Dark Waters is the seventh studio album by the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. It was released on 10 February 2023 via Napalm Records.
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.
Contents
Background
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.
The band's new lineup was fully announced on the release of the first single, "The Quest and the Curse", on 9 August 2022, as well as announcing their new lead vocalist, Diana Leah. The second single, "Beneath", was released on 29 November 2022. 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. The third single, "Moth to a Flame", was released on 10 January 2023.
Track listing
Notes
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
All information from the album booklet.
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
Nathan Cairo – recording
Robin la Joy – lyrics
Guus Eikens – songwriting