Delphic - Acolyte Album Review

Richard Boardman
Matt Cocksedge
James Cook
Dan Hadley

Delphic, a mancunian trio who have evolved from playing in front of "one man in a long coat with his dog", to a partially sold-out tour with extended dates. Not enough? They performed on The Joules Holland Show. The video for second album release ‘This Momentary’ was nominated for three UK Music Video Awards. Festivals ahead such as Glastonbury, Great Escape Festival and Evolution Festival. All of which within the space of their first record. Can I stop now please?

Now, this just gives you an idea of the sort of reputation and popularity they’re racking up already. Sounds impressive but an idea doesn’t sound too concrete does it?

‘Clarion Call’ is track one. This is a build-up of the highest quality. Using bricks made of repetitive guitar chords, smooth keyboards, low-tone bass rumblings, and synth noises flowing throughout. The last ingredient is the cement, a gentle pitter-patter swaying through left and right earphones as lyrics "we all need time to change" make you daydream of life in a different way, a changed way. And whilst your eyes glaze over with a covering of imagery, you’re being watched and slowly crept towards until suddenly there’s this explosion of percussion and keyboards. Is this some kind of war? Well this is the beginning of Delphics’ resistance, resistance to the pit of woeful opponents around them and their annoying, boring ways. Screeches of ‘a call to all!’ make you just want to pick up your instrumental weapons, and join them in this epic fight that lies ahead of them.

Second track and third release is ‘Doubt’. Underlaying, rhythmic bass is covered by simple chords picked off the strings just teasing you throughout the first sections of the song. Cheekily added in are the odd bar of keyboards, before yet again, this accumulation of the elements swirl into this cauldron of mass power that is unleashed upon the unsuspecting.

Nominated for three UK music awards, ‘This Momentary’ softens you with guitar and chilling vocals then annihilating you with its’ pounding bass drum into insignificance before finally bombarding you with mind-blowing percussion.

‘Red Lights’ makes sweet love to you for six minutes solid. “I wouldn’t stop for lights. I wouldn’t come up for air” before your ears are blessed with the masterpiece and album title ‘Acolyte”.

‘Halcyon’, fourth and latest is in my opinion, one of the worst songs on the album. It’s one of them ‘grow-on-you’ tracks, which instantly makes it sound like some kind of fungal infection that you need to get your foot out at the doctors for. But despite this, it fills you with some sort of biblical hope, “give me something I can believe in”, which slight interruptions of a more sinister force with a heavier sector and a guitar solo of sorts. The amazing thing is that it’s still a descent song, which demonstrates the caliber of this album.

‘Submission’ is an underground, back alley, deep in the mind sort of track giving in to your previous mistakes. This leads on to first release ‘Counterpoint’ with its’ distinctive keyboards and selectively strum guitars.

‘Ephemera’, shortest in length at roughly two minutes long, it’s hazy, emotional and mentally scarring.

Finally we reach last song ‘Remain’. It’s the most basic of the album with least effects and computerizations and even a guest appearance of piano notes. After you’ve been taken on this monstrous journey of ups and downs and mixed messages, we’re made human again, made to click in your hypnotized face to reunite yourself with reality.

As for the war, well, that’s far from over and I suggest you sign up immediately. I have one recommendation for this album, if you haven’t listened to it already, do so now!