Independent (label)
22 December 2017 (released)
31 January 2018
On their latest album, California dark dance ensemble Delta-S weave together the driving and traditionally cold styling of psytrance with the explosive rage and emotionality of industrial to create a vibe that is both callous and vulnerable. An armour to wear against those forces that seek to depose you. The December release of Coven is the final installment in a trilogy that began with 2008's Voyage to Isis and 2015's The Mortal Coil. This last piece details a coven of vampires and a story of betrayal for the land of the light. If it sounds like something out of a fantasy novel or video game, it's because Delta-S very much designed it that way. Mastermind Lyte sees his pieces as personifying personal struggles in the context of epic fantastical battles. Inspired by grandiose atmospheric industrial outfits like The Birthday Massacre and How to Destroy Angels as well as movie composers like the great Hans Zimmer, Delta-S has created a worldwide in scope and deep with love, fear, pain and dire stakes.
'Letters to the Lost' opens the album with an ominous narration, setting the scene for the immortal tale to be told. Windswept synths announce the entrance of Lyte. His cascading vocals backed by war drums and eventually met with monstrous guitars delivering riffs like stone pillars, plodding and substantial. The heavy guitars spill over into 'Rage into Blindness (Immortal Mix), pouring into the cybertronic soundscape of arpeggiating synths. Lyte is joined by a serene voice. The climax of Lyte's blood-curdling growl alongside his female partner makes for a powerful “bark at the moon” moment.
'Death at Dawn' takes a step back from the adrenaline pace. A downtempo beat and ethereal synths are all this track needs to lay down a hypnotic mood. Horror movie soundbites fill in the bridge acting as another narrator to the Coven's story. 'We Are the Ravens' also begins with a slick trip-hop intro before swelling uncontrollably to an eternal battle chorus.
Coven is an album custom built for its audience. The sounds, the lexicon, the emotions all perfectly tailored for the listener who sees their life as an ongoing battle between dark and light, an epic fight. Those within the community will eat this up, pun intended. However, the potential for crossover is pretty minimal.
