[REVIEW]: Divanity (2010) by The Murder of My Sweet

[STARFIRE]

The Murder of My Sweet

Divanity (2010)

Frontiers Records

Produced by: Daniel Flores

 

For the Genre: ***** (5/5)

Compared to the Era: ***** (5/5)

 

You can’t go wrong with Swedish Metal whether it’s the incomparable Kee Marcelo from Europe or the legendary Yngwie J. Malmsteen, they took what we were doing in L.A. and took it to a whole new level of technical proficiency, sonic clarity and musical intensity with classically-influenced passages and Divanity is no exception to this.

 

On their debut album, The Murder of My Sweet unleashes its brutal assault with “No Evil” which comes with all of the face-melting fury of a mid-2000s American metal record but with the audio excellence for which European hard rock has come to be known. Drums with balls, and understated yet appropriately-mixed guitar tracks support the cinematic orchestral section that provides the epic feeling you are watching a Hollywood Blockbuster. “Follow the Rain” is the foot-stomping, fist-pumping head-banger that I’ve yearned for since “Bring me to Life” by Evanescence. I’ve been so addicted to this song, I’ve been playing it at least 3-4 times a day, every day, for a week. You just have to hear it to understand why.

 

The only problem I had with the product was Frontiers’ choice to go with a silly-looking DigiPak. These things are probably suitable for press kits or other promotional materials that might be included as part of a magazine issue. However, in my opinion a full-length, retail release should never be packaged like this. They do, however, make up for this by providing an enhanced CD, which includes video from “Bleed Me Dry.” Although, quite frankly, I enjoyed the video of “Follow The Rain” on their official Myspace profile more.

 

Throughout this record, you will hear shades of everything from Queensrÿche to Queen but this is definitely an album with its own identity. It isn’t rehashed 80s nostalgia, and it isn’t raspy, screamy or whiney.

 

In short, buy this album. Once you listen to it, you'll know why I said to!

[Geoff]

Wow. To each their own. But wow. I'd probably give that 1/5 at absolute best. Less if I could.

[Captain Howdy]

 

 

You can’t go wrong with Swedish Metal

I'm sure you can, especially if this band is anything to go by.

Fairly generic modern female fronted rock, that just sounds like a carbon copy of something like Evanescence.

Also have to say the band name is shit as well, and I have no idea what Divanity means ... maybe they have a love for beds and sofas or something.

 

I dont own this, but from all the samples I heard, I wont be owning it anytime in this lifetime either.

 

Oh, and as for the digipack thing, like them or loathe them, this is the way CD releases will probably all end up going as they are more environmentally friendly than full plastic jewel cases (and probably save the record companies money to produce).

Its simple logic that in an era when all companies are made to look to their carbon footprint etc, and a time where CD's just dont sell as many copies as they did due to the likes of iTunes and illegal downloading, that every company, big or small, is going to make itself look responsible and save money at the same time.

Personally, I really dont see the issue with them.

[TIM (2)]

This band suck.