such a character with a breath taking voice. Martjin Westerholt writing skills flourish in Delain when combined with Charlotte, although apparently all the band had an input in this album. 
Delain's first album saw hauntingly beautiful songs with many singers but Charlotte taking the lead using her voice to devastating effect (listen to Sleep Walkers Dream if you don't believe me), then April Rail saw the band forming properly to pump out this metal album with a more power metal feel. Charlotte switched on what I shall call her 'Diva' voice for April Rain but we know she can also this sort of thing: THIS! Talent which may I add you won't find in most mainstream music, so I was praying for a combination of the two!
Does 'We are the Others' live up to what I hoped? Yes, pretty much. Its a great work, credit goes to all the band! Here's a break down of my thoughts on the songs:

01 Mother Machine ----- 9/10 
      Starting strong, Mother machine has a fantastic intro (reminds me of 'Age of Shadows' by Aryeon) very industrial, this song opens how the album continues. The modern Delain feel of rocky rifts with Charlotte hitting you with her powerful 'diva' voice switched on, yet there's that eery Lucidity feel in the back ground breaking through at times.

02 Electricity ----- 8/10 
      Very listenable, great live, electricity is just a good metal song. I love the piano work at the end.

03 We are the Others ----- 10/10
      I think in an interview Charlotte called this an 'anthem', thats how I see it. Its a song I feel instantly in love with, its a rallying call for people to break the norm if they want, dedicated as the album is to Sophie Lancaster who was murdered for dressing as the Goth (fairly close to where live in the country). Its so catchy and strong! One of those metal anthems!

04 Milk and Honey ----- 7.5/10
      The guitar work in Milk and Honey is may favorite part, it has a metal prog (see Guilt Machine etc) sound I feel. There's nothing wrong with the lyrics or vocals but I don't feel this song works as well as some of the others on the album, still good mind. 

05 Hit Me With Your Best Shot ----- 7.5/10
      Like Milk and Honey there's nothing wrong with this song, I like it, but I find it's weaker compared to the rest of the album. There's a lot going in this song, it ends strong but just lacks something some of the other songs on this album have. 

06 I Want You ----- 7.5/10
      A hot dark love song about somebody in love with someone they can't have so they run them over with their car.... I don't have more to add really.

07 Where is the Blood ----- 10/10
      Where is the blood powers in at track 7 to pull the album back up from a good album to a fantastic one! An incredibly powerful duet between Charlotte and Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory). There's only really one word to describe this song: Strong.

08 Generation Me ----- 8.5/10
      A very 'Delain' song, Charlotte as always using her voice to add that character that makes a good metal song into a great one! About people posting themselves to facebook etc it has a catchy sound like most of this album.

09  Babylon  ----- 8/10
      Its another metal song about Babylon, I swear I could make at least a double CD compilation of  metal songs about Babylon! About a lost (in babylon) relationship falling apart, a common Delain theme. For come reason any chorus that contains the word Babylon sounds slightly better, there's something 'cool' about Charlotte belting out 'Lost in Babylon!'

10 Are you done with me ----- 8.5/10 
      One of my favourites on the album, fantastic sound with Charlotte showing off the high end of her voice something slightly lacking on the rest of the album. Not quiet a 9/10 but over an 8.

11 Get the Devil out of me  ----- 9.5/10 
    Very catchy, very rocky, Charlotte nails the vocals and there's not much left to fault... perhaps that it's too short? 

12 Not Enough ----- 8/10
      A hauntingly beautiful song, perfect end to the album. 

Over all ---- 9/10
A very good album, surpasses April Rain but it still doesn't feel like the best they can do. My only real issue with this album is that I was hoping for a little bit more of that Lucidity feel, although there's certainly more of that haunting vocal and symphonic effect than April Rain. Of course there's a reason for this, Lucidity was a musical project while the Delain we see now is a proper band, a live band at that. Delain blew me away live and I feel that these songs have been written with that in mind, there's less technical sound and vocals on this than Lucid because Lucid wasn't really built for live and this album certainly is!
Personally this is a must buy (but get the special edition with The Gathering on it, as that song is just perfect). I think people will take different favorite songs off this album and it makes good listening, doesn't bore you. It's their best album to date but it's not a 10/10. Save that 10/10 for a later album perhaps? I'm sure Delain have a good few albums left in them, Thank god.  

Interview and album stream here: http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/music_and_videos/music-delain-stream-their-new-album-in-its-entirety/

Album: The Wicked Symphony by Avantasia

Tobias Sammet seems just as dedicated to his amazing project, Avantasia, as he is to his "day" job, fronting Edguy. With their new album, The Wicked Symphony, we should really stop thinking of Avantasia as a "project" and consider them to be a fully formed band. The Wicked Symphony is a sheer joy to anyone who appreciates melodic metal. The Metal Opera carries on.

This time around Tobias has decided to throw us a full album of multi-vocalist majesty. Returning from The Scarecrow we have Jorn Lande, Bob Catley, and of course Michael Kiske, rounding off the guests we have Russell Allen, Andre Matos, Klaus Meine, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and Ralf Zdiarstek. Tobias' band this time consists of legends Sascha Paeth and Michael "Miro" Rodenberg handling guitars and keyboards respectively as well as drummer Eric Singer who should really need no introduction. Not to mention a host of guest musicians usual of Tobias' projects. An impressive line-up by any standards, perhaps even comparable to the sort of line-up we see with Ayreon and Star one.

Opening up with the massive title track, straight off the bat we're treated to 9 minutes of superb melodic metal, three-way vocal performances from Jorn, Russell and of course Tobias, already the smile is from ear to ear – massive chorus that's insanely melodic. "Wastelands" is a track usual of Avantasia and of course featuring Michael Kiske it's not hard to guess that it's a kick ass Power Metal number, again superb and another choice chorus. Which is where The Wicked Symphony really comes into its own – I would certainly go as far to say this is the catchiest I've heard Avantasia at. Every song is an utter pleasure to listen to, look no further than "Dying for an Angel" again usual of Tobias drawing similarities to tracks such as "Lost in Space" or "Superheroes" although entirely more enjoyable.

Fortunately The Wicked Symphony remains truly enjoyable throughout, and it's certainly hard to pick favorites among the listing. "Runaway Train" boasts a theatrical theme that is very well utilized and doesn't fall into the gay territory a couple of bands have stumbled into in the past trying this sort of thing. "Blizzard on a Broken Mirror" certainly speaks to me as becoming a favorite with Andre Matos really shining in his vocal parts, the song very suiting to his vocals.

Overall: 4/5 - A great installment in 'The Wicked trilogy' metal opera keeping up the tempo, pace and quality. Definitely worth a listen even for people who aren't fans of Edguy.

buy it here

Disagree or just want to say what you think? Feel free to comment down below ;-)