Delain

Delain
Delain performing live at Epic Metal Fest, 2015.
Background information
Origin	Zwolle, Netherlands
Genres	Symphonic metal
Years active	2002, 2005–present
Labels	CNR, Roadrunner, Napalm
Associated acts	Epica, Within Temptation
Website	www.delain.nl
Members	Martijn Westerholt Charlotte Wessels Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije Timo Somers Ruben Israel Merel Bechtold
Past members	Rob van der Loo Ronald Landa Ray van Lente Ewout Pieters Sander Zoer

Delain is a Dutch symphonic metal band formed in 2002 by former Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt, and Charlotte Wessels. The name of the band comes from the Kingdom of Delain in Stephen King's novel, The Eyes of the Dragon.

In 2002, Westerholt formed Delain, after he was forced to leave Within Temptation due to Pfeiffer's disease. In the same year, they independently released the demo Amenity. After the demo, Westerholt temporarily left the project behind, but continued to write music.

In 2005, he joined with Charlotte Wessels, and was signed to Roadrunner Records. At the time, the band was envisioned as a musical project featuring a host of guest musicians, and not as a live band.

Lucidity brought to fruition Westerholt's dream of a musical project, featuring many well-known musicians from the metal community: Marco Hietala from Nightwish and Tarot (bass, vocals), Liv Kristine from Leaves' Eyes (vocals), Ariën van Weesenbeek from ex-God Dethroned, Epica (drums), Ad Sluijter from ex-Epica (guitar), George Oosthoek (growling) and Guus Eikens, both former members of Orphanage, Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation (vocals) and Jan Yrlund from Imperia (guitar).