Style: Progressive Metal, Djent (clean vocals, majority instrumental)
Recommended for fans of: Intervals, TesseracT, Arch Echo
Review by: Doug
Country: US-NY
Release date: 16 June, 2023
It is the curse laid upon all djent bands, it seems – perhaps by a vengeful witch whose ex-lover left to start a band of their own – to be endlessly held up for comparison against the distant celestial sphere of their chosen genre. For Divinex, nine years beyond their first album release and still jostling amidst their crowding peers seeking an audience, whom I am now bound to measure against the constellations of better-knowns and genre staples, I wonder how the burden of comparison weighs. Is there solidarity and camaraderie among musicians so bewitched, a shared feeling that everyone is trying their best to rise above unrecognized mediocrity? Or is there cutthroat competition, bright-eyed newcomers eager to trample on the heads and shoulders of the fading veteran stars?
However the band may feel about this state of affairs, Dreamscapes lands almost precisely in the middle of the spectrum from “exciting” to “boring.” Admittedly, Divinex are no TesseracT, and although their rhythmic styles at times sound reminiscent of one another, rising and falling gracefully like waves, you won’t find the wild, unique creativity that stamps the latter’s work. Stylistically, Divinex sound quite generic; this album could have been written by uncountable other bands. That said, these New Yorkers stand out more in their competence at their craft – whomever it may have been hypothetically written by, most of those peer musicians could not have recorded Dreamscapes with as much impeccable care and attention to detail.
While I tend to skip past intro and interlude tracks, both in reviews and on repeat listens, I want to pause a moment on “Titanium White.” At almost three minutes, it has more substance than most such intros, but it still fills that role, being shorter and simpler than the tracks to follow in the album’s core. However, it also demonstrates quite clearly what sets this band apart from others like them. Intro tracks so often simply take up space – they may not stylistically match the rest of the album, they develop musically little if at all, and they rarely feel like much thought has been put into them. This one, starting with a soft piano theme echoed and further developed in the guitar parts, shows far more care in its composition, and that same care and investment, found all throughout Dreamscapes, is the most important factor lifting it above stylistic mediocrity.
Divinex continue this thread through “Full Disadulation” and “CTRL+Z!” as they lay out numerous examples of their talents, but it’s in “Presque Vu” and “Olēka” that their style comes into full bloom. Both of these standout tracks feature varied guitar tones and satisfying layers of crunch instead of slamming on monotonous djent, with meaningful and complex rhythmic development. The former is further elevated by its guest appearance from guitarist Adam Bentley (Arch Echo), and the latter’s long runtime provides room for compelling shifts in mood and allows each instrument (including vocals, which feature only on this track) to showcase their varied tones and presentation styles; listening only to this section of Dreamscapes, it’s easy to forget all the concerns I expressed before about being stylistically generic. Only in the middle of the album, during “The Beach” and “Elevate,” do we hear how this album could have sounded with less talent applied to its creation. There, rhythms lose their depth, and shifts in melody and tone begin to sound unfocused rather than contributing to clever development.
Divinex apply a veteran’s care and attention all across this album, in spite of their middling acclaim. Although I can pick out well-crafted elements to appreciate and enjoy from the album’s high points, their success at escaping from the incumbent djent mediocrity is not total. Such bands carry with them the eager hopes of prog fans everywhere – will this one finally do something new and interesting? Dreamscapes may not be entirely new, but it is at least interesting, and I call that a win.
Recommended tracks: Full Disadulation, CTRL+Z!, Presque Vu, Olēka
You may also like: Wide Eyes, Thoughtscape, The Resonance Project
Final verdict: 7/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Label: Independent
Divinex is:
– Jay Wolff (guitars)
– Jimmy Millerd (guitars)
– Colin Busse (bass)
– Eugene Bisdikian (drums)
With guest:
– Adam Bentley (guitar, “Presque Vu”)
0 Comments