THE PURPOSE DILEMMA
Netherlands-based band Dilemma are back after six years with a genre-defying new album that mixes prog, pop and a touch of metal. Drummer and producer Collin Leijenaar explains how some crucial line-up changes helped mould their ambitious new album, The Purpose Paradox.
Words: Stephen Lambe
T a stop-start career would be an understatement: three albums across a 20-year period is hardly a world-beating hit rate. Yet they’ve returned with a remarkable concept album, The Purpose Paradox, and their career is now definitely back on track after myriad line-up issues, not to mention the same geographic problems that have blighted many bands with members in multiple countries over the last five or so years.
The band formed in the early 90s by keyboardist Robin Z, but momentum created by their hugely popular debut, Imbroccata, came to a halt when Dutch label SI went into liquidation. An invite to reform for a festival appearance saw a revival in the band’s fortunes and a well-received second album, Random Acts Of Liberation, in 2018, but line-up issues affected them, with British vocalist Dec Burke choosing to leave for logistical reasons. This led to the recruitment of new singer Jermain van der Bogt, aka Wudstik. As Dilemma’s composer, producer and drummer, Collin Leijenaar tells Prog, the vocalist has come to the band’s rescue twice.