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Divinity Destroyed

Eden In Ashes

Review by Gary Hill

These guys are one of the few bands out there truly capable of bridging the gap between prog metal and prog. I would definitely put them into the neo-prog category, although there is plenty of reason to consider them metal, too. The songs here combine traditional prog sections with metal fury to produce a unique and highly palatable concoction. Add to that melodic sung vocals competing with death growls, and you get a good picture of what this band is all about.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 1 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.

Track by Track Review
Sweet Heresy
This starts with sedate guitar, then a death growl takes it, but rather than death metal, the music is prog and some incredibly good neo-prog at that. The death vocals are joined quickly by more melodic sung vocals and the cut moves forward running through a number of changes. At times it becomes a stomping metallic run, but at others it comes in as neo-prog. A full on metal instrumental section gives way to a balladic outro that is very powerful. One last burst of death growls serves to end it.
Threnody
More traditional DT like neo prog, this one is quite accessible and very cool. It isn't anywhere near as dynamic as the last one, but this very listenable. An instrumental segment later is a fast paced frantic prog that leads into a heavier death vocals section. Then a new fast paced prog jam ensues and the band work their way through a series of changes.
Borealis
A jazzy guitar segment that only lasts a moment starts this. Then the band launch into a very potent prog jam with a serious crunch. Again, DT comes to mind, but this one also has more the death like vocals. An instrumental break later takes it into a new very melodic prog territory, but the eventually ramp it back to where they came from. A very intriguing dramatically arranged section takes it later for a time.
Nothing But A Shadow
This is one of the most unique and interesting cuts on show here. The majority of it is in a more melodic style that is quite intriguing and almost off-kilter. The later sections, though, bring back the DT like prog fury of the previous cuts. Although a bit dark, this is one of the coolest and more powerful compositions on the disc. It drops later just to vocals, then jumps back up to a neo prog jam to end.
Aurora
Pretty keys begin this, but a dark ominous sound comes over top after a short time, running alongside this. This is just a brief keyboard solo, rather than a full "song".
Empty the Sky
Metallic fury starts this, but as they carry on the changes and overlayers bring in the prog elements again. This one doesn't stray far, but is quite cool. It does end with a short, incredibly ferocious metal segment.
Crestfallen
The early sections of this one are in the form of a pretty prog ballad. As it carries forward, though, harder elements enter bringing with them the DT-like elements. This goes through some very cool changes and transitions. It runs straight into the next cut.
Disciple
A couple major metal sections include some vocals that go way over the top for my tastes. That would really ruin this song, but those segments are short enough to keep it from completely laying waste to this and in fact, the section that comes after the second one of these is incredibly interesting, filled with prog changes, odd timings and lots of cool stuff.
 
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