Customer Reviews

Divinity

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

My boyfriend, now husband, discovered this group by accident. While searching the web, he stumbled upon one of their songs, "Will to Live", and checked it out. The music rocked! This band got started not too long ago, in fact, it was in the year 2000, but they're great! I had to buy this album.

I read in forums that the singer had changed, but I think the one they have now is fantastic. He has a great vocal range and can really hit the high notes. The lyrics of certain songs seem to be inspired by heavenly prophecies. They can also can be compared to the Japanese band Loudness, if you've heard any of their early albums. This is not your average metal. No adult overtones or negativity here.

Anyhow, I think they rock! The songs aren't very long, but they're pretty powerful. I wouldn't mind seeing them in concert. Too bad they're from Finland and only tour overseas. Give them a try. If you like good ol' fashioned metal with a twist, then you'll love Altaria. No doubt! This disc may seem expensive considering it doesn't have many tracks, but I think you'll find it's worth the money.

EDIT, Feb 2010: Well, when I first posted this, I paid $25 for it. Perhaps you can find a better deal for a used one??

In previous reviews, I've often referred to "Divinity" as Altaria's weakest album.

It turns out I was wrong; very wrong....

After purchasing "Divine Invitation" and listening to the selections from Divinity on it, I realized - somehow - the album had a lot more to offer (e.g. Stain on the Switchblade) than what I remembered from 2004. Really, I can't explain how songs like "Try to Remember," "Prophet of Pestilence," "Unchain the Rain," "Darkened Highlight" and "Final Warning" didn't catch my ear back then. Even better, once I got the full album I found that those songs where just the tip of the iceberg as "Discovery," "Falling Again" and "Divine" revealed themselves as the album's impressive core. "Divine" really deserves a nod for being a title track that's a bit more unusual than most.

Still, but what puts Divinity above and beyond its predecessor and successors is the fact it feels like a concise whole. The dark, grungy sound of the guitar works in tandem with the lighthearted synthesizers and feel like they belong together. There's are a few hiccups along the way - "Will to Live" and "Enemy" are probably the weakest cuts, "Stain on the Switchblade" is an out-of-place anomaly (which is why it appealed to me all those years ago) and "Haven" tries to add a ballad like number to an experience that doesn't really need one - but these are easy to overlook when the rest of the album works as well as it does.

Another of Divinity's strengths is the lyrics. Granted there's cliches here and there, but the writing is simply more streamlined than it is on Invitation and The Fallen Empire. You won't find those awkward, lyrical fragments here or at least to the same degree. The slower songs also fair much better as well.

While I may not be a fan of the past coming back and biting me in the... er, nether regions, Divinity proves there can be pleasant surprises to uncover in one's past. It's a downer it took me so long to truly "discover" what's here, but it's another solid album I'm more than happy to add to my collection.