Delain have opened a new chapter. Rather than replace departing vocalist Diana Leah, founder and keyboardist Martijn Westerholt has reshaped the band into a collaborative project with a remarkable cast of guest musicians.
Joining the new setup are Marko Hietala, Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation, Anneke van Giersbergen, Fabienne Erni of Eluveitie, Patty Gurdy, Noa Gruman, Paolo Ribaldini, Johanna Kurkela and Ruud Jolie. Ludovico Cioffi, Ronald Landa and Sander Zoer form the core of the band alongside Westerholt.
The first taste of this new era is ‘We Are Fire’, featuring Erni, Gruman and Ribaldini, with an official music video. “‘We Are Fire’ is about the inner fire that keeps us moving forward, even when the path ahead is uncertain,” says Westerholt. “To me, it captures the spirit of what Delain is becoming. A place where different voices and personalities can come together, each bringing something unique, while sharing the same fire.”
Leah steps away after many years with the band, and Delain say they look back with great gratitude on everything they shared.
The new line-up hits the road in February 2027, with Hietala, Erni, Gruman and Ribaldini joining live. Infected Rain are special guests and Persefone support on dates across Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, ending at 013 in Tilburg on 11 February. More countries are still to be announced.
