There was a somewhat funny realization as I dug in for my review of Chilean metal band Delta’s latest album, The End of Philosophy. Usually I will post a song in our Facebook group about what I’m currently working on, and upon posting a track of this album, fellow author and Chilean herself Rocio Flores Bedoya mentioned that they were legends in her country. So I of course asked her if she wanted to do the review instead, to which she responded that she couldn’t be impartial. Fair enough, so I started listening, and realized that impartiality wasn’t going to be an issue with me either. You see folks, I learned what the lucky people of Chile have known for just under ten years now, Delta seriously rocks.
There are a few things that really add to Delta’s credentials, the first being that they have had the ridiculous luck and good fortune to have been able to enjoy the same line up since they first formed in 2004. Delta consist of Felipe del Valle on vocals, Benjamin Lechuga on guitars, Nicolas Quinteros on keyboards, Marcos Sanchez on bass, and Andres Rojas on drums. The second thing is four solid albums under their belts, the last being the hard rocking Deny Humanity. Lastly is the tremendous line up of acts they have played with. I always notice that the best bands pick the best to play with them, and the likes of Stratovarius, Symphony X, Vision Divine, Sonata Artica, and the mighty Dream Theater certainly raise an eyebrow on this humble face. Oh, and just to kick it up a bit more, let’s add a special guest vocal appearance from John West of Royal Hunt and the production talents of the almighty Jens Bogren, who many albums ago established himself as the gold standard in this metalheads eyes. That’s quite a resume, and their latest release The End of Philosophy lives up to every bit of it.
The End of Philosophy is a ten track monster clocking in at just under seventy minutes, and it kicks off with the title track, an eight minute sublime opening that delivers more than just a punch. Heavy industrial machine sounds rhythmically set a pace before vicious keyboard strokes break the spell. They are setting up a distinctive aura here, with the opening vocals mechanized as well. Then they break in with some stunning choral vocals, and go right into the song proper, a back and forth battle between the mechanic and the soulful. A fiery instrumental section centers the song, with all the members showing the chemistry they have built over the last ten years, playing right into each other’s hands perfectly. Though an opening track, it has the feel of an epic, a track that the album is centered around, a brilliant start for sure. It makes one wonder if the rest of the album will live up to it….
It does. Track two, The New Philosophy, seems more like an opener than the title track to be honest. The first single released, it’s a much safer tune, with a more formal structure and sound. A straight up rocker for sure, but nothing ground breaking as presented in the first track, though I could easily see this one kicking some serious butt live. No More again has a straight up rocking feel to it, with an incredibly catchy chorus and some eye popping bass work from Sanchez. Darkened Skies brings back the more daring sound, though they pretty much handle everything more than aptly. This one has a furious pace to it, with del Valle really shining on vocals and some seriously aggressive power chord work from Lechuga and a beastly rhythm delivery by Sanchez and Rojas. I almost wanted to put this as my favorite track, but two others just pulled at the heartstrings so much more for me.
The sixth track, Farewell, is a seven and a half minute emotional beat down, a power ballad with some serious heart to it. Del Valle and Lechuga break out all the tricks on this one, delivering a piece that just bleeds passion. Now if Farewell bleeds passion, Nostalgia mops it up and paints the sky with it. This is a wonderfully structured tune, a credit to the bands songwriting. They seem to bring in all the best elements they have to really deliver their best on this one. Three other solid straight up rocker songs are interspersed between these power numbers, all leading to the last track, the nine plus minute Bringers of Rain, featuring the vocal talents of amazing John West. There is a special balance between del Valle and West, and they use it to the fullest, with both of them trading vocal work and singing in harmony. If the opening had an epic feel to it, this one removes all doubt, it is a complex journey with such a dynamic reach. Power and soft chords, acoustic and electric, subtle moments that build to sky high crescendos before crashing through, all merging into an all around fantastic song.
Now it seems that I’m not the only one who is going to find out about this wonderful band from Chile. A few days from now, at the time of this writing, they will be setting sail out of Florida to perform at Progressive Nation at Sea, and if they bring the thunder like they do on The End of Philosophy, I’m sure everyone will soon know of Delta.
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