Artist: Divided Multitude
Title: Guardian Angel
Type: Album
Label: Silverwolf Productions
The fact that this album was mixed and mastered by the ubiquitous Jacob Hansen tells us that there will be plenty of melody, and this is indeed the case. The intro leading into “Nowhere to Hide” suggests that an epic and aggressive Power Metal work is about to hit us, and then comes the song. The singer “searching for the answer” is out of tune. This is kitsch Progressive metal of the sort, from my experience, which tends to appeal to mainland Europeans but not to the more cynical and discerning British audience. Frankly this track is shocking, naïve and badly sung. In summary it hasn’t got much going for it. Still, persistence pays and “Senses” starts nicely with a catchy, thumping and keyboard-driven opening. That singer intervenes and starts to drone on about something. It does get better though and it develops into the strains of a Progressive metal-style West End musical with its strong and emotive chorus line and colourful guitar work. The playing is accomplished but it’s not clear where it’s going. In fact I was coming to the conclusion that this is musical schizophrenia. “Something for Someone” starts as another flowing track with an excellent riff. The main song which follows is yet another unco-ordinated, trite affair with even cornier lyrics. “Wish you were here every time I fall to pieces”. Noted. We then head off into the flowery department. Guitar solos take the stage. I just think Divided Multitude are trying to do too much here. “Regrets” is 8 minutes long and starts with great purpose thanks to its juddering heaviness, mixed subtly with the delicate sound of the keyboards. It came as no surprise that the fresh opening is the preamble to the now familiar pedestrian song structure. “My dreams turns to nightmares”, we’re told. Hmm. Yet instrumentally it’s great. It’s heavy, insistent and held together by the excellent, catchy riff. For me, there is a defining moment on this track when the vocalist plays between the lyrics “screaming in silence” and “waiting in silence” to draw us in. It reminded me very much of a common technique on Mercenary albums, where Mikkel Sandager plays with words with great power and to great effect. Here, my reaction was more “what’s the point?” And so it goes on. “Promised Land” is another track with good instrumentals and a powerful catchy rhythm but an unconvincing core song. “Welcome to the Promised Land”. Sorry, flag- and lighter-waving stuff isn’t my bag, even in a heavier context. Terrible singing doesn’t help. “Pieces on the Floor” is a nondescript piece of pop-orientated Prog Metal. “Deeds of Deception” is more of the same but does demonstrate that Divided Multitude are better when they’re faster and upbeat, even if this one is a bit happy-clappy. After a nice Progressive keyboard extravaganza on the title track “Guardian Angel” the band go off at tangents again and the track is just dreary. In fact there was only track that I liked as a whole on this album, and that’s “My Dying Hour”. This one has a Classic Metal build up and develops a hard and fast sound which for once it doesn’t water down. Indeed, it’s exciting and interesting as distorted vocals are used for a bit of effect, leading into an invigorating chorus. It has the mystical air of fellow Norwegians Audrey Horne. “My Dying Hour” is a really good track.
Considering this is their fourth album, I might have expected something better than this from Divided Multitude. At just over an hour it was too long and was frustrating in the way that Progressive Metal sometimes can be, but most of all it was the banal songs, the cumbersome structures and unappealing singing which left me on the outside. In fact for me “Guardian Angel” got worse every time I listened to it. Yet there were some really catchy and powerful sections. All in all though, this album was such a mixed bag that by the end I just felt dissatisfied.
http://www.myspace.com/dividedmultitude
http://www.silverwolf-productions.com
Andrew Doherty
MTUK HOME
