By reading the album's info sheet I learned that Blood And Ashes is a soundtrack to the new novel by Wolfgang Hohlbein. WIZARD's bass player Volker Leson had the idea of putting together such an album with the help of Davy Vain who has his publicity share through the late 80s Glam Metal band VAIN and thereafter songwriter / producer with famous acts like JOURNEY and VAN HALEN. In this odd attempt (for the Metal scene's standards) the two musicians put up an all-star project and gave birth to Blood And Ashes under the moniker of DELANY.
First of all, I have to admit that I am total unaware of Hohlbein's works so I won't be able to comment on the album's success as a book-soundtrack. This also means that I will discuss Blood And Ashes as a 'normal' album and not as a concept one.
The opening orchestrations have little to do with the music that follows since, it initially gives a misleading impression of a Power Metal release. Blood And Ashes enters with a nice Hard Rock mid tempo and a killer foot-taping rhythm that will set anchor in your mind from the very beginning. David Readman (PINK CREAM 69, ADAGIO, VOODOO CIRCLE) has the perfect timbre for this kind of composition and overall takes the song into a higher level. The next song Here Comes Lonely features the high pitched vocals of Davy Vain. The music is still Hard Rock oriented but with an underlying PRIMAL FEAR lining that shines through the guitar driven structure and the hearty solo. The album is in constant motion and in every song changes musical direction served by the respective singer who adds his/her own 'flavor'. Hence, the next song sung by Lana Lane who brings a nice symphonic Metal approach but not through the typical operatic looking glass. Mrs Lane has a Hard Rock smooth voice and distinct high pitches that fit the novel-soundtrack like a glove.
The above description of the three first songs of the album underlines the album's structure that takes the listener through different musical landscapes. Without knowing the story in Hohlbein's novel I believe this structure serves  the soundtrack role in the best way. Every song creates different images and feelings -I have to say it again- enhanced by the different singers. David Readman has the lion's share behind the microphone making me thinking of Arjen's works with AYREON but with less complexity. Among the highlights is Web Over London with the catchy like hell chorus, the piano based power ballad Eternity Is Yours (Lana Lane sounds perfect) and the closing London Bridge with the wonderful vocal harmonies.
After my listening-time with DELANY I have to admit that I will search for additional info on Wolfgang Hohlbein books (if they are in English) and why not buy one of them. If the books are of the same quality with this album then I will have discovered another book source that is much needed these days...