“[After the break-up] I was thinking, is there enough DELAIN DNA to continue?”

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Photo Credit: Andrea Falaschi

Dutch Symphonic Metal act DELAIN has risen up from beneath the dark waters from which they had sunk. 2021 saw all but one member depart from the group, leaving DELAIN keyboardist and founder Martijn Westerholt to ponder his next move. One option for Westerholt was to revert the band back to a solo project as it was for their debut 2006 album Lucidity.

However, it was a call from a couple of old friends that motivated Martijn to keep DELAIN as a band and live entity. On February 10, 2023, DELAIN will release their 7th studio album Dark Waters with new songstress Diana Leah at the helm. I had the chance to catch up with Martijn Westerholt to find out more about DELAIN’s return.

Highlights include:

-Rebuilding the band after its break-up
-Discovering new vocalist Diana Leah
-Was the new album complete before new members arrived?
-Discussion of Dark Waters album
-Guest vocalist Paolo Ribaldini (SKILTRON)
-Appearances by Marco Hietala (ex-NIGHTWISH) & Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION)
-How the album’s Victorian artwork represents the band
-European spring tour & fall US tour
-His EYE OF MELIAN side-project
-Composers that inspire him
-And much, much more

www.delain.nl