Live Review : Delain + CyHra @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on February 7th 2020

Being an absolute In Flames fanboy I was very enticed by the prospect of CyHra as they contain not one but two former members of, in my humble opinion, Sweden’s greatest gift to metal. However, my anticipation was rather deflated when I discovered that not only had Peter Iwers actually left the band back in 2018 to start brewing beer in the suburbs of Gothenburg (teach me not to read the promotional material), but the legend that is Jesper Strömblad is also AWOL apparently taking an extended sabbatical from live performances. I therefore go into tonight’s show with rather low expectations and then preceded to have them blown to pieces. CyHra are everything I was expecting them not to be; heavy, chunky, raw and playful. Whilst their studio albums are enjoyable slabs of slick power-pop, they do no justice to CyHra as a live act. Lead guitarist Euge Valovirta is a former member of Black Metal reprobates Shining (the Swedish one) and that extreme metal heritage shins through (pun intend). His playing is full of weight and malignant energy; dispersing coarse crisp riffs all over the place.

The other revelation is just how good a frontman Jake E actually is. He was rather overshadowed in Amaranthe by both Elize Ryd and Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson, but now he is the only vocalist on stage he really comes into his own. Jake utterly owns the place, perfecting that elusive balance between charisma and humility. He may be just the frontman of the opening act, but he has the crowd eating out of his hand. His voice is also incredible. It soars and fills every nock and cranny of the cavernous Ritz. The energy and enthusiasm that CyHra produce makes them a joy to watch and the sheer fun that they all seem to be having playing together is infectious. Weighty but also mischievous, it was an utter joy to spend half an hour with CyHra.

When in my head I was constructing my potential review for tonight, I was genuinely expecting to be majoring on the future and how Delain’s new album finally sees them move beyond symphonic metal into a much more mature and evolved sound. What I did not equate for was that moment, as essentially what happened after ‘The Gathering' overshadowed the whole of the evening. For those not there, the band bring the fourteen years old track to a climax and the place erupts and just keeps on erupting. It was like they had scored the last minute winner at a World Cup, the crowd go wild and stay wild. The rapturous adulation just builds and builds., wave after wave of euphoric appreciation. I have seen the band perform the track plenty of times before in this very city and never before have I seen it trigger such a reaction. It was like at that point every one of the thousand plus people here tonight decides to vocalise exactly what Delain means to them. 

The band stand shell-shocked, not quite sure what to do but obviously humbled and touched by the immense out-pouring of love from the crowd. Charlotte tries to find words, but with the emotionally charged atmosphere engulfing her and her band mates, she finds that they stick in her throat. It takes a good five minutes for the cheers and applause to finally calm down, but it leaves a lasting impression on both the band and also anyone who witnessed it. It illustrated beyond doubt the unique bond that Delain have with their fanbase. This is a devout audience entranced by the band. There are no part time patsy’s here who have heard one song on the radio, every single punter in the Ritz is a fully paid up apostle of Delain, emotionally invested in the band and fluent in every single word of every single song.

Charlotte tells us on several occasions that is a very special show as it falls on the same day that their sixth album, “Apocalypse and Chill”, has finally seen the light of day. We get eight tracks from it, including the live debut of the haunting 'We Had Everything’. As I have mentioned the album marks a real change in style for the band. The bombastic power-pop has been replaced by a more mature and technical sound. It is still full of melody, but the new stuff has a much more rugged and weighty feel to it. There are obvious nerves from the stage as many of the new tracks are getting only their second live outing, but the band also feel like proud parents, chuffed to show of what they have created. Charlotte’s surprise and pleasure with the amount of people who had already heard the record is both sincere and touching. The evident excitement about being back on the road with new wears to show off spreads across the whole show.

Crackling with vibrant energy, Delain are on fire tonight. Everything seems to click and it is that magical feeling of watching a band perform at the best of abilities that probably accounts for above described extended ovation. They are just so enjoyable, the catchy chords and choruses of 'Not Enough' and 'April Rain' are designed to be bounced and yelled along. As grainy video footage will attest, I just loose myself in the utter joyous gorgeousness of the whole thing. We end with 'We Are The Others’, their upliftingly emotional tribute to Sophie Lancaster. Charlotte comments that the songs has additional resonation when played here in the UK. It provokes a mass sing-along fuelled by both pride and determination. For anyone one of us that has been called out or persecuted for wanting to be different, this is our song. And then with no encore, but with heartfelt and poignant thanks, they are gone. As I hope you can gauge, there was something very special about tonight. It was that perfect storm of a show. A band hyped up about sharing their new material and an audience utterly enrapt with that band. And for me, well I could have danced all night… and did.