Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious
Occupation
- Vocals, Guitar: Daniel Håkansson
- Vocals: Annlouice Wolgers
- Guitar: Pontus Mantefors
- Bass: Andy Johansson
- Cello: Johannes Bergion
- Drums: Andreas Halvardsson
Sing Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious is the second studio album by the Swedish metal band Diablo Swing Orchestra. It was released September 21, 2009 at the British label Ascendance Records.
Formation
After the band released their debut album The Butcher 's Ballroom initially self-published ( in Europe later resold by Candlelight Records under license ), a global record deal was signed with the label Ascendance Records for the second album.
The recordings for the new album took place from April 6 to May 1, 2009 in Gothenburg IF Studios (formerly Studio Fredman ), the band's own studio of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames, instead. Producer Roberto Laghi was, who has already worked alongside his work for In Flames with other Swedish bands like Sonic Syndicate or Mustasch.
Cover
The album cover was designed by the Swedish fantasy author and illustrator Peter Bergting, known by the best-selling graphic novel Gängkrig 145 and provides a fairground scene with a children's carousel dar.
Music
The band combines, as it did on their debut album in their music a variety of different styles to a " crossover of Metal, Swing, Jazz, Classical and many others." Also striking is the variety of tools that includes, in addition to the usual instrumentation of a metal band and piano, accordion, harmonium, cello, violin, acoustic guitar, percussion instruments such as timpani and marimba and various wooden and brass instruments.
A combination of heavy guitar riffs, cello accompaniment and big band -style swing deposits forms the foundation of music, among other things, with references to classics of the swing era, such as Sing, Sing, Sing ("A Tap Dancer 's dilemma "). To hear are also Latin American influences such as tango or Mariachieinlagen ("A Rancid Romance " ) or salsa bonds ( " Lucy Fears the Morning Star" ). Occasionally, synth arpeggios occur ("New World Widows " ) or elements of folk music (" Siberian Love Affairs "). The psychedelic - spherical synthesizer sounds of the final track " Stratosphere Serenade" are also inspired by the progressive and space rock and electronic music in general.
Another fundamental element of music is the " operatic " vocals of classically trained soprano Annlouice Wolgers. She is supported by the bass Daniel Håkansson, with whom she often sings in alternating sequence in common. The vocals share of Håkansson has become significantly larger in comparison to the previous album there. As part of a cameo is also on two songs on the album, the baritone voice of the Swedish opera singer Kosma Ranuer heard.
Reception
The album received even before the official release consistently good to very good reviews and was a qualitative enrichment of the previous album. In particular, was " absolutely unusual mix of styles " highlighted, which would make this album an eclectic and creative " crossover fireworks ".
Because of the many thematic and musical analogies to circuses, popular folklore, operetta-like revues or musical theaters, which are also reflected in the motifs of the album cover, the music with the band, therefore, not as a pure fun project was called, among other things as a " carnival - Metal" should be misunderstood, as sentiment partly may well turn into melancholy. This stylistic comparisons to similar bands like Unexpect or Stolen Babies were often drawn.
Versions
The album will be sold in three different versions. Firstly, the normal retail version with audio CD in digipak, which is also distributed digitally. There is also a limited edition of 2,000 pieces with elaborate framed Edition Digipak and additional bonus DVD. Recently there was before the release of the album the way directly from Ascendance Records via mail order pre-order a limited edition of 300 pcs special edition with extras.