Artist: Divine Empire
Label: Olympic Records
Release Date: 2000
Rating: 4 Skulls
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Title: Doomed to Inherit Artist: Divine Empire Label: Olympic Records Release Date: 2000
Rating: 4 Skulls |
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Submitted by Pestilence (1/31/01):
It's got a beat; you can certainly mosh to it. This statement alone pretty much describes what you will get from the music of this death metal outfit. There is nothing really new for the stalwart deathmetalers out there, but this band does death metal very well. There are some interesting twists that take some of this music to a more interesting plane, which is what makes this record worth the effort for sure. The entire record is not necessarily the most memorable the whole way through, but there are several over-the-top tracks that make this an album well worth checking out.The music itself can pretty much be described as fast to mid-tempo death with an alternating, and highly complementing, high and low vocal attack. The low vocals are of the standard death-growl type, and the higher vocals are more of a black-metal scream, reminiscent of the Witchery vocalist after a good shot to the balls. These screams are used both for the alternating lyrical prose, and also as simply ear-shattering chaotic exclamation points. Groove, and an extremely strong sense of rhythm, is something that this band has down pat - perfectly so. These tunes REALLY grind and groove reminding one of the songwriting prowess of the mighty Bolt Thrower, but without any real similarity of style. Basically, even if you do not completely love this record of death, you will still find your head on an uncontrollable and ever-moving hinge.
The best songs on this record, in my humble opinion, are by far tracks 4, 6, 7 and 10. Track 4, "Birth Of Legends", is a fantastic instrumental possessing sick, almost 70's sounding, guitar jams and solos. "Truth Be Denied", track 6, kicks in with tribal beats, that maintain throughout, driving you straight to that head-bangin' state of destruction. It has an infectious chorus exemplifying exactly why the alternating vocal attack is so impressive, and the guitar solo is totally sick. It is short in duration, but still carries the complete skull-crushing punch. Track 7, "self inflicted" is a cornucopia of mid-tempo groove with a great psychedelic guitar solo. This kind of creativity is where these guys really shine and set themselves apart from the more standard fare available out there in death metal land. The last, "the culprit", is yet another great example of the alternating vocals and is guaranteed to make you smash stuff, even if that "stuff" is just your own cranium. The rest of the tracks are certainly good, but if these guys can produce 10 songs with the punch of my favorite 4 from this record on the next, they will have a longtime fan for certain.
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