Dark Divinity - Single Review: Left For Dead
Formed in 2017 by drummer Ian Moir,
melodic death metal act Dark Divinity have been through quite a lot in the last
five years, as not only have they supported the likes of At The Gates, The
Haunted, The Black Dahlia Murder and Psycroptic but have already released an EP,
some singles and have of course been running the gamut of line-up changes. The most
recent of these has seen the departure of singer Jolene Tempest and the return
to a male singer in Jesse Wheeler, with the line-up completed by guitarist/bassist
Paul Stewart and guitarist Jiji Aligno. To celebrate they have poured
themselves into the studio and their debut album, Unholy Rapture is
coming out in September, and ahead of that we have the first single.
This is a great introduction to the band, with the complex arrangement one would expect from a song from this genre, yet there are lots of tricks and nuances within it which really make it stand out. If Ian approaches every song like this, he must be a sweaty mess by the end as he is working like a demonic octopus throughout, hitting and kicking everything in sight and creating a driving platform for everyone to work on. However, about 30 seconds from the end he basically stops, with just a few delicate cymbal hits here and there, which takes the song in a very different direction, showing again it is not only what is played but what is not played which makes a difference. The guitars are also interesting, as while for the most part they are locked in with the complex runs and interplay one expects, there are also moments when they are playing far more slowly, allowing the bass and drums to pummel away while they have a more black metal approach. Even the solo is less of a shred than normal, and these different sounds and styles are interplayed and move in and out to create a song which has great depth.
Then at the front there is Jesse, who also switches between guttural growls and vocal attacks which are more in your face and full of power, so one always has the impression he is in total control at all times. The result is a single which is well worth investigating by metalheads, and I for one am certainly looking forward to the album.
About Dark Divinity
Formed in 2017 by drummer Ian Moir, the band has seen its fair share of members come and go in its first few years of existence. Throughout constant change, the band has retained the core vision it was founded on while continuing to innovate and improve.
In its short time of existence Dark Divinity have released 4 singles, a debut EP (Messianic – 2020), completed two New Zealand tours and supported touring international acts including At The Gates, The Haunted, The Black Dahlia Murder and Psycroptic.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Dark Divinity
Other Reviews By Kev Rowland
07 Jul 2023 // by Kev Rowland
So it was down to Tuning Fork for the first night of the second Crushfest festival. Tonight was going to be Wellington and Auckland bands, and then some of the same will be playing at the second night in Wellington next month.
Read More...
Rain - Single Review: Love and War
15 Jun 2023 // by Kev Rowland
It has been quite a while since I last heard from Wellington-based singer songwriter Cathy Elizabeth, and back then Rain was seen solely as a studio project with Cathy being accompanied by Thomas Te Taite, who provided all the instrumentation including digital drums. Now they are a full band who have been performing live, and it is the first time they have recorded as such, with Thomas now, just providing acoustic guitar (plus engineering and producing etc.
Read More...
Lost Vessels - Single Review: All This Time
01 Jun 2023 // by Kev Rowland
I must admit I was not that impressed when I first saw Lost Vessels play at Crushfest, something they later admitted to me was the worst gig of their career, but since then they have improved in leaps and bounds. This has been noticed by others on the Auckland circuit as they are getting more opportunities with better support slots, and I was not at all surprised when they won the Ding Dong Lounge Battle Of The Bands in November last year.
Read More...
Unwanted Subject - Single Review: Sons of Savages
28 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
I have caught Unwanted Subject in concert a few times over the last couple of years, and while they have been getting better each time I have seen them, I must admit that nothing prepared me for this, which right from the off is a monster. I have never heard them quite this is aggressive, nor as polished, and this multi-sectioned single sounds almost like a different band as they have pushed their metal roots to the max in this metalcore beast which sees them mixing and blending different genres to create something quite special.
Read More...
Gig Review: Stray Dogs @ AUX, Auckland - 26/05/2023
28 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
So it was back to Ding Dong Lounge on a Friday night for one of their infamous Emo nights, which tonight was a three-band bill with Stray Dogs having an extended set, supported by Altaea and then up first we had Blindr, a band new to me. Blindr are a quartet featuring Bill Caldwell (vocals, guitar), Blake Woodfield (lead guitar), Jack Power (bass), and Charlie McCracken (drums).
Read More...
Gig Review: Turkey The Bird @ The Ministry of Folk, Auckland - 27/05/2023
27 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Back up to Auckland Guide Centre in Mount Eden tonight for my second consecutive gig (Sol suggested it was a turkey sandwich as I am at Vader tomorrow) to see Taranaki’s finest, Turkey The Bird at The Ministry of Folk. Before that we of course had Hoop, who are Al Baxter (vocals, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin), Nick Edgar (vocals, guitar, ukulele, flute, harmonica), Emily Allen (violin, viola), Glenn Coldham (bass) while tonight Gary Hunt was filling in for drummer Rusty Knox.
Read More...
This Silent Divide - Single Review: Beautiful Creature
25 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Here we have the latest single from Wellington-based melodic hard rock quartet This Silent Divide, entitled Beautiful Creature. I really enjoyed their Tall Stories EP, and they played a great gig at Dead Witch towards the end of last year, and this would have been recorded at about the same time.
Read More...
Gig Review: Emily Rice @ Your Local Coffee Roasters, Pukekohe - 24/05/2023
24 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Earlier this week I had a message from Emily Rice asking me if I lived in South Auckland. When I responded I did, she asked if I would be interested in coming along to an event she was putting on in a coffee shop in Pukekohe to celebrate the release of her new single, Warenoa.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
