DIVINITY DESTROYED – Eden In Ashes

Divinity Destroyed hails from New Jersey. Although somewhat vague about their actual date of birth as a band, possibly in an under-aged attempt to buy alcohol, the band has two other nameless full-length albums, as well as an EP and numerous splits to their dubious credit.

Taking an even deeper stab at ambiguity, Divinity Destroyed is, to quote their own bio, “a combination of eclectic musical tastes and indecisiveness.” Well put, gentlemen. The eclectic tastes in question are Progressive Rock, a la Yes, and growling, yet calculated, Death Metal, such as the cold, lethal precision of Zyklon. For fans that find these bands’ discs or vinyls side by side in their collections, Divinity Destroyed may represent a perfect blending of these two disparate genres. Each form is expertly performed, with clear, soaring vocals and nimble-fingered guitar noodling marking the Prog side, while a grinding growl and steamroller rhythms drive the band’s Death Metal underpinnings. The six string virtuosity may also appeal to those that like instrumental “guitar god” albums, such as Joe Satriani.

Most folks, however, tend to lean more one way or the other. For the Prog purists, there is just enough of a Death Metal foundation to elicit haughty sniffs of disgust, but the record, overall, is far too delicately phrased and oddly timed for most patrons of the pentagram. In the end, you can’t headbang to a lot of this stuff. The band develops even more of an identity crises on “Nothing But A Shadow,” a track that tosses in some Native American flute flourishes and tribal drum rhythms, a la Godsmack’s “Voodoo.” Ok, yes, it sounds like strange musical bedfellows, but it does work on a hypnotic, hallucinogenic sort of level.

Divinity Destroyed is at their best when they achieve the precarious balance between beauty and brutality, the best example of which is the leading track, “Sweet Heresey.” While the band is fine for people who don’t mind chocolate in their peanut butter, or vice versa, they would be much better served on forthcoming efforts by picking either the Prog or Death programs and sticking to it.