May 20th, 2024
Deliria
'Phantasm'
Deliria, an evocative post-black metal band hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, has made waves in the metal community since their formation in 2017.
Spearheaded by David Scanlon of Dawn of Ouroboros, Deliria crafts music steeped in melancholia and existential dread.
Joined by Adam Rupp (Kill the Messenger) on vocals and initially featuring drummer Jared Klein (Rivers of Nihil) for their debut album "Nausea"
Deliria has grown into a formidable force in the metal scene. Their latest album, "Phantasm" released on May 3, 2024,
showcases the band's evolution with intricate arrangements and a deep dive into morbid and occult themes.
With their current lineup, including Brent Rockwell (The Undying) on guitar, Jade Forsythe (Embrium) on bass, and Brandon Clevenstine (Symbolik) on drums,
Deliria continues to captivate audiences with their haunting and powerful sound. Dive into our detailed track by track review below!
We start off with "Smoke & Mirrors" and we are instantly hit with interesting stop/start chord progressions and some great drumming fills. As this progresses, we get some nice flowing bass lines before hitting into a pre-verse clean section that sounds very sinister. Lyrically, it seems to convey the eventual downfall of a woman misled by an alluring but ultimately destructive force. Deception and disillusionment are the names of the game here. When the blast beats enter the song, you start to think of the great production values. The guitars have the right amount of room to breathe, giving you riffs to latch onto while also being laden with the right amount of atmosphere. The lead bending-type riff in the bridge is a perfect example of adding something unique to the song, and it fits so well.
"Gemini" hits off with a great 'black n roll' type vibe, marching on with Adam Rupp spitting out criticism of the corruption and hypocrisy present in society and those in power who use fear and manipulation to control people and distort the truth. The vocals really shine through with power and venom. The clean picking sections in these songs are immense and really elevate them to another level. The drums know how to shake up sections and keep it interesting, and the bass syncs in at the right times and does its own thing at the right times too.
"Phantasm" the title track of the album, hooks you in with a very menacing intro riff. They have really crafted this well-versed marching chug into their songs, which gives each song momentum and a sense of urgency. It really highlights their quality songwriting skills to pull that off. Huge props again to the vocals and the slight change-ups throughout this title track.
Have a listen to the album below ->
"Attic" again another song that hits you with a memorable, dark guitar hook. Themes of despair and nihilism are on clear display here with a twisted sense of rebirth or transformation through suffering and death. What I love are songs that translate lyrically to the music, and this song embraces darkness with the lead guitar that shines through around the 3-minute mark. Really digging this track, one of the highlights of the album. The devil himself would cack his pants during the build-up of this song!
As we progress through each track, this album continues to flourish with tracks like "Reckless" which gives off a slightly different aura. Lyrically, there is comfort offered to the lost and damned but under false pretenses, leading to control and enslavement. There are ebbs and flows to this track, more delightful cleans to a soulful solo that glides dedicatedly. And who doesn't like a bit of cowbell?
"Covenant" starts with a simple picking clean guitar, but it's the bass that really drives this song forward. A very melancholic track, you can really feel the weight of the world with the more subdued guitar chords ringing out. The bass interlude really reminds me of a mirrored, post-black version of "Orion" by Metallica. The guitar lead licks bounce back and forth, with another layer cleverly being added in the background with some synth work present.
Check 'em out on bandcamp ->
There are moments that would have the hair on the back of my neck standing with the track "Spellcraft" having one or two of those moments. Nice use of some guitar pedal type effects to give the listener something else to catch onto this late into the album, and the build-up towards the end of the song is epic as themes of futile devotion and a transformation driven by a dark, mystical force emerge. Deliria is really showing off their abilities with tracks like this.
The final track, "Oblivion" is a 10 and a half-minute epic. It truly is a superb piece of songwriting in the way it progresses. There is a whispering section that reminds me of something that Steven Wilson or Opeth would love to conjure up. It feels like the first part is a plea for understanding, questioning where things went wrong and feeling quite doomed by fate. As we continue the journey, there are plenty of clean/acoustic type soundscapes and the belief that the narrator's absence would go unnoticed and unlamented. We hit back into a crushing guitar gallop, a ritual in an attempt to defy fate, but find no solace in death. The only criticism I can think of is some sections feel out of step with the general feeling of the song. There is a guitar riff close to the 8-minute mark that doesn't gel well with what's going on; it's only when the tremolo-type lead creeps in that it gives it a different meaning, but I think a different note progression could have been picked. This is nitpicking, as this is really the only section I could find fault with! The bass lines really stand out, and Jade Forsythe should be commended for really pushing the songs at the right time. We end with a very Opeth-like acoustic movement and an unresolved clean guitar pick, leaving the listener questioning a bleak yet compelling portrait of existential anguish.
In "Phantasm" Deliria has crafted an album that is as haunting as it is exhilarating. The blend of melancholic melodies, powerful vocals, and intricate arrangements showcases the band's evolution
and their ability to push the boundaries of post-black metal. Each track is a journey into the depths of despair, existential dread, and dark transformation, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre.
So, whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Deliria's sound, don't miss out on this album.
Go out, support the band, buy "Phantasm" and let its dark enchantment consume you. And hey, if you don’t, you might just find the devil himself cackling at your poor taste in music choices!
